Adelaide FoE Notes

These posts are to appear in the fortnightly newsletter

REGARDING THE NATIONAL RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITY

roman March 1, 2018

A summary of the letter from MAPW to Industry Minister Matt Canavan
Medical Association for the Prevention of War (MAPW), 23 Feb 18

REGARDING THE NATIONAL RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITY (NRWMF )

1) The process is very divisive. Repeated, highly damaging processes imposed on previously cohesive communities are causing significant harms.

2) Considerable amounts of persistently misleading information have been and continue to be presented to communities. Incorrect and incomplete information does not result in genuine consent.

3) There is a failure to observe international best practice standards for the highly radioactive long lived intermediate level waste (ILW) management. There is no disposal plan whatsoever for ILW, leaving the problem for many future generations.

REGARDING THE EXPANSION OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE PRODUCTION FOR EXPORT

1) There is a lack of demonstrable “Net benefit”. The proposed 40 year-long expansion of medical isotope production needs genuine cost/benefit analysis to make sure this is not a heavily subsidised product being sold into the global market at the expense of the Australian community both now and in the future. Independent NEA/OECD economic modelling finds only 10-15% cost recovery of isotope manufacture when there is genuine inclusion of all costs.

2) The expansion will create 40 years of significantly increased production of ILW.

3) ANSTO has a narrative of global shortages, yet given falling demand and increasing global supply there is no shortage of Mo99. The NEA/OECD predict a significant oversupply.

4) Again, there is no plan whatsoever for disposal of the additional ILW generated.

Both processes are unacceptably flawed.

Medical Association for the Prevention of War (MAPW) urges

A halt to the current NRWMF process until such time as world’s best practice is followed. There is sufficient capacity at the Lucas Heights facility, once regulatory approvals are met, to store Low Level Waste (LLW) and Intermediate Level Waste (ILW) well into the next decade.

Concern over gas exploration in the SE

roman February 28, 2018

As you may be aware, a number of residents in the South East have concerns regarding any mining or petroleum activities, particularly with large swaths of exploration licences over their properties. The most concerning area is water security. When there are droughts, the South East residents are fully dependent on the groundwater. Health concerns, keeping the South East’s world renowned clean and green image for export growth, and impacts on the economy are other concerns. 2015 – 2016, the value of agriculture in the SE, was $3.2 billion, which was 51% of the total gross value of agricultural production in SA.

The geology and hydrology, including limestone, cavernous systems, and fault lines are not suitable for any drilling or mining and petroleum activities, apart from extractive mining for road and building materials. With both mining and petroleum activities, there are risks to the groundwater, soil and air, through loss of well integrity, any dewatering of the aquifers, waste water disposal from gas or oil activities and no suitable way for safe disposal, contamination from tailing and benefication ponds for mining, salt impacts and landscape changes. Emissions and waste water ponds may impact bird life. There has been a shocking disaster in Canada, where 7500 song birds flew into a gas flare at a gas processing plant and died. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/7-500-songbirds-killed-at-canaport-gas-plant-in-saint-john-1.1857615

All gas needs flaring. I understand, if there is viable amounts of gas, the Katnook Gas Plant will be upgraded. In other places, including Australia, my colleagues have told me that there have been a number of animal and bird deaths that may have died through road kill and extra traffic on the roads, and also through drinking water from the contaminated waste water ponds.

I would like these concerns to be on the agenda in the South Australian Parliament, after the election.

Adelaide FoE Notes, Climate, Mining

Tim Flannery and Ursula Rakova

roman February 28, 2018

Wendy Flannery, of Climate Frontlines, FoE Brisbane, writes that Ursula Rakova, the director of Tulele Peisa, a FoE Australia affiliate in Bougainville PNG will be in town to address the Womad Planet talks.

While here, she will also appear at an event at the Hawke Centre (details below)

IN-CONVERSATION WITH TIM FLANNERY AND URSULA RAKOVA

THURSDAY 8 MARCH 2018, 6.00PM – 7.15PM

ALLAN SCOTT AUDITORIUM, HAWKE BUILDING, UNISA CITY WEST CAMPUS

Presented by the Hawke Centre, in arrangement with WOMADelaide Festival’s Planet Talks Program, a free public lecture delivered by Tim Flannery (Australia) and Ursula Rakova (PNG), discussing the beauty and environmental challenges facing Papua New Guinea.

TIM FLANNERY

Tim Flannery is one of the world’s most prominent environmentalists. In 2007 he was named ‘Australian of the Year’, arguably Australia’s highest honour. He delivered the 2002 Australia Day Address to the nation. In 2013 he founded, and is now chief councilor, of the Australian Climate Council, Australia’s largest and most successful crowdfunded organisation. His latest book is ‘Sunlight and Seaweed.’ Text Publishing. 2017.

URSULA RAKOVA

Climate justice advocate Ursula Rakova of Papua New Guinea gives a human face to the challenges faced in the Pacific from environmental degradation. She is a pioneer in Papua New Guinea’s environmental movement and campaigner for the survival of her people.

Born on Papua New Guinea’s Carteret Islands in the Southwestern Pacific, an area which is threatened by rising sea levels. She and her community are among the world’s first climate change refugees. Frustrated by inaction on the part of the Papua New Guinea (PNG) government, Rakova’s community took matters into their own hands and formed Tulele Peisa (“Sailing in the wind on our own”) – a community-based organisation helping to relocate the Carterets’ population to safer ground.

In 2008, Ursula received the Pride of PNG award for her contribution to the environment.

Adelaide FoE Notes, Climate

Repower SA: aim for 100% renewables by 2025

roman February 9, 2018

Solar Citizens worked with Nicky Ison from the Community Power Agency on a new blueprint called Repowering South Australia, which not only shows how South Australia can get to 100% renewables by 2025, but also how we can ensure nobody is left behind along the way.

To get there, Repowering South Australia recommends:

Making South Australia a renewable energy superpower by setting a 100% renewable energy target by 2025 and making a plan to export a further 50% outside of the state through technologies such as hydrogen.

Supporting low-income households by establishing a publicly-owned non-profit retailer to secure cheap, renewable power.

Boosting local manufacturing by establishing renewable energy industry precincts in locations where renewable energy hotspots meet energy-intensive industry.

Working with Aboriginal communities to design a well-funded Indigenous Communities Clean Power Program.

Giving communities back power by establishing regional community energy hubs that increase community benefit from renewable projects.

— Dan Spencer outlines the reccomendations here on reneweconomy.com.au

The Repower SA campaign launch is at The Joinery, February 14 at 6:30pm – 8:30pm. RSVP here

Adelaide FoE Notes, Clean Futures, FoE

Adani Plans take another hit