Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items

Despite Abbott, Liberal Coalition plans for nuclear power

“We believe people should be given facts, not hysteria”….So you’ll see Australia under an Abbott government working with other countries as other countries develop their nuclear industries..”

Nuclear debate still open,  Stock & Land, 14 July, 2010, “………… many in Australia’s uranium industry and the Coalition itself expect a debate about clean (?) energy supplies that will point towards developing a local nuclear capacity.

Opposition resources spokesman Ian Macfarlane has been open about the Coalition’s longer-term position. Continue reading

July 15, 2010 Posted by | General News, uranium | , , , | Leave a comment

Anerican Indian tribes resist nuclear waste storage

Tribes: Nuclear waste can’t be stored at Hanford, Google hosted news, (AP) – 15 July 2010, RICHLAND, Wash. — Northwest American Indian tribes say highly radioactive waste cannot be permanently stored at the nation’s most contaminated nuclear site. Members of the Yakama, Nez Perce, Umatilla and Wanapum tribes on Wednesday addressed a commission appointed by President Barack Obama to examine U.S. disposal of radioactive waste. It was prompted by his decision not to proceed with the Yucca Mountain waste repository in Nevada…..

The Associated Press: Tribes: Nuclear waste can’t be stored at Hanford

July 15, 2010 Posted by | uranium | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

USA-Australia Nuclear Co-operation Agreement

Does the Australian public know anything about this?

If not opposed by a joint resolution of disapproval or other legislation, then the agreement will be considered approved at the end of this time period.

U.S.-Australia Civilian Nuclear Cooperation: Issues for Congress, East Asia: , 14 July 2010, Mary Beth Nikitin, Bruce Vaughn Australia and the United States have cooperated in the peaceful use of nuclear energy since the mid-1950s. The framework for this cooperation is a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement as required by section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act. President Obama transmitted the proposed text of the latest renewal agreement to Congress on May 5, 2010, Continue reading

July 15, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics international, uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Australia’s uranium not looking like a good investment

Uranium Struggles FNArena News – July 13 2010 By Greg Peel “……..Given uranium being “out of favour” in Citi’s eyes, the broker last week downgraded its earnings forecasts for Australia’s two major pure-play uranium producers, Paladin Energy (PDN) and Energy Resources of Australia ((ERA)). Citi suggests the uranium market looks adequately supplied for now.

Paladin copped a 40% earnings forecast reduction in FY11-12 due to lower than expected spot prices and higher than expected costs, leading to a target price reduction from $5.40 to $4.40 (FNArena consensus $4.09). ERA’s cut is only 6-9% in FY11-12 given the offsetting drop in the Aussie dollar, but Citi’s target falls from $23.30 to $15.10 (consensus $16.92).

July 15, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, business, uranium | , , , | Leave a comment

Pre election, Abbott dancing around on nuclear power

We have no plans to promote ­nuclear power. We have no plans for ­local plebiscites. Nuclear power is not on the agenda at this time and I have no plans to put it on the agenda,” Mr Abbott said.

Poll-conscious Abbott dodges nuclear issue, Stock & Land, 13 Jul, 2010 OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott has been forced to rule out going to the federal election with any plans to promote the use of nuclear power as a solution to climate change despite support by some Liberal and National members of Parliament. Continue reading

July 14, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics, uranium | , , , | Leave a comment

Nuclear industry’s poor outlook – latest International Energy Agency Report

the nuclear scenario remains much the same as it was two years ago………..On the whole the 2010 Energy Technology Perspectives brings bad news for the nuclear industry

Bad news for nuclear in the International Energy Agency’s Energy Technology Perspectives report | Greenpeace International, 14 July 2010, Every two years the International Energy Agency, the ‘intergovernmental organisation which acts as energy policy advisor to 28 member countries in their effort to ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for their citizens’, releases its Energy Technology Perspectives report. Continue reading

July 14, 2010 Posted by | energy, uranium | , , , , | Leave a comment

Big Mining’s removal of Rudd may cost them backlash

Julia Gillard’s quick fix essentially gave the big miners open slather to rewrite the new tax to suit themselves……Both BHP and Rio Tinto have acted entirely logically and within the law by attempting to minimise their tax and maximise their profits for shareholders. But the win in Australia, with their very public display of power, may cost them dearly elsewhere.

Big-talking giants may come down with a thud, Sydney Morning Herald, Ian Verrender, July 13, 2010 f the European Union had reservations about the iron ore tie-up between the mining giants BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto, it no doubt would have been stunned by Tom Albanese’s extraordinary remarks in London last week…….. Continue reading

July 14, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics international, uranium | , , , , | Leave a comment

Did Notre Dame University chicken out on Kimberley uranium debate?

a public forum was scheduled to run at Notre Dame University’s Broome campus but the university has since pulled out

Green group blasts Uni over forum pull-out ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Jul 13, 2010 The Australian Conservation Fund says it is disappointed by a university’s decision to pull out from hosting a forum on uranium mining in the Kimberley, amid controversy over the subject. Continue reading

July 14, 2010 Posted by | civil liberties, uranium, Western Australia | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Prices down and extreme weather affected uranium mine

Uranium output to fall 18 per cent: ERA | The Australian, 14 July 2010, ENERGY Resources of Australia (ERA) has flagged a drop in uranium oxide production of up to 18 per cent a year after its first-half output slumped, due largely to record rainfall affecting operations. Shares in ERA closed 68¢, or 4.62 per cent, lower at $14.05. Continue reading

July 14, 2010 Posted by | business, Northern Territory, uranium | , , , , | Leave a comment

Did radiation from nuclear testing spread from Icelandic volcano?

VIDEO  Iceland Volcano A-Bomb! Toxic Nuclear Fallout on Europe to Australia! 4/17/10 | eyescoops.ca July 13, 2010 Warning to stay inside – 3 layers of nuclear fallout in the ICE CORES  ……… the news is not reporting on this. that’s sadder then sad.
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July 14, 2010 Posted by | uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Nuclear and fossil fuel lobby’s dilemma over carbon price

The big producers of fossil fuels and uranium, having safely disposed of Kevin Rudd and his resources profit tax, are now treading carefully on the Climate Change issue.  They and the servile mass media did a good job on discrediting Climate Change – so we wouldn’t need to do anything about carbon emissions. The idea is to keep coal roaring on until it can be replaced by nuclear power.

The problem is that their pitch on nuclear power is that it’s the answer to global warming , (even though global warming isn’t supposed to be  real or man-made).  Therefore  Australia would need a carbon price,  shudder! a carbon tax!

No wonder Ziggy Spinowski’s  being a bit quiet these pre-election days!

July 13, 2010 Posted by | Christina reviews, climate change - global warming, uranium | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Australia’s nuclear lobby needs a carbon price – how embarassing!

John Howard asked Ziggy Switkowski in 2006 to look at nuclear power, and Switkowski told him it couldn’t happen without a carbon price. So, no nuclear power without a “great big new tax”……

No carbon price? You’re being conned | Crikey, 12 July, by Bernard Keane “……..The Coalition is dead keen on nuclear but won’t ever move without Labor giving them cover. But as Crikey showed in November last year, nuclear power is ludicrously expensive and needs massive taxpayer support, otherwise it costs a lot more to build and more to operate than renewables. And that’s before you figure out where to park the waste for a few hundreds of thousands of years or decommission reactors. Continue reading

July 13, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, energy, politics, uranium | , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

In the crooked world of uranium mining deals

Alliance contends that Quasar “engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct” in contravention of Australian trading laws and that Heathgate “assisted or participated in the contraventions committed by Quasar.”……

Alliance takes Four Mile partner to court, World Nuclear News, 12 July 2010 Australia’s Alliance Resources has taken Quasar Resources and Heathgate Resources to court over their failure to disclose information related to the exploration of the Four Mile uranium project in South Australia. Continue reading

July 13, 2010 Posted by | legal, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Recognising an Australian anti-nuclear hero

Dr. Caldicott gives lectures and hosts a weekly radio show called If You Love This Planet, which covers issues such as global warming, nuclear weapons, nuclear power, toxic pollution, hunger and poverty, and species extinction in an hour-long, in-depth format.

Heroes of Sustainability: Dr. Helen Caldicott and The Ultimate Form of Preventive Medicine Dolphinblueinc’s Blog, 12 July 2010 “She showed me what one set-on-fire human being can do to shift the consciousness of the world.”  –Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking Continue reading

July 13, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, people, uranium | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Costs and low uranium prices put Olympic Dam expansion at risk

BHP’s Olympic Dam expansion under pressure, Business Spectator 12 Jul 2010 BHP Billiton Ltd’s $US20 billion Olympic Dam expansion in Australia may be delayed by a protracted environmental assessment and cost, the Australian Financial Review reports. The recent softening prices for Olympic Dam’s key minerals, especially uranium, and a significant increase in the required capital is also understood to be weighing on BHP, the paper said. Continue reading

July 12, 2010 Posted by | Olympic Dam, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment