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AUSTRALIA
Federal politics. Deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop joins in the growing chorus of Liberal, and some Labor politicians urging for nuclear power for Australia. Much Liberal-Labor wrangling going on about the carbon tax, the the Clean Energy Future legislation, renewable energy promotion and demotion. And I’m sorry, but I haven’t kept up with it too well.
Western Australia. Intrepid Traditional owners and international protesters are already on their way in their 250 Km walk from Yeelirrie to Leonora in protest against uranium mining. In addition to this strong local opposition, there are still many hurdles for the uranium industry to overcome, before Wiluna, or Yeelirrie uranium projects ever become operational. The most significant hurdle is the persistent fall in uranium prices.
Which brings me to the Australian media. The business pages continue to hype the market forecast for uranium mining. They must be relying on handouts from the uranium lobby, as the reality for the uranium market is quite the opposite – as demonstrated by the spectacular fall in earnings and share prices of leading uranium miner Cameco.
Northern Territory govt is bringing in a levy on mining companies, to raise money to clean up defunct old mines, like the still radioactive Rum Jungle uranium mine. It’s not going to be enough money – but this is still a welcome recognition that uranium mining companies should not get away scotfree, leaving their radioactive mess.
Victorian Health Department finds that wind turbines do not cause illness, but Premier Napthine and the Victorian Liberal govt apparently do not believe this, and are retaining the restrictions on wind farm development. However, a big global fund, Denham Capital Management, is joining with others to create OneWind Australia – investing in wind energy in New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania.
INTERNATIONAL
Fukushima has to be the top story, no matter how earnestly the mainstream media ignores it. The critical problem remains the constant flow of groundwater into the reactors, and the storage of this radioactive water in many tanks, now holding the equivalent of 112 Olympic-size pools. Tepco is clearing the nearby forest for more tanks, and is deliberating about emptying the radioactive water into the Pacific. Reports are coming in that the ground under Reactor No 4 is sinking – posing the danger of it collapsing.
Other reports tell of the quite heroic work of people saving and caring for animals in the evacuated area. One particular horseman, Tokuei Hosokawa, just won’t leave his horses – many of them sick – he cares for them until they die.
A very sad report on the psychological aspects of Fukushima – discrimination and fear add to the very real anxiety about ionising radiation. Fukushima’s children may face the discrimination still experienced by the atomic bomb survivors – the hibakusha.
Japan’s govt now planning to redevelop the (previously failed) Rokkasho nuclear reprocessing facility, which can produce nine tonnes of weapons-grade plutonium annually, or enough to construct up to 2,000 bombs. This raises the question of Japan developing nuclear weapons in the future.
Japan’s “transition towns” – a more optimistic story. Towns like Fujino are becoming popular – where communities are switching to renewable energy and energy efficiency.
USA Sister Megan Rice, 83, and her 2 elderly companions found guilty of ”intent to injure national security” when they broke into Oak Ridge nuclear weapons facility, with their prayers and flowers. They might be sentenced to 30 years’ gaol.
UK. latest survey shows the increasing popularity of solar and wind energy.