Big public response on Roxby
Adelaide now 9 August 09August 08, 2009
THE State Government will deliver two reports on BHP Billiton’s proposed expansion of Olympic Dam mine because of the sheer number of responses to the company’s environmental impact statement.
Premier Mike Rann said the Government had already completed a draft submission, but would produce a second after it had sorted through the 3950 responses.
“The EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) has generated a significant public response and we believe the Government should take into account those views before making its own final submission,” he said.
Darwin Council worried about uranium transport risk
Yellowcake cyclone impact concerns council
ABC News 18 August 09 By Gina MarichThe Darwin City Council says a new uranium storage and handling facility proposed for Darwin’s main port could pose a risk to the environment.
BHP Billiton is considering a facility at the East Arm Port to export up to 1.6 million tonnes of uranium oxide a year, once it expands its Olympic Dam mine in South Australia.
The Darwin Lord Mayor, Graeme Sawyer, says this poses a range of issues, including possible leakage during cyclones and tidal storm surges.
BHP have made some assurances that the stuff that they’re dealing with is not on the high end of the dangerous scale,” Mr Sawyer said.
“But we’d like some independent analysis of that and a range of assurances on some of it.
“There’s going to be some material on that site which needs to be very safely handled so there’s a whole range of issues.”
Yellowcake cyclone impact concerns council – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Some ‘ethical’ funds invest in uranium
……….After a decade-long share-market boom – only marginally clouded by the reversals of early June – ethical investing has moved from the margins to the mainstream………………..
the pioneering idealists that started the industry suddenly face stiff competition. What’s more, the working definition of “ethical” becomes malleable…………..……………The stakes have risen so high because of compulsory superannuation. On 1 July 2005, “superannuation choice” became law, allowing employees to choose where they invest their superannuation money.
……………..some ethical funds have invested in the asbestos company James Hardie and the uranium miner BHP…………….
………………..One of the oldest and largest ethical funds on the ASX is Australian Ethical Investment, which has led the pack in banning Woolworths after its move into gambling. But AEI is suffering because of its hardline approach. Many of its rivals are growing faster than it is. While AEI and other traditional funds still espouse such high-minded ideals as “the preservation of endangered eco-systems”, newer fund managers such as Ausbil Dexia talk about “ethical opportunities”.
BHP Billiton caught in U.S. climate change scandal
BHP Billiton caught in US climate change scandal
Sydney Morning Herald August 13 2009
Marian Wilkinson Environment Editor
BHP BILLITON and two other leading US energy companies operating in Australia have been caught up in a lobbying scandal that was aimed at defeating the landmark US climate change bill but is now under investigation by a congressional committee.
The scandal involves 12 forged letters sent to members of Congress urging them to vote against the US climate change bill. The bill, which was passed by the US House of Representatives in June, is designed to cut America’s greenhouse gas pollution and promote clean energy.
The forged letters were purportedly sent by grassroots groups in coalmining districts to three Democratic members. But a Washington lobby firm working on behalf of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity admitted that an employee forged the letters and faxed them.
BHP Billiton is a prominent member of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity along with Peabody Energy, America’s biggest coal company which owns mines in NSW and Queensland, and Chevron Mining which has two major gas projects in north west Australia.
The Democratic congressman Ed Markey, who co-sponsored the US climate change bill, announced an investigation into the forged letters calling them ”an appalling abuse” and saying his committee would be examining the scope and extent of fraud in the lobbying campaign against the bill.
Australia: a nuclear waste colony?
by Christina Macopherson 11 August 09
Australia started out as a colony of Britain. We became a strategic and cultural colony of Los Angeles. We’re sort of a beginning economic colony of China and others.
But hey! Australia can become a nuclear waste colony of everybody! This idea has been on the table since Pangea in the 1970’s , and since John White’s Australian Nuclear Fuel Leasing (ANFL)in more recent years.They spent $45 million up until Sept 2007 in promoting this.
“Such companies are effectively “middlemen” in the nuclear fuel industry and are likely to be sustained so long as the volume of Australian uranium exports is maintained or increased. …Herald Sun George Lekakis – February 28, 2007.……………”
Govt and media silence on uranium/nuclear issues
by Christina Macpherson 10 August 09 Almost 4000 submissions were received by the South Australian government, in response to BHPBilliton’s Environmental Impact Statement on their plan to create the world’s biggest hole, and biggest uranium tailings pile at Roxby Downs.
This momentous proposal has barely got a mention in the mainstream media.
The Australian government and the mainstream media seem to be coyly ignoring big questions of the moment. The Olympic Dam (Roxby Downs) uranium mine expansion is just one of them.
Also behind the scenes, machinations are going on between uranium/nuclear corporations and government to quiettly condition the Australian public, and particularly the aboriginal community, to the idea that a nuclear waste dump is a fine thing, and that nuclear power plants swill inevitably come in Australia
Many public submissions on BHPB’s plan to expand uranium mine
Australia may supply uranium to India
(More Australian news at nuclear news Australia )
Australia may supply uranium to India for JV power plants
indian express.con. Aug 07, 2009 Cairns:
India expressed its interest in having civil nuclear cooperation with Australia amid indications that the two countries are likely to sign an energy agreement in November under which Australia may supply uranium for joint venture power plants.
Australia’s policy of not supplying uranium to countries that have not signed the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) was noted by External Affairs Minister S M Krishna who had discussions on a wide variety of bilateral subjects with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his counterpart Stephen Smith.
…………………Rudd is expected to visit India in November when the two countries are likely to sign an “Energy Declaration” for generation of nuclear power for which his country may supply uranium.
Evidence of cancer in the environment near uranium mines
(Australia) (For more Australian news go to
Is there evidence of cancer in the environment near uranium mines?
Arch1 5 August 09
The British Columbia Medical Association had this to say in 1988:
“Epidemiological and experimental evidence indicates that alpha radiation [from radon] is more effective (per unit dose) in producing cancer when exposure is at low dose rates over long periods of time, than when the equivalent dose is given at a high rate for short periods of time.(26)
`Uranium tailings will remain radioactive for hundreds of thousands of years, and will require such expensive long-term surveillance and maintenance by government and the local citizenry as to make statements about uranium mining providing revenue very misleading’
They also concluded that nuclear industry proponents have tended to minimize risk through lack of knowledge, generalizations, quoting outdated studies, dilution of risk estimates, unsubstantiated arguments, personal bias, basing conclusions on inadequate studies, doublethink, and assuming people cannot absorb the full truth…………..
Cancer, for example. Cases among Aborigines near Australia’s biggest uranium mine appear to be almost double the normal rate, according to a study by the Federal Government’s leading indigenous research body.
The study compared Aborigines diagnosed with cancer in the Kakadu region with the cancer rate among all Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory from 1994 to 2003.
It found the diagnosis rate was 90 per cent higher than expected in the Kakadu region, with 27 cases reported. If the diagnosis rate had been proportional to the territory’s overall Aboriginal population, there would have been 14 cases.
The study also found there had been no monitoring in the past 20 years of the Ranger mine’s impact on the health of local indigenous people. Yet since 1981, there have been more than 120 spillages and leaks of contaminated water at the mine, located in the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park.
http://arch1design.com/blog/?p=1859
Increased cancer, child deaths and deformities in uranium mining communities
(India) Uranium and the secret society
Arch1 5 August 09
“………….In a shocking report, the Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) has revealed facts regarding health hazards faced by miners working in the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) in the form of a detailed survey report.
The survey was undertaken by the organisation affiliated to Germany-based International Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) in association with Jharkhandi Organisation Against Radiation (JOAR).
The study was took place between May and August 2007. It was conducted in two different phases. While one survey concentrates on villages within the radius of 2.5 km from the mines, a similar one was undertaken in villages about 30 km from the mining areas.
A total of 2,118 households were studied in the first category, while another 1,956 households in the second category.
According to the survey, DPD found significant increases in congenital deformities and childhood deaths due to congenital deformities; increased sterility; and elevated numbers of deaths due to cancer.
http://arch1design.com/blog/?p=1859
Overuse of CT scans – radiation and cancer risk
(Australia) Doctors ‘cavalier’ on use of CT scans
THE AUSTRALIAN Adam Cresswell, Health editor | August 07, 2009
A CONTROVERSY over excessive ordering of CT scans has widened, with the Medicare watchdog saying it is “horrified” that GPs are misusing the high-radiation technique for patients with uncomplicated back pain.
CT scans subject patients to 400 times more radiation than ordinary X-rays, and health experts warned this week that, despite the danger, doctors appeared to be referring patients for CT chest scans without good cause.
Now Tony Webber, the head of the federal government’s Professional Services Review that investigates doctors suspected of inappropriate practice and over-servicing, says he plans a crackdown on CT scans because doctors are making referrals “in a very cavalier fashion”.
CT, or computed tomography, scans pack in so much radiation that experts have estimated unnecessary chest CT scans alone could be responsible for 40 fatal cancers a year in Australia.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25894639-2702,00.html
Growing concern over the safety of Olympic Dam Expansion
(more Australian news at nuclear news Australia )
Greens growing concern over the safety of Olympic Dam Expansion
MINING SAFETY5 August 2009GREENS MLC Mark Parnell says that BHP Billiton ‘s Olympic Dam Expansion Environmental Impact Statement contains glaring omissions alongside startling impacts.
Parnell claims that there are holes in this EIS almost as big as the mine’s open pit. For example, there is a woeful description on the 242 million tonne waste rock heap – a heap that will be so large it will be visible 30 kms away, soar higher than the Santos building and contain millions of tonnes of uranium and acid.
Parnell says the EIS is also silent on long term dust management. More than 25,000,000 litres of water will be sprayed around the site each and every day to prevent toxic dust storms, but what happens when the mining stops?
In many sections of there statement there are reportedly ‘options’ given – some sound, but expensive; others cheap and nasty. The huge concern is that the Federal and State Governments will approve the mine first, and leave it to the company to decide which options they pursue later.
Greens growing concern over the safety of Olympic Dam Expansion – Mining Safety
Nuclear reactors – targets for terrorism
by Christina Macpherson. 6 August 09
The following article mentions the previous terrorist plots aimed at Australia. These include the 2002 plan to attack the Lucas heights nuclear reactor. In the most recent event, a terrorsit plot is alleged to attack a miltary base that is close to the research nuclear reactor.
Nuclear reactors, even small “research” reactors, form attractive targets for terrorists. Any country would be safer without themThe Global War on Terror, Australia’s latest foiled attack is only one of many.
The Wall Street Journal AUGUST 5, 2009,
The Obama Administration may have erased the phrase “global war on terror” from the American political lexicon, but the threat remains very real to countries around the globe. For the latest reminder, look to Australia.
On Tuesday, authorities Down Under detained five suspects alleged to be plotting a suicide mission against a military base in the Sydney suburbs. In a press conference, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd claimed the men were linked to al Shabaab, a Somali terrorist group with ties to al Qaeda.
If true, that means that Australians are now dealing with a brand new African front to their war on terror. But like Washington, Canberra was already facing a global menace. In Indonesia in recent years, jihadists have killed 92 Australian tourists in two successive attacks in Bali, attacked the Australian embassy in Jakarta and killed three in a hotel bombing. The threat at home is equally grave. Since 2002, authorities have foiled plots to attack a nuclear facility, the national electricity grid and packed sporting events…………………………Australia may have foiled a big attack on Tuesday. But the global war on terror continues.
Lucas Heights nuclear reactor a target for latest terrorists
The Age, Britt SmithAugust 4, 2009 Holsworthy Barracks on Sydney’s outskirts, the alleged target of a suspected terrorist suicide attack, is home to thousands of troops and a major anti-terrorist unit………
….Its eastern boundary is near the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor…………………
Police say they foiled a mission by Islamic terrorists to launch a suicide shoot-out on Holsworthy in what they say would have been the worst-ever terrorist attack on Australian soil.
Labor violated nuclear waste promise
(Australian) Labor violated nuclear waste promise
ABC News Alice Springs 4 August 09
The Greens have accused the Federal Government of a huge violation of its commitment to repeal legislation forcing a nuclear waste facility on the Northern Territory.Labor made an election promise in 2007 to repeal the Radioactive Waste Management Act and maintains it will happen before next year’s federal election.Greens’ nuclear spokesman Senator Scott Ludlam is in Alice Springs this week discussing nuclear issues with concerned residents.He says the legislation needs to be repealed to take the pressure off people living near the four proposed nuclear waste sites.
“We had a Senate inquiry which I initiated, which came out here and recommended very strongly to the Government that the legislation be repealed in the first half of this year,” he said.”That clearly has not happened.”The [Government] said we will announce a site and then consult, which is in clear breach of the promise that the ALP took to the election.”
ABC Alice Springs – Labor violated nuclear waste promise: Greens
BHP Billiton tries to get free permits for greenhouse emissions
(Australian) Emissions will rise under Olympic Dam plan: greens
Sydney Morning Herald Marian Wilkinson Environment Editor August 3, 2009
BHP-Billiton’s plan to dig the biggest open-cut uranium and copper mine in the world is under attack from environmental groups who claim it will send greenhouse gas emissions soaring in the home state of the Climate Change Minister, Penny Wong.The battle over the massive expansion of the Olympic Dam mine in South Australia comes as mining companies are in talks with the Government over whether the copper industry will be granted free permits to cover greenhouse gas emissions because of export competition from countries such as Chile.If the talks are successful, BHP could be shielded from some of the high costs of greenhouse pollution associated with the mine’s expansion under the Government’s carbon pollution reduction scheme.
BHP estimates that the expanded Olympic Dam mine could produce up to 4.7 million tonnes (4.7 megatonnes) of greenhouse emissions every year at its peak, according to its environmental impact statement, which is on display. That figure is close to 1 per cent of Australia’s total greenhouse gas emissions today.
The Australian Conservation Foundation estimates that by 2020 the mine’s expansion will increase South Australia’s emissions by about 12.4 per cent a year.
A spokeswoman for Senator Wong told the Herald yesterday the copper industry ‘‘is working with the Department of Climate Change to assess copper’s eligibility’’ for free permits under the Government’s scheme and whether it qualifies.
Uranium mining is not considered eligible for free permits under the Government’s scheme but Olympic Dam’s main product will be its huge copper reserves.
Public submissions to the state and federal Labor governments on BHP’s environmental statement close this week.
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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