AUSTRALIA « nuclear-news

Unprecedented heavy rains made Ranger uranium pit wall unstable

The company said access to higher-grade ore in the lower levels of the open pit had been reduced, due mainly to instability on one of the pit walls and record rainfall at the mine in April.

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. Continue reading →

July 14, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA, climate change | antinuclear, AUSTRALIA, climate change, uranium | Leave a comment

World’s planned biggest uranium mine getting too costly

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,

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, Continue reading →

July 12, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA, business and costs | antinuclear, AUSTRALIA, nuclear costs, uranium | Leave a comment

World remembers tragedy of Rainbow Warrior

Rainbow Warrior fallout still felt, 25 years on * Rowan Callick, The Australian * July 10, 2010 “…….Around the world, the blowing up of the Greenpeace boat Rainbow Warrior in Auckland, 25 years ago today, still reverberates. Continue reading →

July 12, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | AUSTRALIA, nuclear | Leave a comment

AREVA’s financial problems with new nuclear reactors

Finnish delays headache for French nuclear firm PARIS (AFP) 28 June 2010, – Standard & Poor’s said on Monday it had lowered its rating on French nuclear group Areva by two notches because of delays to the construction of a reactor in Finland.The agency downgraded Areva to BBB+/A-2 from A/A-1, citing the company’s announcement of an additional provision of 400 million euros (493 million dollars) for the Finnish European Pressurised Reactor project…… Continue reading →

July 10, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, France | AREVA, AUSTRALIA, France, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

The movement for a Nuclear Free Pacific

VIDEO NZ On Screen – A Nuclear Free Pacific (Niuklia Fri Pasifik) , 10 July 2010, This documentary travels to nine Pacific nations, including New Zealand, to chronicle the long struggle to create a regional nuclear arms free zone. Interviews with politicians, activists, radiation victims and American and French admirals are counterpointed. When hopes of a treaty are dashed at a South Pacific Forum meet, it is pointed out that the David Lange-trumpeted independence of NZ’s nuclear free policy is evidently “not for export”. Local music scores the doco, including Australia’s Midnight Oil, whose lead singer (future MP Peter Garrett) is interviewed.

July 10, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | OCEANIA, weapons and war | antinuclear, AUSTRALIA, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear technology, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

USA federal govt threatening financial renewable eneergy initiatives

The PACE program provides a great incentive for homeowners to switch to renewable energy or reduce their energy consumption….If PACE is to be saved, the Obama Administration needs to send a clear message to all federal agencies, including those bailed-out, quasi-private bodies like Fannie and Freddie, to get on the green energy train. Today.

The Federal Government Attacks Creative Local Green Energy Finance, THE HUFFINGTON POST, July 8, 2010 Continue reading →

July 9, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | renewable, USA | antinuclear, AUSTRALIA, energy efficiency, renewable energy, renewables, solar, wind | Leave a comment

Australia’s strategy to get Aboriginal land for mining and nuclear industry

Through the intervention, the government is weakening land rights. It is clear who [uranium miners] will benefit as Aboriginal people move off their land, settle in larger towns and lose connection with country.

What’s behind the NT intervention? | Green Left Weekly. July 3, 2010 By Peter Robson, Continue reading →

July 9, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA, indigenous issues | antinuclear, AUSTRALIA, nuclear, nuclear weapons, uranium | Leave a comment

Civil Liability Bill for the benefit of USA nuclear industry, not India

In the event of a tragedy, tax payers will have to cough up the compensation while foreign companies will go scot free,… foreign nuclear companies have seen their market dry up in the US, UK and France because no new plants have been set up there in 20-30 years, and therefore, India was a plum market. And it is with an eye on securing these companies’ interests that the US and other developed nations are insisting that India pass the Nuclear Civil Liability Bill.

Public hearing nukes civil liability bill Indian Express07 Jul 2010 HYDERABAD: Speakers at a public consultation on the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill 2010 held here today pilloried the Union government for learning nothing from the Bhopal gas tregady. They described as a sellout the Bill’s provision to impose a ceiling on the compensation payable by foreign nuclear suppliers in the eventuality of a nuclear accident. Continue reading →

July 8, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | India, politics international | AUSTRALIA, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, uranium | Leave a comment

The (carbon free) power of energy efficiency

Energy Efficiency: Twice the Impact of Renewables, Nuclear and Clean Coal. Combined. : TreeHugger, by Warren McLaren, Bundanoon, Australia 07. 6.10 “The International Energy Agency estimates that energy efficiency will deliver 65 per cent of worldwide carbon cuts in the energy sector by 2020, and 54 per cent by 2030. This means that in 2020 energy efficiency could have almost twice the impact of renewable energy, nuclear power and clean coal combined Continue reading →

July 7, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA, ENERGY | antinuclear, AUSTRALIA, climate change, energy efficiency, global warming, renewable energy, renewables | Leave a comment

New Australian govt tax panders to uranium miner BHP Billiton

Most importantly, the new tax will not affect BHP Billiton’s $23 billion plan to expand the massive Olympic Dam mine, the world’s biggest uranium deposit

A dog’s breakfast * Robin Bromby The Australian * July 02, So let’s get this right about the new mining resources rent tax. BHP Billiton will pay the new tax on the coal …….. but not on what it rips out of the ground at Olympic Dam in South Australia (the world’s largest uranium deposit, and another non-replaceable asset) …. Continue reading →

July 2, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA, politics | antinuclear, AUSTRALIA, nuclear, uranium | Leave a comment

USA Congress to fund nuclear industry, cut education funding

Congress brazenly puts the interests of corporations above the needs of regular Americans, including teachers and children. This is further proof our political system has been corrupted by corporate influence and special interests.

Nuke Industry Bullies Students, Demands Lunch Money. House Democrats choose pre-emptive bailout for nuclear industry over preventing teacher layoffs. Common Dreams WASHINGTON – July 1
This week, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on supplemental appropriations for the war in Afghanistan and several domestic programs. The domestic program funding preserves $9 billion in loan guarantees for nuclear reactors, while cutting $13 billion in funds to prevent teacher layoffs. Continue reading →

July 2, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | AUSTRALIA, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin | Leave a comment

Claim that Dubai ports used to smuggle nuclear equipment to Iran

Iran uses Dubai ports to smuggle nuclear equipment, Jewish News, Jul 01, 2010 According to the “Telegraph“, Hamad al-Kaabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency, was quoted saying earlier today that “Security forces have interdicted scores of ships suspected of carrying illicit cargo and seized numerous sensitive shipments that could be used for the manufacture of weapons systems, including specialized aluminum sheets, titanium, high-speed computers and sophisticated machine tools.”Mr al-Kaabi added: “The UAE has implemented many notable United Nations security council resolutions. A lot of these have banned certain goods going to certain countries.” Additionally, at a meeting of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism in Abu Dhabi, a senior figure revealed the extent of the trade in weapons and “dual-use” goods. According to this source, officials have admitted that Dubai is being used by Iran as a transit point for smuggling both money and illegal goods….

Iran uses Dubai ports to smuggle nuclear equipment | World of Judaica

July 2, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | MIDDLE EAST, secrets,lies and civil liberties | AUSTRALIA, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear technology, nuclear weapons | 1 Comment

Court ruling in facour of anti uranium protestors

Anti-uranium protesters win legal costs from SA Government , ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), 30 June 2010, A court has ordered the South Australian Government to pay the legal bills of nine people who were assaulted and unlawfully detained during an anti-uranium protest. Continue reading →

June 30, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA, Legal | antinuclear, AUSTRALIA, nuclear, nuclear costs, uranium | Leave a comment

Land grab from Australian Aboriginals for the nuclear industry

Uranium mining has to go, along with the racist government policies used to justify and continue the theft of Aboriginal land.

Youth candidates to witness NT intervention , Zane Alcorn, candidate for Newcastle , Green Left Weekly, 26 June 2010, We need to stand behind the first people of this country and fight for their land and cultural rights. The government’s so-called concern for Aboriginal welfare and living conditions is nothing but a cloak for a blatant land grab.

The uranium-rich land of central Australia is coveted by government and private mining corporations alike. Aboriginal land rights are a direct threat to this potential source of huge wealth. Continue reading →

June 28, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA, indigenous issues | antinuclear, AUSTRALIA, indigenous, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, radiation, radioactive, uranium | 1 Comment

Australia’s new Prime Minister will fight for a carbon tax

Gillard to fight for carbon tax, ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), Jun 27, 2010 Prime Minister Julia Gillard says she wants Australia to have a carbon tax and is prepared to fight for it.
Ms Gillard told the Nine Network this morning she had doubts about the emissions trading scheme because there was no lasting and deep community consensus for it….
Ms Gillard says she will work to get a price on carbon.”I believe in climate change. I believe it’s caused by human activity and I believe we have an obligation to act,” she said.

Gillard to fight for carbon tax – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

June 28, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA, climate change | AUSTRALIA, climate change, global warming | Leave a comment