INTERNATIONAL I thought I’d put this lot first, as this week’s Australian news is pretty boring.
Climate Change.
in 2015 Pope Francis is to be a formidable force in the battle against climate change.
Ban Ki Moon – We are the last generation that can fight climate change.
Only in America! : USA Senate to vote on whether or not Climate Change is real!
USA Congress and Senate to be dominated by Anti-Science Climate Denialists. Ultra religious climate change denialist to run US Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
Climate Change statements and promises from world leaders – all smoke and mirrors
Media. Anti nuclear allies: the terrorist victims – cartoonists of Charlie Hebdo. Journalists’ self-censorship – avoiding hard topics for fear of government surveillance
Militarism. Gorbachev Says NATO Expansion Into Ukraine Could Ignite Nuclear War. The nuclear dangers in Ukraine energy wars - don’t miss the full article!
Japan Nuclear policy: the big divide in Japanese society. Fukushima: Environmental problems remain after the Fukushima nuclear disaster Pacific Ocean research. Fukushima fallout has a distinctive “fingerprint”
Iran. Rouhani’s and Obama’s difficult path towards a nuclear compromise.
UK: The Sellafield mess:
Amec, Areva and URS stripped of £20bn clean-up contract.
80 miles from Sellafield nuclear facility, radiation is found in food.
Sorry history and present danger of Sellafield’s ‘Legacy” radioactive wastes
USA Nuclear industry braces for an even tougher year in 2015. Entergy can’t afford, for decades, to dismantle Vermont Yankee Nuclear Plant. USA’s nuclear industry’s future in doubt – as shown in the costs of Exelon’s New York reactor
Renewable energy: New resource for renewable energy information – REsource, from IRENA. Wind power recordset by Denmark as it heads towards fossil-free goal. USA’s most ambitious renewable energy target proposed by California’s Governor, Jerry Brown
AUSTRALIA
Uranium. Things have gone rather quiet on this, though industry and government put up a bold front. RIO Tinto boasts about plans to sell uranium to India, and its subsidiary ERA downplays its poor record in 2014. ERA ‘s Ranger mine is closed, and even ERA is questioning the viability of the plan for a new underground mine – doing a “prefeasibility” study – not even a”feasibility” one. Much government hype about selling to India, but safety requirements are still not finalised .
Australia-India CEO forum set up, and Tony Abbott appoints Vanessa Guthrie, of uranium company Toro Energy, to head this. (they always give the difficult jobs to a woman)
BHP wants the Australian government to allow a bigger radioactive waste tailings dam at Olympic Dam. Australian uranium miner Paladin will have to comply with Canada’s new tax transparency laws.
Queensland election. Queensland Nationals Senator Matt Canavan attacks the Renewable Energy Target. Greens the only Party in Queensland serious about Climate Change
Freedom of speech. Great timing since the Charlie Hebdo staff massacre! – Tasmanian government wants new defamation law that will protect corporations from criticism.
Renewable energy. Australia dives towards the bottom in large scale renewable energy investment, thanks to RET uncertainty. Clean energy sector ‘uninvestable’.
SURVEY -this one directed to those living in Australia
From Nuclear Free Campaign, Conservation Council of Western Australia
What do you think about the nuclear free movement in Australia? The nuclear free movement has been around for a very long time, we are really keen to hear your thoughts about the movement to help us grow and change and adapt. Your time is so much appreciated and will help towards creating a nuclear free future. Follow this link to take this quick and easy survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8SS3LVX
