Home > The week in nuclear news
AUSTRALIA
Legal cases. Against Olympic Dam. Aboriginal elder Kevin Buzzacott continuing his Davis and Goliath case against BHP Billiton, on the environmental impact of the planned new big Olympic Dam uranium mine. Planned Muckaty nuclear waste dump. Federal government is likely to proceed with this, even if the Aborignal landowners win their court action against it. All in the long established tradition of racism in Australian nuclear/uranium matters. But the Aboriginal legal challenge will continue.
Renewable energy. As July 1st approaches, fossil fuel companies, and their State Liberal government friends are redoubling their attacks on the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, and on wind energy. With the falling costs of photovolcaic solar energy, renewable energy is starting to look too good for comfort, and could change the public’s view of the Gillard government.
Queensland. The election here has given the fossil fuel industries pretty much open slather, and especially pleasing to them, nuclear industry included, is the way that the new Premier is taking the axe to climate change action, and to renewable energy projects. The Solar Dawn thermal energy project is the most significant of many to be facing the chop.
Uranium exploration in New South Wales. The NSW Upper House passed this bill - 20 votes to 18. The Bill is quite draconian - it extinguishes the need for consent from a Land Council in the case of uranium projects- and excludes uranium from provisions of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983
USA military stations in Australia. The first of 2500 U.S. marines arrive in Darwin. It is likely that they will be exempt rom Australian criminal law. USA drones and more USA nuclear submarines. This is concerning security analysts, such as Hugh White, as Australia aligns itself with USA militarisation of the region, against our most important trading partner, China.
Lynas rare earths company. The sag continues, with Malaysia currently insisting that Australia agrees to the return of its radioactive wastes to Australia. The Australian government is lying doggo on this question
Future Fund: push to stop Australia’s Future Fund investing in the production of nuclear weapons.
INTERNATIONAL
Fukushima . In nuclear reactor No. 2 radiation has reached a lethal 73 sieverts per hour, too high for robots, endoscopes and other devices to function properly, and the water level is very low. Tepco has not been able to gauge the water depths and radiation levels of the containment vessels for reactors 1 and 3, as, unlike unit 2, there is no access.
Japan postpones decision on restarting its nuclear reactors, especially as climate predictions warn of 34 metre tsunamis in the future. 84% of Japanese do not believe government assessments that the reactors are safe. Credibility of stress tests in question, on revelations of big donations by nuclear corporations to Japan’s Atomic Energy Agency. Japan trying to sell nuclear technology to UK.
Nuclear powered drones. After huge expense in planning these, USA government halts development due to safety concerns, but military lobby still wants them.
South Korea deports 3 visiting Greenpeace members, due to their anti nuclear opinions.
India developing bigger nuclear arsenal, including nuclear submarine leased from Russia.
Nuclear costs UK in difficulties, with lack of investment for its new nuclear plans, as 2 firms pull out. Licenses obtained in USA for 2 new nuclear reactors in South Carolina, but spiralling costs cast doubt on their future anyway.