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June 9, 2007
In this exciting edition of No Nukes News:
1. UPCOMING EVENTS
* Indigenous Speaking Tour
* Cycle Against the Nuclear Cycle
* Adelaide - Brisbane - Canberra - Melbourne - Perth - Sydney
2. PLEASE ACT NOW
* Support the Peace Convergence - peaceful protests and many other
activities in opposition to military training exercises taking place in
Queensland.
* Support the Pine Gap 4 - currently on trial for their peaceful protest against the spy/military base at Pine Gap
* Support the Kokatha Mula in their struggle against mining companies near Ceduna in SA
* Have your say at SA Democrats' candidates (and former human shield in Iraq) Ruth Russell's webpage:
* Support ICAN - the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons
* emergency appeal to help Terri Keko'olani, community organiser
with DMZ Hawai'i Aloha 'Aina, to travel to Australia to help with
protests against the Talisman Saber war games
* FoE cyberaction: ALP uranium decision: it's a long way from a bad policy to a dirty mine
* Online Petition to Demand Trident Cancellation
* Support the US student hunger strike against nuclear weapons
3. IF YOU ONLY READ ONE THING (OR TWO) ...
* Dr. Mark Diesendorf debunks myths about baseload electricity
* Jill Singer: everything you need to know about the corruption of climate change policy in Australia
NUCLEAR NEWS ITEMS posted in these categories:
* New information sources
* Auntie Veronica
* Uncle Kevin
* Australia as the world's nuclear dump
* ASEN launches report on universities & nukes
* Nuclear dump proposed for NT - ALP policy
* Nuclear dump proposed for NT - Muckaty
* Launch of ICAN - International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons
* Clean energy - heaps of stuff - solar, wind, wave, geothermal, bioenergy, efficiency, new reports etc
* Transport greenhouse solutions
* Energy efficiency - building standards
* Missile defence - Coalition - ALP
* Nuclear power and climate change - joint statement by Austria, Iceland, Ireland and Norway
* Lucas Heights reactor
* Hugh Morgan pushing reactors + dump
* Institute of Public Affairs and australia's nuclear debate
* Nuclear debates - Australia -various
* Government limits scrutiny of nuclear projects
* Nuclear power for Australia - heaps of stuff - PMs statement - public opinion - state governments' opposition etc etc.
* UK body snatchers
* Nuclear waste - Sweden
* Nuclear power/weapons in the Middle East
* Nuclear accidents in Japan
* Nuclear power - economics
* Nuclear power - USA - economics / subsidies
* Missile defence - Australia / China / USA
* Veterans of British bomb tests
* Nuclear weapons - usa and china
* Uranium - heaps of stuff, most of it depressing
* Environmental racism
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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UPCOMING EVENTS - INDIGENOUS SPEAKING TOUR
(For Indigenous Speaking Tour events in Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, see city listings below.)
"From the heart, for the heartland"
Traditional owners speak out: NO radioactive waste dump in the NT!
This month, Indigenous traditional owners and community members from
areas proposed for the federal radioactive waste dump are undertaking a
national speaking tour. Timed to coincide with the announcement
of the Federal Government’s preferred dump site, the tour is an
opportunity for national audiences to hear how the dump proposal is
impacting the targeted communities in the Northern Territory. Speakers
will share their stories and experiences and raise concerns related to
contamination of the country that sustains their communities,
livelihoods and traditional culture.
Speakers confirmed for the tour include:
Mt Everard traditional owners Audrey McCormack and Benedict Stevens
Harts Range community members Priscilla Williams and Mitch
Muckaty traditional owner Dianne Stokes
Kalumpurlpa community member Steve Atkinson
Top End Aboriginal Conservation Alliance (TEACA) coordinator and Larrakia Nations’ representative Donna Jackson
Katherine No Dump Action Group founder Vina Hornsby
As well as meetings with local, state and federal politicians, social
justice and environment groups, public meetings are being held in each
city, incorporating speakers, an exhibition of artworks from affected
communities, photos of the proposed dump sites and a short film.
The speaking tour aims to confront and dispel the myth used to justify
nuclear activities in Australia; that remote areas are uninhabited and
lifeless places. Federal Science Minister Julie Bishop suggested that
all of the proposed waste dump sites are "some distance from any form
of civilisation" when in fact, there are communities living and running
successful enterprises three, five and eighteen kilometres away from
the three areas currently being assessed.
This is a unique opportunity for people hear first hand, the impact of
the Federal radioactive waste dump proposal on remote and indigenous
communities. With Australia poised to expand involvement in the global
nuclear industry, the public forums will encourage discussion of
domestic radioactive waste management issues, social and environment
concerns regarding the NT dump proposal and ways people interstate can
engage with and support the NT community campaign.
For more information contact the speaking tour coordinator:
Natalie Wasley, 0429 900 774, natwasley@alec.org.au
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UPCOMING EVENTS - CYCLE AGAINST THE NUCLEAR CYCLE
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Website: http://canc.org.au
Northern leg:
Start: Rockhampton Mon, 25 Jun
Finish: Canberra Sun, 02 Sept
Southern leg
Start: Canberra Mon, 03 Sept
Finish: Port Augusta Fri, 02 Nov
How you can help (see web for details)
- join the ride
- donate
- buy a t-shirt
- Tell people about CANC and our website.
- Put up a poster or hand out some flyers for us, You can download PDFs
of our poster and a couple of different versions of the flyer from
Print resources page
- If you are interested in being involved please let us know rough dates you might be riding with us.
- if you're part of a local environment group or have connections with
a school in an area CANC rides through and would like to help us
organise an event in your area, check the itinerary for good dates
email us some details.
- If you, your organisation or someone would like to help with
sponsorship, both financial and in-kind (food, bike parts, spare
cooking equipment etc) email us some details.
Email: contact@canc.org.au
Beck Pearse
0405 105 101
beck@canc.org.au
Evan Wills
0414 604 641
evan@canc.org.au
Georgina Pike
0431 303 084
georgina@canc.org.au
Moz
0406 853 430
moz@canc.org.au
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UPCOMING EVENTS - ADELAIDE
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Friends of the Earth Adelaide
FoE Adelaide Clean Futures Collective meetings - every Tuesday night
at 5.30pm at the Conservation Centre, 120 Wakefield St, Adelaide. All
welcome.
http://www.geocities.com/olympicdam
http://cleanfutures.blogspot.com
joel.catchlove@foe.org.au
0403 886951, 8227 1399
The meeting on the fourth Tuesday of every month is dedicated to
welcoming new members and holding a workshop/skillshare.
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Wednesday 13 June
"From the heart, for the heartland"
Northern Territory Traditional Owners speak out
Wednesday 13 June 2007
6.00pm for a 6.30pm start;
Lecture Theatre HH4-08, Level 4 Hans Heysen Building, UniSA City
West, off Hindley Street, Adelaide
(Venue map at http://www.unisa.edu.au/about/campuses/cwmap.asp)
Presented by the Arid Lands Environment Centre and Friends of the Earth
Adelaide and supported by the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre at UniSA.
Timed to coincide with the announcement of the Federal Government's
preferred radioactive waste dump site, indigenous leaders and
community members from the Northern Territory will be undertaking a
national speaking tour. The tour will discuss the dump proposal's
impacts on targeted communities in the Northern Territory. Speakers
will share their stories and raise their concerns regarding
contamination of the country that sustains their communities,
livelihoods and traditional culture.
Speakers include:
- Mt Everard traditional owners Audrey McCormack and Benedict Stevens
- Harts Range community members Priscilla Williams and Mitch
- Muckaty traditional owner Dianne Stokes
- Larrakia Nations' representative Donna Jackson.
This is a unique opportunity to hear, first hand, the impact of the
Federal radioactive waste dump proposal on remote and indigenous
communities. With Australia poised to expand involvement in the
global nuclear industry, this public forum confronts the human
impacts of domestic radioactive waste management issues and the
serious social, environmental and justice concerns regarding the
Northern Territory dump proposal and offers just and equitable ways
forward.
The evening will comprise speakers, an exhibition of artworks from
affected communities, photos of the proposed dump sites and a short
film.
For more information, contact Joel Catchlove at
joel.catchlove@foe.org.au, or on 0403 886 951.
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CALLING ALL ARTISTS!!
Friends of the Earth Adelaide are seeking your donated artwork for an
ART AUCTION to raise funds to support Indigenous traditional owners
from the Northern Territory in their campaign against the Federal
government’s attempts to impose a nuclear waste dump on their
traditional lands.
All works are accepted (including sculpture, weaving, glassblowing,
jewelry, framed and unframed paintings, new and old works etc), and
specially produced works are particularly welcome.
Works are needed before 20th July 2007.
To register your interest and find out more, contact Sophie at
sophie.green@foe.org.au or 0422 487 219.
Expose your work to new audiences!
Support Friends of the Earth!
Saturday 4 August - FoE Adelaide Art Auction!
North Adelaide Institute (community centre), 176 Tynte St, North
Adelaide.
Viewing 4-7pm, Auction at 7pm!
Food and drink available.
The art auction is to raise funds to support Indigenous traditional
owners from the Northern Territory in their campaign against the
Federal Government's attempts to impose a nuclear waste dump on their
traditional lands. Please contribute your work (specially produced
works are particularly welcome!), spread the word, and come along on
the night!
www.foe.org.au
http://cleanfutures.blogspot.com
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JUNE
Saturday 16, 7pm, Students of Sustainability Benefit Gig, The Duke, 81
Currie St, $10, featuring John Woods, Modulus, Business As Usual, Les
Tazos, Bennie Raw
A night of reggae, folk, roots, trip-hop, electronica, tribal-tech, dub and dancehall
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JUNE
Sunday 17, 12noon - 4.00pm, Community Garden Gathering, Kurruru
Pingyarendi Garden, Gilles Plains Community Campus, 489b North East
Road, Hillcrest, bring food, seeds and seedlings to share, tours,
networking, trading table.
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JUNE
Sunday 17, 3pm, 'A Crude Awakening: the oil crash', NOWAR film fundraiser, Palace Cinemas, $10/$15, 0414 773 918 to book.
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JUNE
Thursday 21, 7.00pm, 'Blowin' in the Wind' free screening, Conservation Centre, phone Richard 0421 188 873
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The Conservation Council of SA has instigated a new Roxby mine
expansion working group. Friends of the Earth Adelaide is a key
participant in this group, and additional interested groups or
individuals are invited to participate. Details are available from
the Conservation Council <www.ccsa.asn.au>
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Big congrats to the three winners of the 2007 Conservation Council of
SA Jill Hudson Award for Environmental Protection:
- Arabunna elder Uncle Kevin Buzzacott for his commitment to protect
his traditional country from the impacts of the Olympic Dam copper-
uranium mine.
- Sophie Green and Joel Catchlove for their work with FoE Adelaide
for energising the campaign in Adelaide against the expansion of the
nuclear industry.
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Saturday 23 June - Clean Futures Collective Strategy Day!
We're holding an all-day strategy session to cook up a solid long- term
strategy for our nukes/energy campaign. Please feel free to come along
and be part of it! It will be held at a beautiful property at Basket
Range, and people are welcome to camp both on the night before and the
night of the strategy day. Contact joel.catchlove@foe.org.au if
interested.
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JUNE
Saturday 23, 11.00am, Talisman Sabre Protest, Parliament House, North Tce, phone Richard 0421 188 873 for details
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JUNE
Tuesday 26, FoE New Members Night, starring Joel Catchlove on 'Food
Sovereignty: a new global movement'; 5.30pm for new members intro to
FoE, 6.00pm quick meeting, 6.30pm presentation, bring food to share
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Thursday 28 June - New food campaign brainstorming night!
6pm, Conservation Centre, 120 Wakefield St, Adelaide.
This is the first meeting of FoE Adelaide's first dedicated food campaign!
The campaign will encompass global and local issues related to
agriculture and trade policy, as well as having a strong emphasis on
local, practical food production and community building. Contact
joel.catchlove@foe.org.au for more info.
Friends of the Earth Adelaide is growing a new community food
campaign, and we want you to be part of it!
The campaign seeks to draw together community members passionate about
contemporary food issues. We intend to campaign both on national and
global issues of agriculture and trade policy (for example, food
sovereignty, the impact of Free Trade Agreements or corporate control
of food production and retailing) as well as having a strong emphasis
on local, practical food production and community building. What the
details of all this might be, however, are up to you!
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JULY
Friday 6 - Sunday 8, Friends of the Earth Australia Mid-year Meeting, near Melbourne
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JULY
Monday 9 - Sunday 15, Students of Sustainability, Perth
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Sunday 15 July - Saturday 22 July - next Nepabunna community work trip.
This Friends of the Earth initiated trip sees a group going up to
Nepabunna indigenous township (Adnyamathanha land) in the Gammon Ranges
twice yearly, and doing volunteer work in the bush tucker garden,
maintenance, childcare, and other projects. The July trip may be
already full, but email sophie.green@foe.org.au to register interest in
future trips! (will be one in either October or December).
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AUGUST
Saturday 4, FoE Art Auction, North Adelaide Town Hall, viewing 4-7pm, auction 7pm onwards
Monday 6, Hiroshima Day
Thursday 9, Nagasaki Day; International Day of the World's Indigenous People
* FoE Adelaide to host 'Inhabited' exhibition *
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SEPTEMBER
Friday 7 - Sunday 9, APEC Summit, Sydney
Wednesday 27, Maralinga Day
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OCTOBER
Wednesday 17 - Sunday 21, Nightcap Forest Festival, Northern NSW,
music, film, workshops, forums, contact nimenvirocentre@bigpond.com.au
for more information
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MEMBERSHIP
As an independent environmental and social justice advocacy
organisation, Friends of the Earth Adelaide depends on the support of
its members and volunteers to keep it going. If you are not already a
member, please consider joining us. Your membership directly funds
our campaigns and helps maintain our independence from government and
corporate funding. The membership fee is as little as $30 concession
a year. A membership form is attached to this email.
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UPCOMING EVENTS - BRISBANE
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BOOK LAUNCH & SYMPOSIUM, DR MARK DIESENDORF: "GREENHOUSE SOLUTIONS WITH SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
This book discusses technologies the various technologies that have
been put forward as solutions to the greenhouse crisis, including
efficient energy use, renewable energy, coal with the capture and
burial of CO2, gas and transport systems; and their implementation
strategies.
Brisbane 2 July
5.30-7.30 pm at Brisbane Room, Brisbane Town Hall
Chair: Emeritus Professor Ian Lowe
Organiser: Friends of the Earth, Brisbane.
www.sustainabilitycentre.com.au/news.html
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Peace Convergence events - details at www.peaceconvergence.com
JUNE 12 CREW A YACHT TO THE PEACE CONVERGENCE
Jamie is looking for 2 crew members to accompany him in his yacht, and
'Rashide' top the PC. It will take about a week to get up to
Yeppoon and we will be leaving on the 12th of June. Following the
action on the 19th - 22nd. I will probably continue up the Whitsundays
for a bit and then come back down. Jamie 0402622279
jimyjoo@yahoo.com.au
JUNE 16: PEACE GIG - CONCERT FOR PEACE
June 16 Saturday - 7pm, South Leagues Club, West End.
TWO STAGES: Acts inlcude: Ghostwriters (feat. Midnight Oil's Rob Hirst
and Martin Rotsey), Bomba (Reggae), Grassroots Street Orchestra, The
Kidney Thieves, Dead Riot, Skins (feating members of Blue King Brown),
Barleyshakes, Jason Castle + speakers
This fun event will kick off the week of action against War Games (June 18-
24) at Shoalwater Bay. Peace Convergence participants from
Melbourne and Shoalwater will be at the gig and then make their
way up Shoalwater (north of Rockhampton) for a week of peaceful
resistance to the Talisman Sabre US-AUS war games. Fundraiser for
the Peace Convergence action and legal fund!
JUNE 18-24: PEACE CONVERGENCE: STOP THE TALISMAN SABRE WAR GAMES
June 18 (Mon) -24 (Sunday) - with major convergence on weekend of June
22-24 Shoalwater Bay Region (just north of Rockhampton) The Peace
Convergence is a week of non violent resistance to war and war games
time d to coincide with the largest ever military exercises to take
place in Australia - U.S. - Aust Joint war games, Operation Talisman
Sabre 07.
Around 30, 000 troops will practice live firing, bombing and land and
sea manouvers in the Great Barrier Reef marine park, and adjacent
RAMSAR listed Shoalwater Bay area using nuclear powered vessels and
potentially carrying nuclear weapons and adjacent RAMSAR listed
Shoalwater Bay area. FoE has played a major role in responding to
military exercises in the region and in coordinating Peace Convergence
activities; Join us for action at Shoalwater - or find out how
you can take action at home! see our website for more info or
visit: www.peaceconvergence.com
PEACE BUS: Leaving Brisbane - twice during the week of action! more info
see: www.peaceconvergence.com or call FoE!
GIVE US YOUR OLD SHOES!!
We are still collecting 655 pairs of shoes, each pair
representing a thousand deaths since the Iraq war began. The
shoes will be made into an installation to build awareness on the
ongoing war and Talisman Sabre 07 US-Australia joint war games
taking place in Qld May to July this year. You can drop them off
at the FoE Office - 294 Montague Rd, West
End, Brisbane. Call Kim for more info on 0413 397 839
Peace Convergence Tshirts
To order a PC t-shirt ($15 + $5 postage) send a cheque/money order
payable to Brisbane Anti-Bases Coalition, PO Box 5829, West End Qld
4101. Available in women's (sizes 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 & 18 - white
only) and unisex designs (m, l, xl & xxl - white, bone & snow
marle: nb these are biggish sizes). "Peace Convergence Stop the
Talisman Sabre Wargames". Please indicate size and postal
address!!
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Brisbane Street Theatre/Parade to oppose Talisman Sabre 07 War Games
"Dancing to the beat of a different drum" to begin the Peace
Convergence. A visual procession aimed at seizing the media initiative
from the Australian and US military before the war games start
<www.peaceconvergence.com>
Date: Saturday 16th June
Time: 10.30am briefing for 11.30am start. Sharp!
Place: Meet at St Mary's Church, Merivale St West End, Brisbane.
Contact: David Bradbury 02 6684 0015 or Annette Brownlie 0431 597 256
**Come dressed in your Sunday best and bring a pair of shoes or two!!
Brisbanites and people coming from further a field for the Peace
Convergence are invited to be involved in what we hope will be a huge
stylised street march through West End, Brisbane on the morning of 16th
June.
David Bradbury writes "This is how I ideally imagine the Saturday
morning street theatre – all designed to appeal visually to the
media so they will cover it and have it on their 6pm tv nightly news
that night and in the Sunday morning tabloid papers.
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FOE Brisbane ANTI-NUKE COLLECTIVE MEETINGS
Generally meets every 1st and 3rd Tuesday 6pm FoE House - 294 Montague
Road West End - please call to confirm Robin 0411 118 737
"Groundswell" newsletter or Friends of the Earth Brisbane - Autumn, 2007.
Is uranium mining in the smart state's future?, Peace Convergence 2007,
Citizens Guide to Climate Justice, Pirates of Compassion: saving whales in
the Southern Whale Sanctuary, FoEB events...and much more
http://www.brisbane.foe.org.au/news.htm
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QUEENSLAND NUCLEAR FREE ALLIANCE MEETINGS fortnightly Thursdays For meeting
details contact Robin 0411 118 737
STALLS:
Caboolture Region Env. Council space Brisbane World Environment Day - June 9 - Queens Park, City
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QNFA member groups are in need of volunteers:
1. GRAPHIC DESIGNER - Food Irradiation Watch are in need of a graphic
designer to help put together the second edition of the highly
successful "Irradiation Free Food Guide". See their website for more
info about the guide. http://www.foodirradiationinfo.org Email FIW at
foodirradiationwatch@yahoo.com.au
2. Friends of the Earth: HELP WANTED!!! Get active - Get involved!!!!
Volunteers needed in the following exciting areas:
FEAST FOR THE SENSES - Catering and events staff: FoE?s signature
ethical feast and music night will be happening in Sept/Oct this
year. We need your musical talent, culinary skills, or just your
enthusiasm to lend a hand to this important and delicious
awareness/fund - raising event!
FoE FINANCE OFFICER - Do you have a few hours to spare each month and
financial skills just waiting for worthy organization? If so, we
need your help with bookkeeping - bill paying and day to day
administration of our very tight budget!!!!
OFFICE STAFF - Like meeting and talking to people? Got some
time to spare on a regular basis? Want to support your favorite
grassroots organization
in a behind the scenes kind of way? We need you to join our team of office
Volunteers - to answer phones, great visitors and do general tasks that help
FoE keep on keeping on!
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR - Good with people, well organised - like to delegate?
If you have some regularly available time, a good sense of humour, a
lot of patience, organisational skills and enjoy working with
volunteers, we need you to help coordinate general and campaign
specific FoE volunteers.
TAX APPEAL TELEPHONE CALLERS - Yup! It?s that time of the year - Tax
Time - once again, time for FoE?s annual Tax Time Appeal/Donation
drive. As a volunteer-based community organisation that accepts
no funding from government, FoE needs all the ethical
financial help we can get! If you have some
time to spare before the next financial year and don?t mind talking to
nice people you never met before on the phone about money- join us in
phoning FoE friends and networks to help us raise well-needed funds to
support our campaigns and community action. PS - if you don?t
have time to help out with phoning - we would gladly accept your
support in the form of other administrative support during the Tax
Appeal or a donation!!!!
For more information about volunteer positions, meetings and events contact:
Friends of the Earth Office: (07) 3846 5793 Robin?s Mobile: 0411 118 737
Email: nuclearfreequeensland@yahoo.com.au
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Ecological and Social Justice - forum and discussion
Date: June 21 (Thu) 2007
Time: 6:30 for 7pm
Place: Brisbane Workers Community Centre
2 Latrobe Tce Paddington
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Sustainability and Food - forum and discussion
Date:, July 19 (Thu) 2007
Time: 6:30 for 7pm
Place: Brisbane Workers Community Centre
2 Latrobe Tce Paddington
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UPCOMING EVENTS - CANBERRA
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BOOK LAUNCH SYMPOSIA, DR MARK DIESENDORF: "GREENHOUSE SOLUTIONS WITH
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
This book discusses technologies the various technologies that have
been put forward as solutions to the greenhouse crisis, including
efficient energy use, renewable energy, coal with the capture and
burial of CO2, gas and transport systems; and their implementation
strategies..
Canberra 27 June, 5.30-7.30 pm
Building 3T (Fellows Lane Cottage,
immediately to the north of Law Faculty)
Organiser: Nature & Society Forum
Speakers: Dr Mark Diesendorf and Dr Hugh Saddler
www.sustainabilitycentre.com.au/news.html
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"Visions of Peace,"
Parliament House, on Wednesday,
13 June from 12:00 to 2:00 pm, with some Bega folks who are bringing Jane
Goodall Peace Doves.
Organised by the Talisman Sabre '07 PEACE
CONVERGENCE group here in
Canberra: We meet TUESDAYS at 11:00 am at
Hudson's Cafe in the
Botanical Gardens. Contact Benjo <kean666@hotmail.com>
NO MORE WAR 'GAMES' | MILITARY EXERCISES COST THE EARTH | USE OUR
RESOURCES FOR HEALTH, EDUCATION and WELFARE, NOT WAR
Contact Sue Andrew 6494 9544 or <begapeace@hotmail.com>.
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Indigenous Speaking Tour
From the Heart, For the Heartland
National Speaking Tour
Traditional Owners Speak Out: NO Radioactive Waste Dump in the NT
Speakers~art~photos~films
Canberra Public Meeting
June 21, 6pm
Legislative Assembly, London Circuit, Civic
Contact: Inge Arnold 0418 345 686
Inge_japan@yahoo.co.jp
Speakers include:
* Mt Everard traditional owners Audrey McCormack and Benedict Stevens
* Harts Range community members Priscilla Williams and Mitch
* Muckaty traditional owner Dianne Stokes
* Kalumpurlpa community member Steve Atkinson
* Top End Aboriginal Conservation Alliance (TEACA) coordinator Donna Jackson
* Katherine No Dump Action Group members Vina Hornsby and Petrina Ariston
Proudly supported by: The Poola Foundation (Tom Kantor Fund), Northern
Territory Government, Australian Conservation Foundation, Friends of
the Earth, The Wilderness Society, Medical Association for the
Prevention of War, Australian Student Environment Network, Arid Lands
Environment Centre, The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, Nuclear
Free Australia.
For more information or to make a donation to please contact tour
coordinator Natalie Wasley; 0429 900 774 , natwasley@alec.org.au
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UPCOMING EVENTS - MELBOURNE
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Say No To Ziggy's Nuclear Illusion
Tuesday June 12 @ 6pm
Prince Phillip Theatre
Architecture Building
The University of Melbourne, Parkville
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation Chairman Ziggy
Switovski will speak on climate change and the role of nuclear energy
at a special public forum put on by the University of Melbourne and the
Australian Institute of Physics. This is no genuine debate about energy
climate change, or nuclear safety. The only speaker invited is
pro-nuclear Ziggy.
Admission is free. But you have to book. Bookings: Email:
<community-relations@unimelb.edu.au with "Switkowski" in the subject
heading. or phone (03) 8344 1019.
Please be early to hand out anti-nuclear flyers and blow rasberrys at Ziggy.
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When: Wednesday 13 June, 6.30pm
Where: Lentils is Anything, Abbotsford Convent, 1 St Heliers St,
Abbotsford
What: A delicious vegetarian banquet, accompanied by the dulcet tones of
acoustic guitar. After dinner a there will be a talk on climate justice
by a leading expert in the field. There will also be an art auction of
work kindly donated by assorted local artists.
Cost: $40 waged, $20 unwaged
Why: This fundraiser is to raise money to get students from around
Victoria sustainably to Perth for the annual Students of Sustainability
Conference (SoS). SoS is a conference of communities, students,
academics, and environment and Indigenous groups from around Australia,
featuring inspiring speakers, practical workshops, community nights,
bands, films, field trips, actions, reflection, dialogue, celebration.
SoS is the reason many young environmentalists go onto become life-long
social change makers, it inspires people to become active, opens them
up to new ideas and equips them with skills to make change. SoS is
essential to the continuation of a vibrant student environment
movement. Please show your support for this amazing conference by
attending Sustenance for Students of Sustainability!
Places are limited please RSVP by Monday 11 June to Nicky at
nicky@asen.org.au
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Indigenous Speaking Tour
From the Heart, For the Heartland
National Speaking Tour
Traditional Owners Speak Out: NO Radioactive Waste Dump in the NT
Speakers~art~photos~films
Melbourne Public Meeting
June 18, 6pm
Trades Hall, New Council Chambers
Contact: Michaela Stubbs 0429 136 935
Michaela.stubbs@foe.org.au
Speakers include:
* Mt Everard traditional owners Audrey McCormack and Benedict Stevens
* Harts Range community members Priscilla Williams and Mitch
* Muckaty traditional owner Dianne Stokes
* Kalumpurlpa community member Steve Atkinson
* Top End Aboriginal Conservation Alliance (TEACA) coordinator Donna Jackson
* Katherine No Dump Action Group members Vina Hornsby and Petrina Ariston
Proudly supported by: The Poola Foundation (Tom Kantor Fund), Northern
Territory Government, Australian Conservation Foundation, Friends of
the Earth, The Wilderness Society, Medical Association for the
Prevention of War, Australian Student Environment Network, Arid Lands
Environment Centre, The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, Nuclear
Free Australia.
For more information or to make a donation to please contact tour
coordinator Natalie Wasley; 0429 900 774 , natwasley@alec.org.au
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Non-violent National Peace Convergence – Shoalwater, Bay, Qld. 18-24 June 2007 <www.peaceconvergence.com>
Join the Melbourne Peace Train Contingent to National Peace Convergence. Call Kristy: 0421 323 839.
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Hiroshima Day
Sunday, August 5
12.30pm @ State Library
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Hello Friends,
My name's Jana, I volunteer with an organisation named OzGREEN who
facilitate transformative learning and leadership programs for
sustainability by enabling people to harness their inner wisdom,
creativity and intelligence to build pathways to an ecologically and
socially sustainable future.
Here are 2 upcoming programs in Melbourne you (or someone you know) may
be interested in. Both programs are wonderful value-adds and will
enhance what you're already doing in the world, while helping you step
closer to YOUR visions for the future.
Upcoming Melbourne programs:
Leading with the Heart (adults of all ages) – Healesville – 22-24 June
Youth LEAD (15-25) – Healesville – 30 June–2 July
Empowering people to make their unique contribution to the planet;
these programs begin with a 3-day residential workshop that enables you
to focus on what you're concerned about, vision how you'd like things
to be, determine some ways to get there and develop a plan of action
that aligns with who you are and what's important to you.
It's also a chance to reflect on what you're already doing, recharge,
be inspired and meet like-minded people. Not to mention all the
fabulous vegetarian food and barrells of fun! After the workshop,
there's ongoing support as well as the space to connect and network
with other YouthLEADers, HeartLeaders, other Oz GREEN programs and to
train as a facilitator or mentor if you wish.
Please distribute this opportunity through all of your networks and
have a look at the attachments for all the information. Feel free to
contact myself or Wendy (program co-ordinator) if you'd like to know
more.
Cheers!
Jana Michaels
Trainee Facilitator
(e) janamichaels@gmail.com
(m) 0425 729 623
Wendy Hopkins
Sustainability Educator and Victorian programs coordinator
Oz GREEN
http://www.ozgreen.org.au
Melbourne office
P 03 9341 8104
M 0409 670 395
F 03 9341 8199
E whopkins@ozgreen.org.au
Level 2, 60 Leicester St, Carlton VIC 3053
(with Environment Victoria)
------------------->
UPCOMING EVENTS - PERTH
------------------->
BOOK LAUNCH & SYMPOSIUM
DR MARK DIESENDORF: "GREENHOUSE SOLUTIONS WITH SUSTAINABLE ENERGY (UNSW Press, 2007)
This book discusses technologies the various technologies that have
been put forward as solutions to the greenhouse crisis, including
efficient energy use, renewable energy, coal with the capture and
burial of CO2, gas and transport systems; and their implementation
strategies.
Perth held 8 May 4.30–6.30 pm at Alinta, Level 6, 12–14 The Esplanade.
Organiser: WA Solar Energy Society.
Speaker: Dr Mark Diesendorf
------------------->
UPCOMING EVENTS - SYDNEY
------------------->
Invitation
Film and Public Meeting
Stop Talisman Sabre 07
Stop War Games
§ Film
"Hard Rain" latest film by David Bradbury.
Speeches,
Raffles and other fundraising activities for the campaign to Stop TS07 called ‘The Peace Convergence’.
At: Freethought Bookshop
58 Regent St,
Chippendale
Time: 7 pm
Date: Sunday, June 10th
Organised by the Australian Anti-Bases Campaign Coalition, PO Box A899,
Sydney South, NSW 1235. website: www.anti-bases.org, or
mobile: 0418
290 663
------------------->
Wednesday 13 June
"From the heart, for the heartland"
Northern Territory Traditional Owners speak out
Sydney Public Meeting
June 25, 6pm
Redfern Community Centre
29-53 Hugo Street, Redfern
Contact: Adam Wolfenden 0401 045 536
adamwolf@riseup.net
Timed to coincide with the announcement of the Federal Government's
preferred radioactive waste dump site, indigenous leaders and
community members from the Northern Territory will be undertaking a
national speaking tour. The tour will discuss the dump proposal's
impacts on targeted communities in the Northern Territory. Speakers
will share their stories and raise their concerns regarding
contamination of the country that sustains their communities,
livelihoods and traditional culture.
Speakers include:
- Mt Everard traditional owners Audrey McCormack and Benedict Stevens
- Harts Range community members Priscilla Williams and Mitch
- Muckaty traditional owner Dianne Stokes
- Larrakia Nations' representative Donna Jackson.
This is a unique opportunity to hear, first hand, the impact of the
Federal radioactive waste dump proposal on remote and indigenous
communities. With Australia poised to expand involvement in the
global nuclear industry, this public forum confronts the human
impacts of domestic radioactive waste management issues and the
serious social, environmental and justice concerns regarding the
Northern Territory dump proposal and offers just and equitable ways
forward.
The evening will comprise speakers, an exhibition of artworks from
affected communities, photos of the proposed dump sites and a short
film.
For more information, contact Joel Catchlove at
joel.catchlove@foe.org.au, or on 0403 886 951.
------------------->
PLEASE ACT NOW
------------------->
Talisman Sabre 2007
US and Australian war training
<www.peaceconvergence.com>
Talisman Sabre is the name of the largest ever military training
exercises, scheduled for May/June 2007 and planned to involve over
30,000 US military personnel.
The 'Peace Convergence' is the answer to this, a network of peace
activists, committed to challenging the war in nonviolent and creative
ways. We will be travelling up to Shoalwater Bay during the excercises
to demonstrate Australian oposition to the use of our soil for US
training exercises.
If you'd like to get involved, check the website:
<www.peaceconvergence.com>
------------------->
Support the Pine Gap 4
At dawn on December 9, 2005 a 'Citizen's Inspection' of Pine Gap took
place causing Pine Gap to shut down for five hours. The reason? A group
of four Christian pacifists had entered the base, seeking to expose the
terrorist acts perpetrated from inside the base (while two others
supported the action without entering the base).
To support their work including their legal battle, check this website:
<www.pinegap6.org> and <www.pinegapontrial.blogspot.com>
They have created a Yahoo group for supporters, to send out up-dates
and information on how you can support the four and become involved in
the trial and the campaign to Expose Pine Gap. Its easy to join the
group: just send an e-mail to:
<pinegap4supporters-subscribe@yahoogroups.com>
with subscribe in the subject line.
------------------->
Support the Kokatha Mula in their struggle against mining companies
* Fill out the form letter on the Kokatha Mula website
<kokathamula.auspics.org> or write your own and send it to SA
pollies (notably Premier Mike Rann, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Jay
Wheatherill and Environment Minister Gail Gago).
* Organise an information and/or fundraiser event.
* Order a copy of the slide show and/or documentary.
* Help research the companies and proposals involved.
* Purchase Kokatha Mula products or campaign merchandise (email for details).
* Come on one of the twice annual rockhole cleaning trips.
* Donate phone credit, fuel vouchers, satellite phone, food supplies, camping gear or office materials.
Donate money to:
Bank Sa/St Georges Bank
Acc Name: Kokatha Mula Nation far west division Aboriginal Cooporation
Acc #: 105100032491240
More Info and contact:
* <http://kokathamula.auspics.org>
Email: kokathamulacamp@gmail.com
Post: FAR WEST DIVISION ABORIGINAL CORPORATION
PO BOX 484, CEDUNA SA 5690
Ph: 0428 872375.
------------------->
Have your say at SA Democrats' candidates (and former human shield in Iraq) Ruth Russell's webpage:
http://www.ruthrussell.net/campaigns/nuclearpoll
------------------->
Support ICAN
"We are told by some governments that a Nuclear Weapons Convention is
premature and unlikely - don't believe it - we were told the same thing
about a Mine Ban Treaty."
Jody Williams, Nobel Laureate, International Campaign to Ban Landmines
Dear Colleagues,
ICAN is a new campaign for a Nuclear Weapons Convention, launched by
the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War and
growing daily. Organisations and individuals are getting involved
because nuclear weapons are not like other weapons - there is no other
weapon that can kill hundreds of millions of people in a few hours and
bring about the end of human civilisation.
Watch our 6 minute ICAN film - feel free to copy and distribute: http://www.icanw.org/launch-video
Sign the ICAN petition - it will be presented annually to the nuclear
terror states at the UN: http://www.icanw.org/petition
Get informed about nuclear dangers and solutions: http://www.icanw.org
Get involved, there are 10 things you can do today: http://www.icanw.org/take-action
Download Securing our Survival (SOS): The Case for a Nuclear Weapons Convention: http://www.icanw.org/publications
The 27,000 nuclear weapons in the hands of 9 States are illegal,
immoral and genocidal; they can destroy our cities, health, water
catchments and our food chain, and they routinely deplete enormous
funds and attention from achieving human security. Nuclear weapons have
no legitimate purpose. To possess them and thereby threaten their use
is utterly immoral. They are the ultimate weapons of terror. Its
time to outlaw them and get rid of them once and for all.
WE CAN achieve a nuclear weapon free world
YOU CAN get informed, get involved and get your government moving
THEY CAN negotiate a Nuclear Weapons Convention
------------------->
EMERGENCY APPEAL
Dear Friends,
In June, Australia will host the largest military exercises ever
undertaken in peacetime in this country. Talisman Saber will see
12,400 Australian and 13,700 US troops converging on various locations
around Australia for their biennial ‘war games’.
The exercises will include live firing and bombing, underwater
detonations, the latest laser guided missiles and ‘smart’ bombs, ship
to shore bombing runs, bombing from US bases in Guam, land-based
artillery firings, nuclear powered submarines using high-level
sonar frequency and nuclear weapons capable vessels and planes. There
are no contingency plans for nuclear accidents.
The heart of the exercise will take place in Shoalwater Bay, north of
Yeppoon. This breathtakingly beautiful area is part of the Great
Barrier Reef Marine Park. It’s beautiful one day – and bombed the next.
Concerned, dismayed and outraged citizens from around the country are
planning a Peace Convergence at Yeppoon from 18 to 24 June to protest
against these military exercises.
In 2005, the Australian Government entered an agreement which provided
the US long-term access to and joint use of Shoalwater Bay Training
Area. This agreement ties Australia to the rapid military build up
taking place in the north-west Pacific, particularly in Guam.
Shoalwater Bay is one of the US Pentagon's largest and most important
training areas and bombing ranges in the Asia-Pacific region. There has
been no disclosure of the terms of these agreements or what weaponry
will be used in military exercises.
HAWAI'I
The Talisman Saber military exercises will be monitored from Hawaii which is the base for the US Pacific Command.
Terri Keko'olani, community organiser with DMZ Hawai'i Aloha
'Aina, has agreed to come to Australia to join the protests against the
war games and to tell us more about the campaigns of her people against
the US military and for their land and sovereignty.
The funding body we had expected to make a major contribution to the
cost of this project has unfortunately rejected our submission at the
last minute. We must therefore try to raise $3,500 in the next 3 weeks.
Can you please help us fund Terri's visit by making an urgent donation
and/or passing this appeal on to other individuals and organisations.
PLEASE SEND YOUR CHEQUES URGENTLY TO:
AABCC Hawaii Fund
PO Box A 899, Sydney South NSW 1235
For further information, please contact Denis Doherty on 0418 290 663 or Hannah Middleton on 0418 668 098
------------------->
ALP uranium decision: it's a long way from a bad policy to a dirty mine
<www.foe.org.au/online-action/cyber-action/alp-uranium-decision-its-a-long-way-from-a-bad-policy-to-a-dirty-mine>
The ALP over turned its no new uranium mines policy at its national
conference at the end of April. Here is a list of things you can do
about this decision.
1/ contact Anthony Albanese and Peter Garrett and congratulate them on
leading the anti uranium debate at national ALP conference.
Anthony Albanese:
Phone: (02) 6277 4031, Fax: (02) 6277 8445
Email: A.Albanese.MP@aph.gov.au
Peter Garrett:
Tel: (02) 6277 2037, Fax: (02) 6277 8402
Email: Peter.Garrett.MP@aph.gov.au
2/ contact Steve Bracks and congratulate him on retaining Victoria as a
nuclear free state. Ask him why he voted for new uranium mines at
national conference. You might have an opinion on whether these two
actions are consistent.
Ph (03) 9651 5000, Fax: (03) 9651 5054
Email: steve.bracks@parliament.vic.gov.au
3/ Contact Bill Shorten and express your unhappiness at how he tried to
convince delegates to national conference that to oppose further
uranium mining meant undermining Kevin Rudd as leader. Remind him that
most ALP members do not support uranium mining.
Contact Bill via the AWU National Office located in Melbourne on 03 8327 0888 or email bill.shorten@awu.net.au
4/ Contact Martin Ferguson and let him know that his undermining of Labor’s policy will cost the Party votes and credibility.
Canberra office:
Tel: (02) 6277 4899, Fax: (02) 6277 8403
Email: Martin.Ferguson.MP@aph.gov.au
Electorate Office (Location/Postal Address):
159 High Street, Preston Vic 3072
Tel: (03) 9416 8690, Fax: (03) 9416 7810
4/ contact ALP leaders Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard and remind them
that you do not support any further involvement in the nuclear cycle.
You may want to remind them of the waste problems of mining uranium and
the proliferation risks associated with selling our uranium overseas –
and the fact that Labors’ sensible and popular opposition to plans for
nuclear power in Australia has been undermined by their failure to get
serious about uranium – the mineral that makes nuclear power possible.
Kevin Rudd:
ph (02) 6277 4022, Fax (02) 6277 8495,
<kevin.rudd.MP@aph.gov.au>
Julia Gillard:
Tel: (02) 6277 4349, Fax: (02) 6277 8457
Email: Julia.Gillard.MP@aph.gov.au
5/ Contact Queensland premier Peter Beattie. Express your concern at
him supporting an expansion of mining in Australia at national
conference but congratulate him on his 2006 election promise that
Queensland will remain free of uranium mining.
Remind him that the majority of Queensland voters and most unions would not want to see uranium mines opened in that state.
Phone: 07 3224 4500,
Facsimile: 07 3221 3631
PO Box 15185
City East
Queensland 4002
ThePremier@premiers.qld.gov.au
6/ contact Alan Carpenter, the premier of WA. Congratulate him on
standing strong on the issue of uranium mining. Perhaps mention that
his opposition to any uranium mines in WA is warmly supported by
yourself and many in the community.
e-Mail: wa-government@dpc.wa.gov.au
Phone number: (08) 9222 9888 - Premier's Office
Fax: (08) 9322 1213
7/ contact Peter Batchelor, Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources
and encourage him to re-write and re-table his anti nuclear bill (the
Nuclear Plebiscite Bill). Encourage him to work with the Greens to
ensure this bill is passed as a matter of urgency.
Ph: (03) 9658 4660
Fax: (03) 9658 4631
Email: peter.batchelor@parliament.vic.gov.au
8/ Stop the NT waste dump
All Australian uranium becomes radioactive waste. Contact Kim Carr, the
shadow science minister, and let him know that you support Labor’s plan
to drop the federal government’s move to impose a radioactive waste
dump on the NT.
Non imposition, respect for Indigenous rights and community consent
should be pillars of the ALPs approach to radioactive waste management.
Tel: (02) 6277 3730
Fax: (02) 6277 5911
Email: senator.carr@aph.gov.au
9/ support anti nuclear groups: the fight just got that bit harder and that bit more urgent and we need your help:
FoE Australia: www.foe.org.au
To donate to FoE, see: http://www.egive.org.au/website/index.php
Environment Centre of the Northern Territory: www.ecnt.org.au
No Waste Alliance: www.no-waste.org
ACF: www.acfonline.org.au
10 sign up for 'no nukes news' – a monthly e-newsletter: email: jim.green@foe.org.au with NNN-subscribe in the subject line.
11/ stay tuned for our federal election campaign: www.foe.org.au
Remember – it is a long way from a bad policy to a dirty mine – and
those wanting to see more uranium mining face a long and hard contest.
Australia and Australians deserve better than to be the world’s uranium
quarry and the worlds nuclear waste dump.
------------------->
IPPNW News Alert
Online Petition to Demand Trident Cancellation
The UK Parliament will be voting on whether to renew the UK's
Trident nuclear missile program on March 14, 2007 -- less than
two weeks away. If Trident is renewed, this ensures that the UK
will have nuclear weapons far into the future. As members of an
international community committed to the abolition of nuclear
weapons, we must make our collective voices heard on this issue.
US medical student Tova Fuller, in consultation with IPPNW's UK
affiliate, Medact, has created an online petition demanding the
cancellation of the Trident replacement. You can read and sign
the petition at
<www.ipetitions.com/petition/Trident_Petition>
Please forward this web address to all of your contacts. The
petition deadline is March 7, to allow enough time to disseminate
the text and signatures to key Members of Parliament before the
debate.
More information about Trident and the blockade at the UK
submarine base at Faslane can be found at the IPPNW student
website --
http://www.ippnw-students.org/trident.html.
------------------->
Support the US student hunger strike against nuclear weapons
Check these websites:
www.ucnuclearfree.org
http://nonukeshungerstrike.blogspot.com/
Chelsea Collonge
chelseavc@gmail.com
May 7, 2007
Dear friend,
On Wednesday, May 9th, thirty students and alumni at three UC campuses
went on a hunger strike to demand that the University of California
stop designing, engineering and manufacturing nuclear bombs.
For over six decades, the UC (University of California) has been the US
government's primary nuclear warhead contractor, having managed the Los
Alamos (NM) and Livermore (CA) nuclear weapons compounds since their
inceptions. Every nuclear warhead in the US arsenal was designed by a
UC employee. These include the B61-11 "bunker busters" currently
deployed in the Persian Gulf, with which the US government is
threatening Iran. Now, the UC is even building a new hydrogen bomb:
officially, the first new US nuclear weapon since the end of the Cold
War and setting up one of its labs to actually manufacture nuclear
warhead components.
As hunger strikers, our basic position is this: At this critical time
in our world, with the survival of our planetary ecosystem hanging in
the balance, it is imperative for the UC Regents to stop providing a
fig leaf of academic respectability to the creation of the world's most
toxic and deadly weapons, and instead use their position of political
leverage to spur the US toward genuine nuclear disarmament,
democratization, and demilitarization.
The hunger strike action represents the culmination of over five years
of organizing and struggle by UC student nuclear abolitionists,
anti-war activists, and anti-imperialists. We have petitioned, written
letters, marched, rallied, spoken out at UC Regents meetings, and even
physically disrupted some of those same meetings to demand that the UC
get out of bed with bombs. Now, we are escalating our tactics. We seek,
above all, for our actions to be commensurate with the truly formidable
challenges confronting our generation and the earth.
We'd like to highlight five ways that you can support us, in order of those we consider most important:
*1. Join us for a short-term (one-day, for example) solidarity fast.*
Fasting is a remarkable way to cleanse your body, and doing so for a
short amount of time entails virtually no physical risk.
*2. Attend our "No Nukes In Our Name!" rally at the UC Regents meeting
on Thursday, May 17th at 10 a.m. at UC San Francisco's Mission Bay
building.* Due to the level of local, statewide, and national attention
we expect to gain through this action, we anticipate being able to
bring a great deal of pressure to bear on the Regents. A large
mobilization at this action is crucially important! For driving
directions, visit www.ucnuclearfree.org or contact youth@napf.org.
*3. Call the UC Regents - ask that they vote on our resolution for
nuclear weapons lab severance on May 17th. *It is crucial for as many
supporters as possible issue this demand, whether they be California
tax-payers, UC students, or concerned citizens of the world! A full
list of Regents contact info is enclosed.
*4. Write a letter to the UC Regents - ask that they vote on our
resolution for nuclear weapons lab severance on May 17th.** *Again, a
full list of contacts is attached.* *An online form letter will be
available at www.ucnuclearfree.org beginning on Wednesday, May 9th. We
will notify you as soon as it is posted.
*5. Write a letter of solidarity to the hunger strikers.* Enclosed is a
list of hunger striker contacts. Your letters will go a long way toward
boosting our morale as the hunger strike wears on. We will read many of
them at the rallies and public events we hold to garner support
throughout the action.
We wouldn't be writing to you if we didn't consider your support
vitally important to the success of this initiative. We expect that the
hunger strike will receive national attention and mark a significant
step forward in the struggle for nuclear abolition. It may very well
achieve its aim. If it is to do so, it needs to have broad-based
support both at UC campuses and far beyond!
There has never been a more critical time for the UC Regents to take a
principled stand against the US' nuclear weapons programs. They are in
a very powerful position to do so: They can withdraw their management
of the Los Alamos and Livermore labs, which are the keystone
institutions in the US nuclear weapons complex. They could cast the
UC's enormous political and intellectual weight on the side of
international law and morality, and seize this opportunity to work
toward nuclear disarmament. To do otherwise is to continue to provide a
much-needed veneer of academic legitimacy to the creation and
maintenance of weapons that poison communities and endanger the entire
world.
We recognize that the world we live in is fundamentally unjust, that it
is full of a spate of interconnected problems, and that all of these
problems merit being addressed on their own terms and in their own
ways. We realize our hunger strike will do little to address most of
those problems. But we do believe we have part of the answer to making
the world a much better place. We hope that, by performing this hunger
strike, we can initiate new connections and relationships that will
help us continue to work in solidarity with people engaged in multiple
other fronts of political struggle.
Together, we can make the UC nuclear-free! Thank you so much for your time
and attention! We look forward to connecting with you!
Yours in the struggle for a world free of war, nuclear weapons, and empire,
Chelsea Collonge
on behalf of
The UC "No More Nukes In Our Name!" Hunger Strikers
------------------->
IF YOU ONLY READ ONE THING (OR TWO THINGS) ...
------------------->
See also:
* Dr Mark Diesendorf, "The base-load electricity fallacy", briefing paper #16 at www.energyscience.org.au
* Dr Mark Diesendorf, Greenhouse Solutions with Sustainable Energy, UNSW Press, 2007
Sustainable energy has powerful future
Mark Diesendorf
The Age
April 13, 2007
http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/sustainable-energy-has-powerful-future/2007/04/12/1175971264442.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
OPPONENTS of renewable energy from the coal and nuclear industries, and
their political supporters, are disseminating the fallacy that
renewable energy cannot provide base-load power to substitute for
coal-fired electricity.
If this becomes widely accepted, renewable energy will remain a niche
market rather than achieve its potential of being part of mainstream
energy supply technologies.
Electricity grids are designed to handle variability in demand and
supply and have different types of power stations — base-load,
intermediate-load, peak-load and reserve.
A base-load station is, in theory, available 24 hours a day, seven days
a week, and operates most of the time at full power. In mainland
Australia, base-load power stations are mostly coal-fired while a few
are gas-fired. Coal-fired stations are by far the most polluting of all
power stations, in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and local air
pollution. Overseas, some base-load power stations are nuclear-powered.
An electricity supply system cannot be built out of base-load power
stations alone. These stations take all day to start up and, in
general, their output cannot be changed quickly enough to handle peaks
and other variations in demand. They also break down from time to time.
A faster, cheaper, more flexible power station is used to complement
base-load, handle the peaks and handle quickly unpredictable
fluctuations in supply and demand.
These peak-load stations are designed to be run for short periods each
day. They can be started rapidly from cold and their output can be
changed rapidly. Some peak-load stations are gas turbines (like jet
engines) fuelled by natural gas. Hydro-electricity with dams is also
used to provide peak-load power.
Some renewable electricity sources have identical variability to
coal-fired power stations and so they are base-load. They can be
integrated into the electricity supply system without any additional
back-up. Examples include:
* Bio-energy, based on the combustion of crops and crop residues, or their gasification followed by combustion of the gas.
* Hot rock geothermal power, which is being developed in South Australia and Queensland.
* Solar thermal electricity, with overnight heat storage in water or rocks, or a thermochemical store.
* Large-scale, distributed wind power, with a small amount of occasional back-up from a peak-load plant.
Moreover, energy efficiency and conservation measures can reliably reduce demand for base-load and peak-load electricity.
The inclusion of large-scale wind power in the list may be a surprise
to some people, because wind power is often described as an
"intermittent" source, that is, one that switches on and off
frequently. While a single wind turbine is certainly intermittent, a
system of several geographically separated wind farms is not. Total
wind power output of the system generally varies smoothly and rarely
falls to zero. Nevertheless, it may require some back-up, for example,
from gas turbines.
When wind power supplies up to 20 per cent of electricity generation,
the additional costs of reserve plant are relatively small. For widely
dispersed wind farms, the back-up capacity only has to be one-fifth to
one-third of the wind capacity. Since it has low capital cost and is
operated infrequently, it plays the role of reliability insurance with
a low premium.
Of course, if a national electricity grid is connected by transmission
line to another country (for example, as western Denmark is connected
to Norway), it does not need to install any back-up for wind, because
it buys supplementary power from its neighbours when required.
By 2040, renewable energy could supply more than half Australia's
electricity, reducing greenhouse emissions from electricity generation
by nearly 80 per cent. In the longer term, when solar electricity is
less expensive, there is no technical reason to stop renewable energy
from supplying 100 per cent of grid electricity. The system could be
just as reliable as the dirty, fossil-fuelled system that it replaces.
The barriers to a sustainable energy future are neither technological
nor economic, but the immense political power of the big greenhouse gas
polluting industries — coal, aluminium, iron and steel, cement, motor
vehicles and part of the oil industry.
Dr Mark Diesendorf is the director of Sustainability Centre, senior
lecturer in environmental studies at the University of NSW, and a
member of the EnergyScience Coalition.
------------------->
Everything you need to know about the corruption of climate change policy in Australia:
Is Howard being fair dinkum?
Jill Singer
June 04, 2007
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21841497-5000117,00.html
JILL Singer writes: How seriously does John Howard take climate change?
Consider who he chooses to listen to on this issue so vital to our
future.
Until last year, the man John Howard appointed to advise him on science policy was Dr Robert Batterham.
How confident can Australians be that he provided independent advice?
At the same time that Dr Batterham was working as the PM's chief
scientist, he was earning an estimated $700,000 a year as a director of
Rio Tinto, a company with a huge vested interest in Australia's carbon
policy.
Taxpayers also fund the Commonwealth Government's Australian Greenhouse Office.
Gwen Andrews was its chief executive for four years, including the
period John Howard was meant to be deliberating whether to ratify Kyoto.
According to Andrews, he did not ask her for a single briefing.
Dr Graeme Pearman was for many years the head of the CSIRO's Division
of Atmospheric Research and reveals that CSIRO scientists were gagged
under pressure from the Government.
They were not allowed to talk about the need to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions. But why does the Government want to skew evidence? And why
do its supporters try to pull the wool over our eyes?
Andrew MacIntyre from the Right-wing Institute of Public Affairs told ABC Radio why he was a climate-change sceptic.
Like a host of other government supporters, he points to the anti-Kyoto
Oregon Petition and claims that thousands of scientists signed it, all
under the auspices of the prestigious US National Academy of Sciences.
Not true. The petition was organised by Christian fundamentalists. Not
all signatories were scientists. Geri Halliwell Phd was on the original
petition, aka Ginger Spice.
Many of those who did sign it say they regret doing so. More to the
point, the National Academy of Sciences furiously refutes anything to
do with it and declares it does not reflect the conclusions of expert
reports of the academy.
Why promote such discredited muck?
Here's a clue. The IPA gets funding from the fossil-fuel industry.
Clive Hamilton is executive director of The Australia Institute and has
traced how a narrow section of Australian industry wields its influence
over the Government.
Hamilton's latest book, Scorcher: The Dirty Politics of Climate Change,
recalls a conference held in Canberra in 1997 called Countdown to Kyoto
and sponsored by ExxonMobil and the massive mining company Xstrata.
Its aim was spelled out in a fundraising letter from Frontiers of
Freedom to offer world leaders the tools to break with the Kyoto treaty.
Frontiers of Freedom is a far-Right US think tank funded by ExxonMobil
and tobacco companies and they have great sway over the Australian
Government.
Where is the evidence for this? Australia's delegation to negotiate
Kyoto included fossil-fuel industry lobby groups, the only developed
nation to do so.
An equivalent would be appointing Tony Mokbel as the Government's adviser on criminal justice.
It is known that greenhouse sceptics have direct access to the PM. As
one told Hamilton, there is this arrangement where senior people can
ring direct.
Can access to the PM be that easy? Just remember that John Howard
admitted that powerful Liberal mate Ron Walker rang him about setting
up a nuclear power company.
Great idea, Ron, is what the PM said he told his buddy before setting up another whitewash inquiry to endorse his position.
Back to Scorcher: The Dirty Politics of Climate Change and the events
of May 6, 2004, when John Howard convened a secret meeting of LETAG,
the Lower Emissions Technology Group that consists of the CEOs of the
major fossil fuels corporations.
Those attending came from Rio Tinto, Edison Mission Energy, BHP Billiton, Alcoa, Energex, Origin Energy, Boral and Orica.
The meeting was meant to be hush-hush, but notes were leaked that
detailed Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane stressing the need for
confidentiality because if the renewable industry found out there would
be a huge outcry.
Macfarlane referred to "us" and "them".
"Us" is the Government and the fossil fuel industry and "them" is anyone involved in renewables.
It gets worse. The PM was revealed to be worried about a review that
recommended extending an investment scheme into renewable energy.
Macfarlane explained the scheme was working too well and that investment in renewables was running ahead of plan.
Clean energy without profits going to the Liberal Party's powerful mates?
That would never do. But, there, in black and white, was the incontrovertible and inconvenient truth.
The Australian Government is determined to protect the fossil fuel industry at the expense of the renewable sector.
We might also note that in June 2004 an email was sent to major
polluters from Rio Tinto's chief lobbyist, none other than Lyall
Howard, the PM's nephew.
Loyal Lyall advised leaders of the fossil fuel industries how to
deliver key messages praising Uncle John Howard's energy statement.
Note that Lyall Howard did this before the PM went public with the policy.
He knew what most Australians did not and he knew it would deliver great news for polluters.
The PM is currently trying to convince us he is on top of climate change and the development of an emissions trading scheme.
What he is on top of is nurturing the interests of himself, his mates, family and powerful polluters.
jsinger@bigblue.net.au.
------------------->
NEW INFORMATION SOURCES
------------------->
Dr Mark Diesendorf, "The base-load electricity fallacy", briefing paper #16 at www.energyscience.org.au
New FoE website, nukes section: <www.foe.org.au/campaigns/anti-nuclear>
- lots on links between nuclear power and weapons
- paper on Impacts of Nuclear Power & Uranium Mining on Water Resources
- nuclear waste, reprocessing etc
- critique of James Lovelock, Patrick Moore and other self-described pro-nuclear environmentalists.
- references to the bestest litrature on Clean Energy: Renewables + Energy Efficiency
------------------->
From Chain Reaction #100, July 2007
Two must-read climate change books
Mark Diesendorf
Greenhouse Solutions with Sustainable Energy
May 2007
UNSW Press: Sydney
RRP $49.95
Clive Hamilton
Scorcher: The Dirty Politics of Climate Change
2007
Black Inc. Agenda, Melbourne
RRP: $29.95
Clive Hamilton and Mark Diesendorf have written important - and
complementary - books on climate change politics and solutions for
Australia.
Hamilton, executive director of the Australia Institute, focusses on
the corrupt politics of climate change while Diesendorf, who teaches in
the Institute of Environmental Studies at the University of New South
Wales, concentrates on sustainable energy solutions.
Hamilton's Scorcher details the corruption that passes for climate
change policy-making in Australia. It's a blow-by-blow account of the
manoeuvrings of the self-described 'greenhouse mafia' of corporate
fossil-fuel interests, and their secretive dealings with the
self-described anti-elitist Howard government.
Outside of the corporate cabal and the inner echelons of the Howard
government, Hamilton probably knows more than anyone about climate
change politics in Australia and that depth of knowledge makes Scorcher
a compelling read.
Hamilton also explains the "studied ignorance" of most of the corporate
media in Australia and their complicity in the climate change fiasco.
Diesendorf offers critical analyses of nuclear power and 'clean' coal,
and advocates an energy scenario based on renewables, gas and energy
conservation and efficiency. He also address transportation - a
significant contributor to greenhouse emissions.
You won't find another book with as much solid information on clean
energy options for Australia as Greenhouse Solutions with Sustainable
Energy.
------------------->
NEWS ITEMS
------------------->
AUNTIE VERONICA
------------------->
VERONICA BRODIE (nee Wilson)
(15/1/1941 - 3/5/2007)
Mrs Veronica Brodie a respected elder from the Ngarrindjeri &
Kaurna peoples of SA, passed away peacefully on Thursday
3rd of May at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, SA aged 66
years.
Known as Aunty Veronica to many she had fought many battles
throughout her life while also appearing in roles of Wrong Side
of the Road, an Aboriginal film and appeared in many
documentaries and media features, she wrote her own
autobiography called 'My side of the Bridge'.
Aunty Veronica was the trailblazer in the formation of many
community initiatives, organisations and political activism
for 40+ years. With her sister Leila Rankine (dec) she
played a significant role in the establishment of the
Adelaide Aboriginal Orchestra and Centre for Aboriginal
Studies in Music (CASM) in the 1970s Aboriginal Sobriety
Group and the "soup kitchen", Camp Coorong & Warriappendi School
into the 1980's. She was a pivotal motivating pioneer with
numerous organisations and programs - Aboriginal Elders
Village, Nunga Mimini's Women's shelters at North Adelaide
& Western region, disability group at Tauondi, the
'grannies' kinship group at the Parks Community Centre, and
lectured at many Universities, schools and at national and
international gatherings. In the 1990s she was again at the
fore in the foundation of Warriparinga Cultural Centre and
held positions on Aboriginal Housing, Health, Womens boards
and committees, being a fierce advocate for the most
disadvantaged. She was a key Ngarrindjeri voice to unite women of
all backgrounds in the Hindmarsh Island case and founded
the Lartelare Glanville land action group in recognition of
the birth site of her great-grandmother, one of the last
Kaurna people living traditional way of life on the
Adelaide plains in the 1890's before being forceby removed.
She is a legend and will always remain that - an inspiring
force that will be felt in the lives of many generations to
come.
Her family would like to distribute this news as she was
always everywhere else but home, and always helping others.
Sister of Bert (dec), Doug (dec) Leila (dec) and Graham
Wilson, special sister to Bulla (dec) & Mickolo (dec).
She is survived by her loving and loyal husband of 45 years
Jimmy and her 5 children Margaret, Colleen, Michael (dec),
Kathleen, Leona and step-son Kevin, and then her much loved
grand children Troy, Tasha, Bonny, JJ, Samuel, Don Don,
Emma and Abbie and her beloved great grand daughter Breanah.
thankyou for just being the most wonderful sister, wife, mother, gran, great-grandma & aunty
Her family would like to thank everyone who has ever been
involved with Aunty Veronica and invite you to join them to
commemorate her life & achievements.
------------------->
UNCLE KEVIN
------------------->
Anti-nuclear activists awarded
Friends of the Earth Adelaide activists Sophie Green and Joel
Catchlove, together with Arabunna elder Kevin Buzzacott, have been
awarded the SA Conservation Council's 2007 Jill Hudson Award for
Environmental Protection.
The award recognises the work of South Australians who have made "an outstanding contribution to protecting the environment".
Sophie Green and Joel Catchlove received the award for their
outstanding voluntary commitment to educate and engage the general
public about environmental issues and for energising the campaign
against the expansion of the nuclear industry.
Kevin Buzzacott, who is recovering from cancer in Adelaide, recieved
the award in recognition of his long-term campaign to protect his
traditional country, near Lake Eyre, from the impacts of BHP Billiton's
Roxby Downs copper-uranium mine. Kevin participated in FoE's
Radioactive Exposure Tour and the Alliance Against Uranium meeting last
year and was in sparkling form.
The awards were presented by the SA Minister for Environment and
Conservation, Gail Gago, in a ceremony on May 19. Past winners include
the Kupa Piti Kungka Tjuta, Aboriginal women elders who successfully
campaigned against the federal government's attempt to dump nuclear
waste on their land near Woomera.
The annual award is in memory of Jill Hudson (1948–1997), a passionate
educator who believed 'Life is an opportunity and its purpose is to
stand for something and to make a difference.'
Kevin Buzzacott was also awarded the Australian Conservation
Foundation's 2007 Peter Rawlinson Award on World Environment Day, June
5, recognising two decades of work highlighting the impacts of uranium
mining at Roxby Downs and promoting a nuclear-free Australia.
The Age carried a feature article on Kevin on April 21. "Uncle Kevin is
a very cheeky man," Marc Peckham from solar-powered hip-hop band Combat
Wombat said. "He's full of charisma, great at motivating people. He's a
sincere individual and, against great odds, he's always managed to pull
off what he needs to pull off."
Peckham told The Age that Kevin has appeared on Combat Wombat's CDs –
the first of which was made in a wind-powered recording studio at the
Lake Eyre camp. "He'd just grab the mike and start rapping. Sometimes
he'd say he was sick and tired of our music and put Creedence
Clearwater Revival on. That's his favourite."
The Age article:
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/uncle-kevs-devotees-celebrate-credence-for-a-clear-waterrevivalist/2007/04/20/1176697091997.html
------------------->
AUSTRALIA AS THE WORLD'S NUCLEAR DUMP
------------------->
Resolution passed at the Liberal Party's Federal Council, June 2-3 2007 (posted on Liberal Party website):
24. Nuclear Industry (moved by Federal Women’s Committee)
That Federal Council believes that Australia should expand its current
nuclear industry to incorporate the entire uranium fuel cycle, the
expansion of uranium mining to be combined with nuclear power
generation
and worldwide nuclear waste storage in the geotechnically
stable and
remote areas that Australia has to offer.
------------------->
Nuclear waste backflip fear
NICK CALACOURAS
05Jun07
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2007/06/05/1206_ntnews.html
THE Federal Government denied last night that high-level nuclear waste from overseas would be stored in the Territory.
But critics said Canberra backflipped on similar promises to never build a domestic nuclear waste facility in the NT.
The Liberal Party Federal Council passed a motion on the weekend urging
the Government to build a "worldwide nuclear waste storage in the
geotechnically stable and remote areas that Australia has to offer".
Federal Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane said it was against the law
for Australia "to take anyone else's nuclear waste" and the Government
had no intention of changing the law.
But Lingiari MHR Warren Snowdon said he has "no doubt if the Howard
Government is re-elected, we'll see a high-level nuclear waste dump in
the Northern Territory."
He said Territory Senator Nigel Scullion promised not to allow a
domestic nuclear waste dump "on his watch" before the last election,
but refused to vote against the legislation.
"They'll say one thing before an election, and do another after," he
said.
Mr Snowdon said it was clear the Liberal Party had a "secret
agenda" to set up a high-level waste facility in the Territory - and
the proposed low-level facility at Muckaty Station is "largely a
side-show".
Arid Lands Environment Centre campaigner Natalie Wasley said the
Government had little credibility when making these promises.
She said the proposed domestic nuclear facility at Muckaty Station, could be upgraded to accept international waste.
"If the Commonwealth couldn't convince the states to take on the
low-level nuclear waste dumps, then they definitely won't be willing to
take international waste," she said.
"They will have to force it on the Territory as well."
The
Commonwealth nominated three sites in the NT for the domestic waste
facility after the states refused to have it built on their land.
The Northern Land Council volunteered Muckaty Station for low and intermediate level waste last month.
------------------->
Minister rejects nuclear dump bid
Samantha Maiden and Jeremy Roberts
June 04, 2007
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21843816-601,00.html
LIBERAL delegates have urged the Howard Government to set up a
worldwide nuclear dump as Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane accused the
states of hypocrisy, warning that one was keeping nuclear waste in a
hospital car park.
The Liberal Party's federal council, on the last day of its three-day
conference, yesterday urged the Government to consider establishing a
nuclear dump for the world's waste in Australia.
The motion won the support of the Sydney conference's 68 delegates, but
Mr Macfarlane said the Government was not about to upgrade plans for a
low-level nuclear dump in the Northern Territory.
He instead attacked the Labor states for retaining ad hoc nuclear waste
storage sites in capital cities. He said one hospital was keeping
nuclear waste in a shipping container in a hospital car park.
South Australian Health Minister John Hill was forced to admit Royal
Adelaide Hospital still kept nuclear waste in its basement, more than
two years after the Rann Government blocked a federal plan to build a
national dump in the state.
But West Australian Premier Alan Carpenter hit back, promising to pass
laws to block any federal moves to set up a nuclear facility --
including any reactor -- in his state.
Mr Macfarlane suggested some states lacked a "secure environment" for
nuclear waste. "Let me just ask all the states -- what are they doing
with their nuclear waste right now ... because I know each state health
system has nuclear waste."
The waste includes needles, surgical gowns and nuclear waste used in the treatment of cancer.
"Are they storing it as it's suggested, in one case, in a shipping container in the car park of their general hospital?"
A spokesperson for Mr Macfarlane denied the container was a public
health risk, and declined toreveal which state used the container.
Mr Macfarlane accused the states of hypocrisy.
"Why are they frightening people by saying nuclear waste is so
dangerous when they are not even storing it in a secure environment in
some cases?" He also said nuclear power was one way to tackle climate
change, echoing John Howard's support for nuclear power in any future
national power generation regime.
Mr Carpenter said his planned legislation to block any federal nuclear
push would include a referendum trigger so people would have their say
if the federal Government ever tried to override the new state laws.
He said the referendum would ensure a huge political cost for the commonwealth if it tried to usurp the will of the state.
The legislation will also prohibit transporting materials to a nuclear
facility site and stop nuclear power being connected to the electricity
grid.
Mr Carpenter stopped short of banning uranium mining, but said it would not be allowed while he was Premier.
Additional reporting: Amanda O'Brien, AAP
------------------->
ASEN LAUNCHES REPORT ON UNIVERSITIES & NUKES
------------------->
The Australian Student Environment Network (ASEN) is today releasing a
report, 'Opportunities to Waste, Australian Universities and the
Nuclear Industry', available for viewing or download here:
http://www.asen.org.au/OpportunitiesToWaste/
The launch is held today to commemorate the 21st Anniversary of the
Chernobyl disaster.
The report examines the Federal Government's National Research
Priorities, the involvement and influence of the uranium mining
industry in setting research agendas and curricula, and includes
profiles of academics, research initiatives and university
departments.
A diverse and vibrant anti-nuclear movement saw the closure of the
sole remaining School of Nuclear Engineering at the University of NSW
in the 1980s. In 2006, there were no courses in nuclear engineering
offered in Australia as a result of the sustained public pressure
against an industry that remains unwanted.
The report highlights expansion and investment in nuclear research and
training at universities is a prerequisite for the Howard Government's
push to expand the nuclear industry in Australia.
Australian universities have shown they are eager to exploit the
enthusiasm of the Howard Government, already looking to form an
Australia-wide nuclear science and technology school. Universities
interested include Australian National University, Western Australian
universities, Wollongong, Newcastle, Sydney, Melbourne, Queensland
University of Technology and RMIT.
Students in the Australian Student Environment Network oppose our
universities performing the role of research and training ground for
dangerous and unsustainable industries. In the face of dangerous
climate change, Australian universities have an important opportunity
and responsibility to invest in a safe, secure, non-polluting
renewable energy sector.
In Sydney, the report will be launched with a forum at Sydney
University, Thursday April 26th 2 – 3:30pm, Reading Room (Holme
building), including speakers Dr. Stuart Rosewarne (Political Economy,
Lecturer), and report author Holly Creenaune. The will also be a large
inflatable nuclear power station set up on the front lawns of Sydney
University from midday.
There are also launch events planned for:
Murdoch University: April 26th, 2-4pm, contact Fern York on
littlefern@planet-save.com
Macquarie University: May 1st - contact holly@asen.org.au / 0417 682 541
Melbourne University: May 3rd - contact juliadehm@yahoo.com
Report launch events aim to begin dialogue with researchers, staff
unionists, the NTEU, academics, and management around building ethical
research frameworks for universities. Climate activists in ASEN have
already taken up the Report's recommendations and research for use in
their Clean Energy on Campus campaigns - to shift universities to
clean energy and divest from coal and nuclear industry research and
funding.
The report includes a number of recommendations for Universities,
Government and the Australian Research Council, which we are hoping
will inform some concrete campaign demands. We plan to continue to add
to the report, and campaign around and challenge proposals for new
schools, degrees and courses in Nuclear Science and Engineering.
We think we CAN stop plans for schools, degrees and courses in Nuclear
Science and Engineering - and shift funding toward research and
education in renewables. We see this as a highly strategic role
students and university staff can play in stopping any expansion of
the nuclear industry!
For further information or to receive a hardcopy of the reportcon,
please contact Holly Creenaune on 0417 682 541 / holly@asen.org.au
Thanks to the amazing environment collectives in ASEN, the Beyond
Nuclear Initiative, Scott Ludlam, Jim Green, Dave Hammerton and all
those inspirin' crews out there,
Love from Holly, Fern, Adam and Paddy xx
Opportunities to Waste: Australian Universities and the Nuclear Industry
http://www.asen.org.au/OpportunitiesToWaste/
About ASEN:
The Australian Student Environment Network is the national network of
students active on environmental, social and cultural justice issues.
ASEN is made up of the state environment networks, which are made of
campus environment collectives.
ASEN was created by and continues to be organised by young activists
committed to change. Students use the network to organise local
campaigns, share information and resources, and embark on national
campaigns such as Clean Energy on Campus and Nuclear-Free
Universities.
Web: www.asen.org.au
Email: info@asen.org.au
------------------->
NUCLEAR DUMP PROPOSED FOR NT - ALP POLICY
------------------->
MEDIA RELEASE
April 30, 2007
Labor dumps the NT dump
The Arid Lands Environment Centre-Beyond Nuclear Initiative
(ALEC-BNI) welcomes the motion passed at the ALP National Conference
that would commit a Federal Labor government to repeal Commonwealth
legislation forcing a radioactive dump on the Territory.
The ALP motion, ironically passed the same day the 'no new uranium
mines' policy was overturned by a narrow margin, states that a Federal
Labor government would:
* Not proceed with the development of any of the current sites
identified by the Howard Government in the Northern Territory, if no
contracts have been entered into for those sites.
* Repeal the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act 2005.
* Establish a process for identifying suitable sites that is
scientific, transparent, accountable, fair and allows access to appeal
mechanisms.
* Identify a suitable site for a radioactive waste dump in accordance with the new process.
* Ensure full community consultation in radioactive waste decision-making processes.
* Commit to international best practice scientific processes to
underpin Australia's radioactive waste management, including
transportation and storage.
Natalie Wasley, Beyond Nuclear Initiative campaigner states "This
policy is welcomed by ALEC- BNI and the communities being targeted for
the Federal waste dump, as it acknowledges the lack of community
consultation and ad hoc process being used by the Federal Government to
fast track the NT dump plan".
"It is essential that any Federal Government commits to international
best practice of radioactive materials, which involves thorough
community consultation and acceptance of dump siting and minimal
transport of materials. Obviously the current Federal plan is deficient
in all of these areas".
Ms Wasley also points out that responsible waste management planning
must also include the waste produced from mining-especially if this is
to expand in the coming decades. "Uranium mines produce vast quantities
of long lived radioactive material, and a large proportion of this
remains on site as tailings. Any industry expansion would need a
comprehensive plan to manage increased volumes of waste, so it is hoped
that the ALP commitments in regard to the proposed Federal waste dump
would carry over to considerations of U-mine waste management"
------------------->
NUCLEAR DUMP PROPOSED FOR NT - MUCKATY
------------------->
In a nutshell:
- fed govt announced 3 sites in NT in 2005 for nuclear dump for Commonwealth govt waste
- now a fourth site has been proposed, on Muckaty Station near Tennant
Creek, nominated by NorthernLand Council despite clear divisions among
Traditional Owners.
- site assessment won't be completed til end of 2007
------------------->
Clan allows nuclear dump for $12m
Lindsay Murdoch in Nhulunbuy and Jasmin Afianos in Tennant Creek
May 26, 2007
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/clan-allows-nuclear-dump-for-12m/2007/05/25/1179601669086.html
ABORIGINAL elders in a remote Northern Territory community have agreed
to accept $12 million for allowing Australia's first national nuclear
waste dump to be built on their land.
But the secretly negotiated deal has bitterly divided traditional
owners of the 2241-square-kilometre Muckaty station where the Federal
Government will now look to build the controversial dump to store 5000
cubic metres of nuclear waste.
Bindi Jakamarra Martin, a Warlmanpa man from the Ngapa clan, said that
building the dump on a 1.5-square-kilometre site 120 kilometres from
Tennant Creek would "poison our beautiful land" and "change our
dreamings".
"Our dreamings cross right into that land where they want
to put that dump," he said.
But Amy Lauder, a senior elder of the 70-member Ngapa clan, said her
people's acceptance of the deal was right for them - despite protests
from other clans owning the station, which was handed back to the
traditional owners in 1995 after a long court battle.
"Other clans can
speak for their country - not our Ngapa country," she said.
She said the $12 million would "create a future for our children with
education, jobs and funds for our outstation and transport".
Under the deal, Canberra would take the Ngapa clan's land from them for
up to 200 years to store nuclear waste from all the states and
territories.
The deal - made public yesterday after two years of
negotiations - would see up to 150 truckloads of radioactive material
driven thousands of kilometres from Lucas Heights in Sydney and Woomera
in South Australia to the site, which is 10 kilometres from the busy
Stuart Highway and eight kilometres from where people live at the
station homestead.
Experts will now study the site to see if it is scientifically suitable to store nuclear waste.
The Federal Government had previously announced the dump would be built
on one of three Defence-owned sites in the territory after the South
Australian Government scuttled plans to build it at Woomera.
The Muckaty deal has angered the Northern Territory Government, whose
laws against developing a dump in the territory can be overridden by
Canberra.
"This potential facility could compromise the social,
cultural and traditional ties of Aboriginal people to their country,"
said Elliott McAdam, a minister in the territory's Labor Government.
Environmentalists have called on the federal Science Minister, Julie
Bishop, to reject the site.
Dave Sweeney, nuclear campaigner for the
Australian Conservation Foundation, said Muckaty was not selected as a
site on a scientific basis, and turning it into a dump would be
"environmentally irresponsible and socially divisive".
But Mrs Bishop yesterday praised a full council meeting of the
Northern Land Council, which nominated Muckaty as the site for what she
calls a radioactive waste management facility. "The NLC has
consistently taken a responsible approach to this issue, focusing on
the evidence of safely operating radioactive waste management
facilities in Australia and overseas," she said.
The dump will store items such as gloves, clothing, glassware and
contaminated soil, including waste from the treatment each year of
400,000 ill people.
Spent fuel from two research reactors sent to be
stored overseas will also be brought back to be stored in above-ground
containers.
William Jakamarra Graham, another traditional owner, said: "We don't
care about the money - $12 million is nothing to us. But we care about
our land and what will happen to the children of the future - we don't
want to leave them a nuclear dump."
------------------->
Media Release
May 25, 2007
Muckaty not a done deal for the dump
The Arid Lands Environment Centre Beyond-Nuclear Initiative (ALEC-BNI)
has expressed deep concern over the Northern Land Council nomination of
Muckaty for the Federal radioactive waste dump, but says there is a
long way to go before the deal is wrapped up.
"Direct communication with Traditional Owners following the NLC
nomination has confirmed deep concern, division and strong opposition
to this nomination. Muckaty traditional owner Bindi Martin said to me
this morning that he does not agree to the dump proposal and I believe
this is a view held by other Ngapa Elders as well. This proposal can
not be touted as widely accepted within the Muckaty group or the wider
community", stated Natalie Wasley, Beyond Nuclear Initaitive
campaigner.
Ms Wasley added; "All affected people and groups must be consulted and
consent to this proposal. Muckaty people with cultural connections to
sites along the mining access road have stated they oppose the dump.
Their perspective must also be considered if long lived radioactive
waste is to be transported through their country for the next few
hundred years".
"Muckaty Traditional Owners representing all of the recognised family
groups wrote to the NLC Full Council and Minister Julie Bishop earlier
this year expressing opposition to a dump on their land. The letter
asked for negotiations regarding the dump to cease, not be
formalised".
"The Federal Government is attempting to buy its way out of the too
hard basket. Instead of adopting a scientifically driven, prudent and
credible approach to radioactive waste management, they are offering a
radioactive waste dump as a solution to financial disadvantage in
remote areas".
"The whole dump fiasco is clearly a means to get long lived waste
produced at Lucas Heights out of sight and out of mind in an election
year. Political considerations to move the waste to areas with less
voters is obviously being given a higher priority than scientific,
public health or environmental concerns".
"The nomination of Muckaty is not the end of this story. Minister
Julie Bishop has assured the Australian public she would require clear
indication of widespread consent before accepting a nomination, and
this is currently lacking. The Minister must hold true to her word that
she will only accept a nomination if full consultation and consent of
all affected people has been demonstrated".
"There continues to be clear division and difference of opinion and it
is inappropriate and improper for a minister to accept and progress the
nomination at this time. The Arid Lands Environment Centre calls on
Julie Bishop not to accept the NLC nomination of Muckaty unless it can
be demonstrated that all Traditional Owners accept this decision", Ms
Wasley concluded.
------------------->
Waste Dump Is Thin Edge Of Howard's Nuclear Wedge
Published in Newcastle Herald
June 2, 2007
Christopher Doran and Annika Dean
The recent decision by Traditional Owners of the Ngapa clan in the
Northern Territory to allow their land to be used as a site for nuclear
waste should be of concern to all Australians. Agreement to a waste
dump is the thin edge of the Howard government's wedge for Australia to
become a full fledged nuclear nation. Howard's stated ambition to
build 25 reactors by 2050 cannot be realised without first solving the
problem of what to do with the extremely toxic high level waste.
It also opens the door to Australia being a repository for the world's
nuclear waste.
The Muckaty proposal comes after a failed attempt to build a waste dump
in South Australia, after a campaign led by senior Aboriginal women.
The dump will be used for storage of low and intermediate level waste
from Sydney's Lucas Heights nuclear research reactor. Long lived
"intermediate" waste remains radioactive for tens of thousands of
years. The waste will be transported from Lucas Heights through
densely populated areas around Sydney, and through many towns that are
opposed to nuclear waste being trucked through their communities.
The Ngapa, one of several clans whose traditional ownership of the vast
Muckaty Station 120 kilometres north of Tennant Creek was legally
recognised in 1995, nominated their land in return for $12 million in
federal funding. Senior Ngapa elder Amy Lauder said in a
statement that her people agreed in order "to create a future for our
children with education, jobs and funds for our outstation…" The
Ngapa were asked to accept the use of their traditional land as a
nuclear waste dump in return for basic services. Non-Indigenous
Australians are not expected to do deals for these basic
services.
The deal is strongly opposed by surrounding clans at Muckaty and even
by some members of the Ngapa clan itself. Bindi Jakamarra Martin,
a Warlmanpa man from the Ngapa clan has said that building the dump
"would poison our beautiful land", and that "Our dreamings cross right
into that land where they want to put that dump."
Why should Newcastle care about Sydney's nuclear waste being dumped in
the outback? Apart from the appalling injustice and radioactive
racism, a nuclear dump would be a sizeable step towards Howard's plans
for 25 nuclear reactors by 2050- one of which would almost certainly be
in the Hunter region.
A waste dump at Muckaty Station is far from a done deal. Federal
Minister Julie Bishop still has to approve the site. What's more,
approving a site and implementing it are two very different stories.
The Howard government knows from previous unsuccessful attempts to
build a nuclear dump in South Australia and a uranium mine at Jabiluka,
that any attempts to expand the Australian nuclear Industry will be met
by significant public opposition. Australians will not be fooled into
believing Howard's snake-oil pitch that nuclear is safe, or is the
solution to climate change. Renewable energy and efficiency, not
nukes and expanded coal mining, are the answers to Australia's future.
Christopher Doran is a lecturer in Geography at the University of
Newcastle, and a former nuclear campaigner for The Wilderness
Society. Annika Dean is co-founder of Novocastrians Against
Nuclear.
------------------->
N-dump site in quake zone, says ACF
Lindsay Murdoch, Darwin
May 31, 2007
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/ndump-site-in-quake-zone-says-acf/2007/05/30/1180205338529.html
THE nomination of a site near Tennant Creek for Australia's first
national radioactive waste dump is irresponsible because it lies in an
earthquake zone, environmentalists have said.
The Australian Conservation Foundation's nuclear campaigner, Dave
Sweeney, said it beggared belief that after a decade-long search for a
dump site, "they have chosen one in a seismically active area".
The latest in a series of earthquakes shook the region on Friday,
registering 2.3 on the Richter scale, only hours before the Northern
Land Council, which represents indigenous groups, nominated the site,
120 kilometres north of Tennant Creek, to the Federal Government.
Earthquakes have struck every few months in the Tennant Creek area
since the most intense quake measured in the Northern Territory struck
the area on January 22, 1988, registering 6.8. The quake caused minor
structural damage to hundreds of buildings in the town and twisted a
new gas pipeline.
Federal Government-appointed experts are set to study the suitability
of the 1.5-square-kilometre site on Muckaty Station after the NLC
brokered a deal with the Ngapa Aboriginal owners of the land. Under the
deal, the Ngapa clan will receive $12 million for giving up the land
for up to 200 years.
But the deal has bitterly divided traditional owners of the
2240-square-kilometre Muckaty, which was handed back to them in 1995
after a long court battle.
Mr Sweeney said the deal was socially divisive. He also said the ACF
and other environmental groups called on the Government to reject the
site's nomination because it was not selected on a scientific basis.
He said there were also concerns about underground water in the
sparsely populated area. Some of the waste will be stored in
underground containers.
The Federal Government had previously announced that the dump would be
built on one of three Defence-owned sites in the Territory after the
South Australian Government scuttled plans to build it at Woomera.
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ANSTO reiterates nuclear waste dump safety
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200705/s1934250.htm
Last Update: Sunday, May 27, 2007. 7:31am (AEST)
The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) says
the nuclear waste dump proposed for Muckaty Station in the Northern
Territory will be completely safe.
The Northern Land Council has nominated the site, 120 kilometres north
of Tennant Creek, for a low- and intermediate-level repository.
Traditional owners from the region visited ANSTO's Lucas Heights
facility in New South Wales to see the type of waste that could be
delivered to the dump.
ANSTO chief of operations Dr Ron Cameron says the waste includes
plastic gloves and contaminated clothing and is completely innocuous.
"I think some people want to use misinformation to try and get up a
scare campaign. We want to let people know the type of waste that this
really is," he said.
"I think that bringing traditional owners to Lucas Heights has really helped in that process."
Dr Cameron says there are repositories all around the world that are environmentally safe.
"At the moment, waste is stored in really hundreds of temporary stores
all over Australia, and the best international practice is to designate
one site to be the national repository - and that's what's happening
here," he said.
"Such repositories exist all over the world. In fact there's one in the
Champagne district of France and it works very safely without any
concern."
But Friends of the Earth campaigner Dr Jim Green says there are about
two incidents every year with the transportation of nuclear waste to
and from the Lucas Heights reactor.
He says if low and intermediate level waste did not pose a safety risk, it would be left at the current stores.
"Three dumps have had to be closed in the United States because of environmental contamination," he said.
"Also ANSTO is talking about a dump in the Champagne region of France and saying it hasn't had any impact on the environment.
"In fact there's a cracked wall in that dump in Champagne in France and it is contaminating the local environment."
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FoE Australia media release May 25, 2007
NUCLEAR DUMP DANGEROUS FOR TERRITORY
National environment group Friends of the Earth (FoE) has today
expressed concern over the Northern Land Council's nomination of a site
for a proposed nuclear waste dump at Muckaty, near Tennant Creek in the
Northern Territory.
FoE national nuclear campaigner Dr. Jim Green said: "John Daly from the
Northern Land Council is entirely wrong when he says that a nuclear
dump 'can be safely constructed in many parts of the Northern
Territory' and that nuclear waste transport is 'safe'."
"The government agency responsible for the nuclear waste dump, the
Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST), has a track
record of mismanaging nuclear projects. When the government planned to
dump nuclear waste in SA, independent nuclear scientists and physicists
argued that DEST could not be trusted to safely construct and manage
the dump because of its lack of expertise. The regulator - the
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency - agreed that
DEST had insufficient expertise to safely manage the project, as did
the International Atomic Energy Agency."
"In theory it might be possible to safely construct and manage a
nuclear repository, but we don't live in theory -- we live in Australia
where the relevant federal government agency has a track record of
incompetence and mismanagement."
"Daly is also wrong to claim that nuclear waste transportation is safe.
There have been countless accidents involving nuclear waste
transportation around the world, such as the radiation contamination
scandal in Germany which led to the indefinite suspension of nuclear
waste transports, the derailment of a train carrying 180 tonnes of
high-level nuclear waste in France, and the truck accident which
spilled strontium-90 onto a highway in Tennessee. The Lucas Heights
nuclear agency ANSTO has acknowledged 1-2 'incidents' each year
involving the transportation of nuclear materials to and from Lucas
Heights."
"Daly's claim that 'every Australian directly benefits from
radiological medical treatment ...produced at Lucas Heights' is also
false. In fact, as two Senate inquiries have found, Australia does not
even need a nuclear reactor let alone a nuclear waste dump in order to
assure high-level nuclear medicine services," Dr. Green concluded.
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LAUNCH OF ICAN - INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO ABOLISH NUCLEAR WEAPONS
------------------->
The world must unite to eliminate the growing nuclear threat
http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/the-world-must-unite-to-eliminate-the-growing-nuclear-threat/2007/04/22/1177180476368.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
Christopher Weeramantry
April 23, 2007
IN THE past week alone, North Korea failed to meet a deadline to halt
its nuclear program, and Iran announced it was seeking bids to build
two more nuclear power plants, despite international concern that the
enriched uranium is destined to fuel weapons.
As the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists declared this year: "We stand
at the brink of a second nuclear age. Not since the first atomic bombs
were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki has the world faced such
perilous choices." The significant threats caused by North Korea and
Iran's increasing nuclear ambitions are among a long and terrifying
list of reasons driving us closer to disaster. They include unsecured
nuclear materials in Russia and elsewhere, the continuing launch-ready
status of thousands of American and Russian weapons, escalating
terrorism, increasing availability of the materials with which to make
a bomb, and a dangerous lowering of the threshold for use in several
nuclear weapons states.
The main reason we are held hostage by the most destructive technology
on earth is simple: the complete lack of international resolve to ban
nuclear weapons and banish them from the arsenals of the world.
Today, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons will be
launched in Melbourne. Former Australian prime minister Malcolm Fraser
will speak, joined by former foreign minister Gareth Evans via video,
some of Australia's leading medical experts and community leaders in a
plea for action. The campaign's demand is simple. It calls for a
Nuclear Weapons Convention, similar to those already achieved for
chemical and biological weapons and for landmines.
Such is the seriousness of the nuclear threat that high-profile and
bipartisan leaders in Australia have joined to urge action to create a
nuclear weapons-free world. Australia has a key role. For decades
Australia has provided uranium to several nuclear weapons states, with
a misplaced faith that safeguards will keep that uranium out of
weapons. Australia, as a provider of a raw material that has such
catastrophic potential, has a responsibility to help eliminate the
ultimate weapons of terror. Australia should also reinforce the message
by ceasing uranium exports to any nation that maintains nuclear weapons.
There have been strong international signals of support for a Nuclear
Weapons Convention. At the 2006 United Nations General Assembly, 125
governments voted for the start of negotiations for such a convention.
Yet if we want more than the kind of snail's pace action of the past 50
years, we need a public campaign worldwide that is vocal enough to
force swift action by Australia and every other nation that has
expressed grave concern over weapons of mass destruction.
There have been several attempts to reduce the number of nuclear
weapons globally. In 1970 the world's governments agreed to abolish
such weapons through the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Since then,
the number of countries with nuclear weapons has increased to nine —
Russia, United States, China, Britain, France, Israel, India, Pakistan
and North Korea — that possess a staggering 27,000 between them. None
show signs of eliminating their arsenals. The director of the
International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei, believes up to
30 countries have the capacity to develop nuclear weapons in a short
time.
The bomb also clearly stands categorically condemned by at least a
dozen basic principles of international law. I was one of 14 judges on
the panel of the International Court of Justice that unanimously held
in the Advisory Opinion on the legality of the threat or use of nuclear
weapons that: "There exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and
bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in
all its aspects under strict and effective international control."
But elimination will only happen if all countries — nuclear and
non-nuclear states — genuinely work towards this result. Nuclear states
must abolish their arsenals, as was indicated by the unanimous opinion
of the international Court of Justice, the highest international
tribunal. The five nuclear states seem to expect others to refrain from
obtaining bombs while at the same time maintaining their own caches of
deadly weapons.
In particular, Russia and the United States — far from making a serious
effort to disarm — still possess 26,000 of the world's 27,000 nuclear
weapons. According to the board of directors of the Bulletin of the
Atomic Scientists, the two countries combined have more than 1000
warheads ready to be activated within tens of minutes. Each of these
weapons has a potential destructive force up to 40 times that of the
atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima that killed 100,000 people. Fifty of
today's nuclear weapons could kill 200 million people.
The creation of a nuclear weapons convention is not only achievable, it
is imperative if civilisation is to survive. The international campaign
to ban the landmine was successful. In 1997, governments finally
listened to millions of people demanding action. One decade later, the
call for a Nuclear Weapons Convention must be made even more loudly. So
compellingly that all states including Australia will have no choice
but to end any form of support, direct or indirect, to the nuclear
menace which threatens us all.
Judge Christopher Weeramantry is a former vice-president of the
International Court of Justice. He will speak at the launch of the
International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons at State Parliament
today.
ICAN launch info at: www.mapw.org.au/ican.html
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Fraser urges end to nuclear weapons
Monday Apr 23 16:42 AEST
Australia should pressure its international allies to get rid of their
nuclear weapons, former prime minister Malcolm Fraser says.
Speaking after the launch of an anti-nuclear weapons movement in
Melbourne, Mr Fraser said an Australian government needed to push an
international agenda that would abolish all nuclear weapons.
"We all talk about proliferation, or our governments do, and they get
into a great lather about the actions of North Korea or Iran, whom
they're concerned about, but they don't recognise the reality," he said.
"There will be proliferation, they will not be able to stop it unless
the major nuclear states make up their minds that nuclear weapons must
be abolished."
Mr Fraser said it could take years to rid the world of nuclear weapons,
but it was important that nations such as the United Kingdom and United
States were committed to it.
"The real benefit for that is that you could then be extraordinarily
tough on any other state that sought to upset the movement to
abolition," he said.
"At the moment, countries like North Korea, I'm sure, and Iran and
there would be many others, believe that the original nuclear powers
are just trying to preserve their own superiority."
However, Mr Fraser said it was important to separate weapons from
nuclear energy as it would be impossible to demand countries give up
using nuclear power, particularly in Europe where some rely on it for
up to 80 per cent of their needs.
"Power for peaceful purposes is becoming critical. If you're going to
try to abolish that as well as abolish nuclear weapons then you won't
achieve anything at all and the priority is to abolish nuclear
weapons," he said.
Mr Fraser, a former Liberal prime minister, spoke to reporters after
the launch of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons at
Victoria's parliament house in Melbourne.
He declined to comment on Labor's strong opinion polls in the lead up to this year's federal election .
©AAP 2007
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CLEAN ENERGY - VARIOUS
------------------->
Jobs thrown on rubbish heap
Andrew Stephens
June 3, 2007
http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/jobs-thrown-on-rubbish-heap/2007/06/02/1180205572135.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
THE long-awaited Prime Ministerial taskforce on emissions trading may
have sounded the death knell for Australia's renewable energy sector.
Backing a national emissions trading scheme, it recommended that it be
"technology neutral", which means mandatory renewable energy targets
would be abolished in favour of letting the market decide which energy
source was most likely to cut carbon emissions. The lack of targets has
already relegated Australia, once a global leader in renewable
technology, into a "could have been".
As Prime Minister John Howard released the report, China's Suntech
Power Holdings company was busily churning out shiny solar panels,
ready to soak up all that free energy.
Suntech has every reason to love the sunshine: it's said to be hoping
for a $135 million profit for 2007 — a 70 per cent increase on last
year.
And it might just have been an Australian success story.
Suntech's chief executive, Zhengrong Shi, according to Forbes rich
list, is Australia's fifth wealthiest man (and China's third) and he
learnt the tricks of his solar trade in Sydney. A graduate of the
University of NSW's School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy
Engineering and worth a reported $2.8 billion, he lives in China but
holds Australian citizenship.
With inadequate Federal Government support and a coal industry that,
according to its growing chorus of opponents, is unfairly courted,
there are many renewable energy enterprises with Suntech-style
potential that have either given up or turned their attention overseas,
according to the Greens' climate change spokeswoman, Senator Christine
Milne.
She says it's an economic and environmental tragedy. Ms Milne launched
her Re-energising Australia report last month and says scant Federal
Government support for the renewable industry has also made Australians
feel the onus is on them to make changes. "People are feeling
guilt-tripped," Ms Milne says. "Wherever I go it's clear to me that the
community are way ahead of the politics when it comes to climate
change. They are really worried and they want to take whatever action
they can." But she says shifting to solar electricity or a hybrid car
is often prohibitively expensive.
Ms Milne says renewable energy enterprises frequently tell her they are
ready to dive into the local market but the Government's refusal to
increase the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) has dried up
investment and to varying degrees forced businesses out.
Because the Government won't increase the MRET (originally set at 9500
gigawatt hours, equivalent to about 2 per cent, of additional renewable
energy generation per year by 2010), Victoria, NSW and South Australia
have instead taken the lead with various targets of their own. Victoria
is aiming to buy 10 per cent of power from renewable sources by 2016.
Another study, released recently by the Australian Conservation
Foundation, Greenpeace Asia-Pacific and Climate Action Network
Australia, said a renewable energy target of 25 per cent by 2020 could
deliver 17,000 new jobs and provide enough electricity to power every
home in Australia. It said such a target would reduce emissions by
about 15 per cent from 2004 levels and bring big savings for Australian
households.
Tristan Edis, policy and research manager for the Australian Business
Council for Sustainable Energy, says there is now a global battle to
develop renewable technologies and industries that can tackle
greenhouse emissions and at the same time end dependence on
"unreliable, volatile and often hostile regimes" that supply oil and
gas.
Renewables are a $40 billion-plus global industry; and while Australia
used to be a leader in solar technology, Mr Edis says the world "has
flown past us", with Germany now taking the lead, building a solar and
wind turbine industry that exports globally and employs 157,000 people,
closely followed by Spain. The rest of Europe is following, with the EU
setting a 20 per cent renewable energy target for 2020. Even the US,
which along with Australia has refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol to
reduce greenhouse emissions, is in the ascendant, with populous states
such as California setting a 33 per cent target for 2020.
Some renewable energy enterprises remain hopeful. After announcing in
May last year that it was halting work on its big Australian wind farm
projects and focusing overseas, the Roaring 40s company is now taking
an optimistic line. Its spokesman, Josh Bradshaw, says he now sees a
more buoyant market and, with an approaching federal election, the
Howard Government is making "good move-ments" towards an emissions
trading scheme, announcing on Friday that Australia will begin carbon
emissions trading by 2012.
Melbourne-based Pacific Hydro, a renewable energy power plant
development company owned mainly by an Australian super fund, has had a
hard slog locally but is also having great success — overseas. Its
director, Andrew Richards, says all its Australian wind projects were
stalled for several years due to the Federal Government's refusal to
expand MRET. But in the meantime the company has been busy developing a
number of hydro and wind projects in developing countries such as Chile
and Brazil (both are $500 million investments).
Because Victoria has instituted its own renewable energy target,
Pacific Hydro has now revived its local wind projects at Portland (a
$300 million investment) and South Australia. It is also investigating
a geothermal project in central Australia.
While Mr Richards and others estimate that enormous investment
opportunities have been lost while waiting for the Government to take a
firm stand, a spokeswoman for the federal Environment and Water
Resources Department says it is not true to say that current measures
are focused disproportionately on fossil fuels. Renewables are
important in Australia's "energy mix", she says. "The Government is
supporting a range of low emissions technologies," she says.
This includes the $52 million it has spent on the photovoltaic rebate
program, $25 million committed under the Asia-Pacific Partnership on
Clean Development and Climate program, plus $75 million on the Solar
Cities program. In last month's budget, $741 million of extra funding
over the next five years was committed for bigger rebates for solar
panels and other climate change measures. "Making coal and coal mining
less greenhouse intensive is perhaps the most important contribution
Australia can make on climate change," she says.
But Senator Milne and the ACF remain sceptical about "clean" coal
(removing the CO2 from its emissions), with few signs that effective
technology will be online — or even feasible — within the next decade.
The ACF's executive director, Don Henry, insists that the demand for
renewables is there already, with people keen to live more sustainably.
Taking the lead
* AUSTRALIA - Australian states have taken the lead with renewable
energy targets: NSW (15 per cent by 2020), Victoria (10 per cent by
2016) and South Australia (20 per cent by 2014). The Business Council
for Sustainable Energy has launched a 20 per cent by 2020 campaign to
try and get a national target.
* UNITED STATES - States that make up half the US population have in
place varying schemes. California has set a target of 33 per cent by
2020.
* EUROPEAN UNION - A 20 per cent target by 2020.
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CLEAN ENERGY - ACF/GREENPEACE/CANA REPORT
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Report urges renewable energy action
By David Crawshaw
April 23, 2007
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21603625-1702,00.html
HOUSEHOLD electricity bills would rise by just $1.23 a week if a
quarter of Australia's energy came from renewable sources, a report has
found.
The report by three green groups says setting a renewable energy target
of 25 per cent by the year 2020 would deliver more than 16,000 new
jobs, slash greenhouse gas emissions by 69 million tonnes and generate
$33 billion in investment.
Although the average power bill would rise by $64 a year, continuing to
rely on current power sources would cause prices to jump by $234 a year.
The study, A Bright Future, was released today by the Australian
Conservation Foundation, Greenpeace and the Climate Change Action
Network.
It warns Australia is missing out on the economic benefits of renewable
energy that are flowing to California and European nations which have
boosted their renewable energy targets.
In 1997, the Federal Government set a mandatory renewable energy target of two per cent, on top of existing supply.
At present, about 10 per cent of Australia's energy comes from renewables like wind, solar and hydro.
"With current policies, (Australia's) electricity emissions will reach
260 million tonnes by 2020, more than double 1990 levels," the report
said.
"Generating a quarter of our electricity from renewable energy and
reversing electricity growth from 2010 onwards by ambitious energy
efficiency measures would reduce overall electricity emissions to 160
million tonnes.
"The reduction of about 100 million tonnes, compared to business as
usual, would be equivalent to removing all the road transport in
Australia.
"Provided we put Australia on track for sustained renewable energy
development, costs should fall to below the cost of fossil fuels over
the next 15 years."
Under the plan, coal's share of power generation would fall from
three-quarters to 59 per cent, drastically reducing greenhouse
emissio