Highlights of the week in nuclear news

News about these items, and links to sources can be found at www.antinuclear.net and at www.nuclear-news.net

AUSTRALIA

NATIONAL As two of Port Augusta's coal-fired power stations are shuttering, a rally on Sunday 30/9 will highlight a strong community push for solar energy, encouraged by Greens senator Hanson Young

Australian government continues to feign ignorance, as newly released US Air Force documents prove that the USA govt classifies Julian Assange as an enemy of the State, in the same category as al Qaeda and Taliban terrorists.

In New York, Prime Minister Julia Gillard had quiet talks with Indian representatives. When she visits India soon, she will be signing Australia up to the first Australian country-to-country agreement to sell the yellow cake to a country outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Former Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser strongly criticises the Australian Government's subservience to USA, and warns of the danger as Australia becomes locked in to USA's militaristic policies of "containing China" in the Pacific region.

South Australia: Olympic Dam uranium mine. BHP wants to extend the South Australian government's approval for the mine expansion for another 46 months. There's absolutely no improvement in sight for uranium prices, or copper either. Is this all done to keep BHP's "foot in door" and sweeten up SA govt for even more concessions whenever BHP wants them?

Wind energy causing a little windstorm, as one man finds he can set up a small (6 metre high) wind turbine at his home, without needing Council consent. The fossil fuel lobby's favourite political Party, Family First, has sprung to the rescue, with an effort to prevent this.

Western Australia Aboriginal leaders of Western Australians Nuclear-Free Alliance (WANFA) gear up for a determined battle to stop uranium mining at Wiluna and Yeelirrie.

Queensland The Federal Government's Climate Change Commission reports on Queensland's special vulnerability to climate change, but that does not affect the Newman government's war on renewable energy.

INTERNATIONAL

Uranium industry - keeps getting hyped by lobbyists, but the gloomy future market outlook remains.

Oil companies plan to drill in the Arctic Kara sea - exactly where the Soviet Union dumped 25 years' worth of radioactive wastes, including a nuclear reactor.

Japan. Under pressure from nuclear lobby, Japan contemplates reviving their very dangerous Monju nuclear reprocessing plant.

USA's new nuclear industry halted as there's nowhere to put their accumulating piles of nuclear wastes.

UK. Military chiefs not happy with super expensive, but useless Trident nuclear missile 'deterrent'

India; Kudankulam nuclear plant project before the Supreme Court - it could halt the project.