Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items

Australian govt disregards expert committee, in selling uranium to Russia

The Federal Government’s decision to sell uranium to Russia flies in the face of the recommendations of a parliamentary committee and fuels global nuclear insecurity,

Australian Conservation Foundation, David Noonan, David Sweeney, 12 Nov 2010, In 2008 the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties recommended the Government not proceed with a treaty to export uranium to Russia. Continue reading

November 12, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics international, uranium | , , , , | Leave a comment

Closure of Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor may signal end of nuclear industry

With the Green Mountain State’s newly elected pro-green governor and legislature, Yankee may be the first domino to fall in a chain of leaky, rickety, increasingly dangerous elder nukes. With them would go a serious premise of a nuclear future.

Vermont Votes No Nukes, THE HUFFINGTON POST, Harvey Wasserman: , 10 Nov 10, Vermont has elected a governor pledged to make the state truly green by shutting its decrepit, leaking nuclear plant. And the town closest to that reactor has voted to take it by eminent domain if necessary, a step unprecedented in world history. Continue reading

November 11, 2010 Posted by | uranium | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Indian govt presses on with Meghalaya uranium mining, despite public opposition

‘How can we allow them to start this mining project when they themselves cannot give satisfactory answers on health and environment impact of uranium mining,’

Meghalaya civil groups oppose uranium mining project Shillong,  sify news, Nov 10 (IANS) Anti-mining groups in Meghalaya Wednesday vowed that they would continue to oppose a uranium mining project, while the central government set 2012 as the year to start mining in the state’s West Khasi Hills district. Continue reading

November 10, 2010 Posted by | uranium | , , , , | Leave a comment

German protestors from all walks of life inspire global anti-nuclear movement

The anti-CASTOR protestors have set an example for the whole world of the raw power of peaceful protest to challenge both government and the nuclear industry. Their historic resistance this weekend will no doubt continue to be an inspiration for all of us working towards a future where dangerous nuclear energy is a thing of the past.

Raw power of peaceful protest: 10,000 people take direct action against nuclear transport | Greenpeace International by Laura K. – November 8, 2010 From Australia to Canada, from India to the UK – the world is watching the ongoing protest of the CASTOR nuclear transport in Germany. Continue reading

November 9, 2010 Posted by | uranium | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bad timing: Obama promotes nuclear power as its safety problems mount

The problems all occurred within days of President Obama’s post-election press conference in which he promoted restarting the U.S. nuclear power industry. His remarks came after heavy spending by the nuclear power industry during the recent election cycle.

As Obama pushes nuclear industry’s expansion, its safety troubles mount, FACING SOUTH, By Sue Sturgis on November 8, 2010, Continue reading

November 9, 2010 Posted by | uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Water use, radiation hazard, in Cameco’s planned Pilbara uranium mine

Cameco’s Kintyre Uranium Project report details risks to mine workers from radiation exposure, the potential for groundwater contamination and the spread of radioactive dust and its potential to endanger flora and fauna.

Radiation fear for Pilbara uraium mine workers * Narelle Towie,   The Sunday Times  November 08, 2010 A CANADIAN company plans to draw five million litres of water a day – two Olympic-sized pools – to operate a uranium mine on the edge of a Pilbara national park. Continue reading

November 9, 2010 Posted by | environment, uranium, water, Western Australia | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

German anti-nuclear protest now a mainstream movement

“The main difference between the ’70s and ’80s, when this all started, is today it’s a mainstream issue at the centre of the society,” …… “It is not just the ecological fringe.”

Despite protests, nuclear waste arrives in northern Germany – thestar.com. Michael Slackman New York Times, 9 Nov 10, lBERLIN—After three days of protests and occasional violent clashes with the police, a train hauling 123 tonnes of nuclear waste arrived Monday in northern Germany. Continue reading

November 9, 2010 Posted by | uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Massive protest in Germany highlights anti-nuclear feeling

What has made this particular demonstration so explosive is the coincidence of this transport of nuclear waste with the government’s decision to overturn former legislation aimed at phasing out nuclear power by around 2020.

Mounting disappointments boost anti-nuclear protests   Deutsche Welle,   Ben Knight,   08.11.2010 “……..The ongoing civil disobedience campaign against a train delivery of nuclear waste to a storage facility in Gorleben is being reported as one of the biggest of its kind ever in Germany. Continue reading

November 9, 2010 Posted by | uranium | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cameco Paladin uranium companies having second thoughts on Alice Springs mine plan

Cameco Paladin says the Government’s decision to oppose any plans to mine the Angela Pamela site, despite granting the company an exploration licence, has created uncertainty for the project.

Mining company reconsiders scale of uranium project, – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), By Amy Marshall d Mon Nov 8, 2010 A mining company exploring for uranium at a site near Alice Springs says it will reconsider the scale of its project in light of opposition from the Northern Territory Government. Continue reading

November 9, 2010 Posted by | business, Northern Territory, uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Martin Ferguson can over-ride Northern Territory Govt on Cameco uranium mine

The Mining Act (NT) requires the relevant Northern Territory Minister to exercise his or her powers in accordance with, and give effect to, the advice of the relevant Federal Minister in relation to uranium …… The Federal Minister’s position is not known.- [oh yeah!]

Nt government opposes uranium mine  Lexology Margaret Michaels   November 3 2010 The Northern Territory Government is opposed to a uranium mine at Angela Pamela, but the decision is up to the Federal Government. Continue reading

November 9, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics, uranium | , , , , | Leave a comment

Cameco uranium company’s profit tumbles

Cameco profit tumbles on higher costs – The Globe and Mail, 8 Nov 10, Cameco (CCO-T35.982.828.50%)says its profit tumbled 43 per cent in the third quarter as lower uranium deliveries weakened results.The Saskatoon-based company said net income was $98-million, or 25 cents per share, a drop from $172-million or 44 cents per share a year earlier…..

November 9, 2010 Posted by | uranium | , , , | Leave a comment

Woomera ‘prohibited’ zone to have both uranium mining and weapons testing

The region is synonymous with the testing of long range missiles and rockets during the Cold War and is still used by the military for weapons testing. The Resources Minister Martin Ferguson said that the new recommendation is that the miners and the military would be both operating at some sections of the land on a time share basis.

Australia May Tap Restricted Area of Woomera for Natural Resources [uranium mining] Azomining, By Joel Scanlon, 9 Nov 10, The Woomera weapons testing range in South Australia’s outback will be downsized to allow mining in the region as per a federal government report recommendation. Vast restricted areas of South Australia will be opened up to mining companies including foreign investors if the review is considered favourably. Continue reading

November 9, 2010 Posted by | South Australia, uranium, weapons and war | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The nuclear industry’s close connection to bombs

The nuclear industry has been boasting in recent years that it is on the verge of a renaissance, with scores of new countries interested in nuclear power as part of an “energy mix” to decrease greenhouse gas emissions ….There’s a security concern associated with that. The nuclear fuel cycle for reactors begins by enriching uranium until it can sustain a nuclear reaction, and it ends with the production of plutonium. Both are processes that create material for bombs. There is a line between nuclear power and nuclear weapons, but it’s thinner than the nuclear industry would want us to believe.

Fissile Material Smuggling and the Nuclear Renaissance,  TIME.com, by Eben Harrell , November 8, 2010 There was a very scary story out of Georgia today after two Armenian men pleaded guilty during a secret trial to smuggling highly enriched uranium into the former Soviet state and trying to sell it to an undercover agent posing as a representative of Islamic radicals. Continue reading

November 9, 2010 Posted by | uranium | , , , | Leave a comment

Clinton visit digs Australia more deeply into USA war machine

Reports from the mainstream press reveal the visit is part of the Gillard government’s increasing involvement in the U.S. War machine….A new U.S. Space Warfare Base in West Australia

U.S. war criminals in Oz as Australia boosts its involvement in U.S. war machine | Indymedia Australia, 8 Nov 10, “……  The whole visit and itinerary has been kept secret, supposedly for “security” but more likely to prevent any public protests against U.S. imperialism and the U.S. Australian alliance. On the agenda for the talks include the development of new U.S. bases in Australia, Continue reading

November 8, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, uranium, weapons and war | , , , , | Leave a comment

European Union bans export of nuclear wastes

to put a stop to the current practice where EU member states, which do not want to store spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste on their territory, can pay countries outside the bloc to do the job for them…….The facilities would have to deal with material that can stay radioactive for up to one million years.

EU: Nuclear waste cannot be outsourced,  New Europe, 7 November 2010 – The European Commission on 3 November unveiled new proposals, stating that EU governments will be banned from offloading their nuclear waste onto third countries. Continue reading

November 8, 2010 Posted by | uranium | , , , , | Leave a comment