Australia’s contribution to nuclear war
Australians complacently think that big corporations, like BHP Billiton, and ERA, and others, can keep on digging up and selling off uranium, for “peaceful purposes”, without Australia playing any part in the dirty radioactive waste problem, or the even dirtier nuclear weapons proliferation. – our theme for April 2010 – NUCLEAR POWER and PEACE
Navajo’s Radioactive Legacy from Uranium Mining
Toxic legacy for tribes, High Country News, Caitlin Sislin | Mar 26, 2010 Earlier this month, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals approved a controversial permit for uranium mining operations at sites in Church Rock, New Mexico. The operation includes a site associated with the largest release of liquid radioactive waste in United States History — a catastrophe which continues, a generation later, to negatively impact the lives and health of Navajo people residing near the spill site. Continue reading
Pressure to use Oakajee as uranium port
“…there was scope to export products including uranium out of Oakajee, because it was relatively isolated.
A plan to export uranium through a port in a populated area would probably be opposed by the community….”
Barnett cool on Oakajee as uranium port, KATE EMERY AND PETER KERR, The West Australian, 26 March 2010, – Continue reading
W.A. premier rules out Oakajee port for uranium shipments
No uranium through Oakajee: Premier ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) 25 March 2010, The Premier Colin Barnett has ruled out using the proposed Oakajee deepwater port north of Geraldton to ship uranium products. Continue reading
USA- resuscitation of nuclear industry threatened by waste problem
Waste issue hurting U.S. nuclear revival-panel Lack of plan for waste seen hurting nuclear development Commission told to move beyond Yucca Mountain site Some lawmakers oppose plan to shut down Yucca By Ayesha Rascoe WASHINGTON, March 25 (Reuters) – The lack of a permanent home for the nation’s radioactive waste is dampening prospects for a resurgence of the U.S. nuclear industry, federal commissioners said at their first public hearing on the subject. Continue reading
Rudd’s “aboriginal policy” more of a “uranium miners’ policy”
the big mining companies have been pressuring Australian governments to allow the opening of more mines and the establishment of a nuclear waste dump. The forced or coopted loss of Aboriginal control of their land is an important step to achieving this.
Fight for Aboriginal Rights: Labor steps up racist NT land grab, By Hamish Chitts. Rudd would make a great snake-oil seller because for all his lofty words over the past year,…..
In June 2007 the Howard Coalition government used the Little Children are Sacred report into child abuse in remote Northern Territory Aboriginal communities to invade these communities under what it called the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER)……. the Rudd Labor government has not only maintained the NTER, but also extended it.. Continue reading
Appeal to help local communities attend Senate hearing on nuclear waste dump
“Traditional Owners, Tennant residents and Barkly region pastoralists are extremely disappointed that the Senate Committee will not sit in Tennant Creek. The distance and cost to travel to Darwin makes it impossible for the majority of concerned people to attend the hearing,”
A public appeal is being launched to raise funds for Muckaty Traditional Owners to attend a Senate Inquiry hearing in Darwin on April 12.
The Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee is considering the recently tabled National Radioactive Waste Management Bill 2010, which identifies an area in the Muckaty Land Trust as the only site to be initially considered for a radioactive waste dump. Continue reading
Review: waste dump, uranium to Russia, U.S. waste problem, depleted uranium
Review: Australia: A big week with the Howard-Rudd government pretending that all is well with Muckaty waste dump plans, despite growing opposition. Rudd govt also intending to follow Howard’s deal on uranium sales to Russia. Concern rising over unnecessary medical radiation .
International: Nuke waste problem threatens “nuclear renaissance”. Canadian doctors oppose uranium mining, UK fears of radioactive terrorist attack. More revelations of cancer, birth deformities, from depleted uranium. Impoverished Niger a magnet for uranium miners
Northern Territory “Intervention” in interests of uranium miners, not Aborigines
Without doubt, the so called ‘resource boom’ where the price of minerals, especially of uranium started climbing, had a major impact in the introduction of the NT intervention laws which permitted the government to reclaim aboriginal lands.
it is the mining companies and not the aboriginal people who stand to gain from the relocation of aboriginal people away from their land
Alyawarr (Australian Aboriginal) people walked off. They say “enough is enough ! Abolish Northern Territory Intervention ! jagath dheerasekara, 23 March 2010, ” Continue reading
Terrorist nuclear attack a likely result of developing nuclear technology
Legitimate uses for such materials also “significantly increases the risk that they may be diverted and exploited by terrorist organisations”….
BRITAIN FACES NUCLEAR THREAT FROM al-QAEDA, GOVERNMENT REPORT WARNS, San Francisco Sentinel, By Duncan Gardham;The London Telegraph, 23 March 2010, Britain faces an increased threat of a nuclear attack by al-Qaeda terrorists following a rise in the trafficking of radiological material, a government report has warned. Continue reading
Australian uranium miners salivating as they help Russia towards global nuclear dominance
Russia Offers Huge Market for Australian Miners …..as Moscow aggressively campaigns to be the top dog in the global nuclear industry.
Russia Expands Uranium Market Presence, Uranium Investing News, 24 March 2010, By Melissa Pistilli Against the advice of the Australian Federal Parliament’s treaties committee, the Rudd government is going forward with an agreement to allow sales of uranium to Russia. Continue reading
NRC says uranium wastes radioactive for 1000 years
Risk assessment a complex task – Experts described the top threat from uranium mining, and regulators cited thorough efforts, League of Individuals for the Environment, Inc, By Duncan Adams, 23 March 2010, One thousand years. If uranium mining and milling of ore happens someday near Chatham, Va., Virginia Uranium or another company involved could be required by Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations to design a disposal system that can safely impound mining wastes for a millennium. Continue reading
Aboriginal opposition to National Land Council’s Nuclear Waste Dump Agreement
“You and your organisation should be embarrassed hiding behind legislation that suspends the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (1976).”
N-dump anger The Guardian , 24 March 2010. Darren Coyne, Opposition is mounting against a proposal to site a national radioactive dump at Muckaty Station in the Northern Territory despite the Northern Land Council (NLC) insisting it has the support of traditional owners. Meetings, protests and angry statements have been the fall-out since a recent announcement by Federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson………… Continue reading
Canadian doctors make a stand against uranium mining
Residents have expressed concern that tailings from uranium mining and exploration could affect the quality of the air and contaminate local drinking water.
(Canada) Anti-uranium doctors renew threat to resign, March 22, 2010 CBC News
Nearly two-dozen doctors in Sept-Îles, Que., are renewing their threats to resign and leave the province after the government rejected calls for a moratorium on uranium mining and exploration in the region. Continue reading
Australian Aboriginals audio: No to Nuclear Waste Dump at Muckaty
Censored news, indymedia.org.au, 20 March 2010
Australian Aboriginals Audio: No to Nuclear Dump at Muckaty
AUSTRALIA: MUCKATY STATION NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP
http://wgar.info/
http://beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/
Nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory (2 Mar 10)http://indymedia.org.au/2010/03/02/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-in-the-northern-territory-2-mar-10–
Audio from Public meeting
Beyond Nuclear Initiative’s weblog: New audio uploaded
http://beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/2010/03/06/new-audio-uploaded/
Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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