Wrap up of the week’s nuclear news

Australia:

Radioactive waste Still the most important news - still the one not covered by the media - the Senate now ganging up to shut up Scott Ludlam -lone voice against the National Radioactive Waste Management Bill - it was tabled for discussion in cynical timing - as the nation watched the Gillard-Rudd soap opera.

Federal politics Rumour has it that Gillard will punish the pro Rudd politicians. What a good idea it would be - to sack Martin Ferguson from the Ministry! Meanwhile the new vacancy in the Senate could result in the arrival of a Pro Nuclear Aborigine, Warren Mundine

Uranium industry South Australia As the anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear disaster approaches, the uranium lobby bravely touts its economic future, in the face of ever downward share price trend. The South Australian Mineral Resources Minister Tom Koutsantonis puts a bold face on it - praises the uranium industry, but declaring the nuclear industry "uneconomic".

And - we silly public - we thought that South Australia saved Arkaroola Wilderness from uranium mining, because they cared about the environment! Not a bit of it. Koutsantonis explains that it was because the government didn’t want young anti uranium protestors disrupting uranium mining conferences.

Arkaroola’s protection from uranium mining passed into law, - even if it was done for the wrong reasons by the South Australian government

Lynas Australian rare earths company The world, especially South East Asia watches, as the first entry of things nuclear is attempted by the Australian rare earths company, Lynas. If Lynas can get its project going, with no plan for disposing of the radioactive wastes, well, nuclear companies will be ready to follow suit. But Lynas is not the only Ugly Australian company abroad. Paladin uranium’s bad record in Africa is just one amongst the sad reality of white Western miners exploiting African people and environment.

Greens call for uranium to be included in the mineral resources rent tax (MRRT). Renewable energy ups and downs. In Victoria, Baillieu government is unconcerned, as its anti wind farm policy drives investment away.

International:

Fukushima - the saga cntinues. New high radiation readings found in reactor No.3. The reality of chronic continuing radiation for the Fukushimaprefecture., as the human, social and economic costs weigh on the evacuated population. Japan struggles with the problem of its nuclear wastes, and not only the ones from Fukushima, with no solution in sight. The dream of nuclear reprocessing has turned into an economic nightmare.

India cracks down on the anti nuclear movement, freezing the funds of non government organisations that are critical of the nuclear industry, and deporting a German tourist because he is anti- nuclear. Now it seems, "anti-nuclear" must mean "anti-India". But it’s OK to be an American, Russian, or French pro nuclear executive visiting.

USA - safety of nuclear plants debated, and the chairman of the NRC getting a bad name in the industry - for putting safety ahead of the nuclear industry’s needs.

Worldwide renewable energy keeps growing, whether subsidised or not, and even the International Energy Agency is noticing this.

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Christina Macpherson
Antinuclear Australia
www.antinuclear.net
www.nuclear-news.net