AUSTRALIA
Federal politics: Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has suddenly discovered that climate change is real, and nuclear power is the obvious cure for it. Interestingly, Australia’s top nuclear power proponent, Dr Ziggy Switkowski now thinks that renewable energy sources could be more viable than nuclear.
Renewable Energy Target (RET). Maverick Senator Jacqui Lambie’s turnabout on Renewable Energy – makes you wonder just what vested interests are pressurising her. Silence in Parliament and in the media – about changes to the RET. But Tony Abbott doesn’t need to crush the RET in any hurry – just prolonging the uncertainty is all that he needs to destroy Australia’s renewable energy industry
State politics: Victorian election. The dust has barely settled. But the Labor victory, and support for The Greens must have given the federal Abbott government a nasty shock. Labor has hardly been forthcoming on matters nuclear or climate change. Labor came out with a feeble afterthought on climate change, promising a $20 million New Energy Jobs Fund for renewable projects. “The ‘policy’ contains nothing on coal, nothing on coal seam gas, nothing on forest logging and nothing on a Victorian Renewable Energy Target”. However, Labor does promise to reintroduce emissions reduction target
The Greens hope to get one MP now in the Legislative Assembly, if so, will promote their policies for action on climate change, and for renewable energy.
Uranium sales to India . Wikileaks reveals that Australia was pushed to nuclear deal with India, by USA strategic interestsERA’s Ranger uranium mine at crisis point. Mirrar people are prepared to develop a different, non-uranium mining, economy in Kakadu NationaPark
Indigenous Leaders’ Summit aims to reclaim Indigenous rights agenda and representation from a few high-profile voices.
INTERNATIONAL
Climate Change. 2014 heading to be the hottest year on record. Climate change brings threat of sea level riseto nuclear power facilities. Energy efficiency is claimed to be the most effective method of tackling climate change.
Uranium spot price plummets as buyers exit market. Nuclear power’s future gets gloomier
Iran. Nuclear talks with Iran extended for another 7 months
Fire shuts down Belgian nuclear reactor.
British jihadi claims that the Islamic State has a ‘dirty bomb’
USA. Illness and two deaths among sailors exposed to Fukushima radiation. Deeper problems underlie the serious errors at America’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). Indian Point Nuclear Complex’s nuclear spent fuel problem increases. Nuclear power plant Vogtle in Georgia – more delays
China. Nuclear power investment in China might not be such a good deal. China’s very rapid renewable energy growth- IRENA reports
UK. Nuclear power outdone by renewable energy in Scotland. Spiralling costs of Britain’s Project Pegasus nuclear plant. UK government extends its Government Security Classifications (GSC), that apply to Sellafield and other nuclear facilities. Doubts grow in UK government about the future of the Hinkley Point Nuclear Plant, as its costs soar, and as renewable energy spreads across Europe, and becomes cheaper.
France: IAEA tells France to smarten up on nuclear power safety
Japan. Nuclear power company Kepco aims to keep reactors going way beyond their present license limit
Attachment. UNICEF Project December 2014
OFFICIAL VERSION: Sing IMAGINE with your favourite stars & John Lennon | UNICEF
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpTzkiul8Iw&feature=youtu.be
Comments
hey friends,
hey friends,
Hot on the heels of the PM/ Foreign Minister announcing support for nuclear energy development, Business SA is keen to get it happening here... also known as the "Consequences, what consequences?" approach to tackling climate change.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-05/governments-urged-to-embrace-nucle...
Cheers and keep up the great journalistic work xo