FoE

Foe Submission to the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission Terms of Reference

SA Premier Jay Weatherill recently announced a Royal Commission into the nuclear fuel cycle and gave the public one week to make submissions into the terms of reference.

He says he is motivated by concerns over climate change and the state of SA’s economy.

The royal commission will look at uranium enrichment, nuclear power and a nuclear waste dump. Environment groups are calling for it to include issues with existing uranium mining, legacy waste sites, export markets and weapons proliferation as well as a close examination of the impact of a proposed dump on remote communities. We also call for a full economic analysis of nuclear power in relation to renewables.

A group of people who want to work together over the next year of the royal commission is forming. Meetings will be hosted by the Conservation Council at their new HQ 111 Franklin St Adelaide (the old bus station, next to the new bus station).  The group is currently meeting on Tuesdays, please contact Robyn for more information robyn.wood@foe.org.au

FoE Adl submission to Nuclear Royal Commission terms of reference

“Break Up With Your Bank” – Divestment Day in the Mall

Members of Friends of the Earth volunteered with the Conservation Council last week to help make placards  for Divestment Day in the mall last Friday 13th.  We also donated some tinsel wigs for the Tina Turner inspired all-singing all-dancing action.

We encourage everyone to break up with the Big 4 banks; all of whom  invest in the fossil fuel industry.  We also encourage you to find out what industries your superannuation is invested in, and consider changing funds if fossil fuels are in the mix.

If you need help contact FoE affiliate Market Forces “Your money as a force for good”.

Divestment Day Malls Balls

Parliamentary Inquiry into gas fracking in SE South Australia

FoE members and friends are invited to make a submission into gas fracking in the south east of SA around the Mt Gambier region. See below and contact Robyn for more information robyn.wood@foe.org.au

Inquiry into fracking in South Eastern South Australia

by Cam Walker FoE Melbourne

On 19th November 2014, a motion by Greens MP Mark Parnell to establish a Parliamentary Inquiry into fracking in the South East of SA was passed by the Legislative Council.

Submissions are now being called by the Natural Resources Committee of the SA Parliament.

The Terms of Reference are to consider:

Potential risks and impacts in the use of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to produce gas in the South East of SA and in particular:

The risks of groundwater contamination;

The impacts upon landscape;

The effectiveness of existing legislation and regulation; and

The potential net economic outcomes to the region and the rest of the state.

Please write a brief submission expressing your concerns about this industry. Simply explain your concerns, add a link to references where you have them, include your name and contact details and send to:

Executive Officer, Natural Resources Committee, GPO Box 572, Adelaide SA 5001, or email: patrick.dupont@parliament.sa.gov.au

Please note that the deadline for submissions is 31st January 2015.

Contact details for enquiries: Ph: (08) 8237 9442, Fax: (08) 8231 9130 or email: patrick.dupont@parliament.sa.gov.au.

Radioactive Exposure Tour June 27 -July 8th 2015

The Radioactive Exposure Tour is a journey through Australia’s nuclear landscape. The Tour has exposed thousands of people to the realities of ‘radioactive racism’ and the environmental and social impacts of uranium mining, radioactive waste and nuclear expansion.

Run by Friends of the Earth, this year’s Tour will take place from Saturday June 27 to Wednesday July 8, 2015.

In 2014 we visited Muckaty Traditional Owners in the Northern Territory before their historic win, stopping a radioactive waste dump on their land. This year, we’re travelling to NSW in light of recent uranium exploration, and continuing on to South Australia.