Don’t Bank on the Bomb!

April 27, 2018

2018 report Don’t Bank on the Bomb now available!

Maaike Beenes, co-author, writes —

This report, produced by PAX, a member of the Nobel Peace Prize winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear weapons (ICAN) is the only report detailing the global investments by financial institutions in companies producing nuclear weapons.

$525 Billion invested

329 investors made $525 Billion available to nuclear weapon producing companies between January 2014 and October 2017. They assisted with share and bond issuances, owned or managed shares and bonds or outstanding loans or made credit facilities. This is a decrease in the number of investors, but an $81 billion increase in the total amount invested. Find out who invests.

Most investors are from the US, and US$110 billion came from just 3 US financial institutions: Blackrock, Vanguard and Capital Group, all from the United States.

ICAN executive director Beatrice Fihn: “If you have been wondering who benefits from Donald Trump’s threats of nuclear war, this report has that answer. These are the companies that stand to profit from indiscriminate mass murder of civilians. We grow less safe while they cash in on chaos by banking on Armageddon.”

Author of the report Susi Snyder: “The Nuclear Ban Treaty has sparked momentum towards divestment, shown by 10% fewer investors in nuclear weapon producers, and an increase in financial institutions comprehensively prohibiting any investment. Investments are not neutral, these companies should be congratulated for standing on the side of humanity.”

Access the full report here

Adelaide FoE Notes, Divestment, Nuclear

The Future is Renewable

April 27, 2018

South Australia is currently on track to hit 73% renewable energy by 2030, unless the State Government  interferes massively in the energy markets.

We could do a lot better if the new State Government actively supports the transition to renewables.

Given the Federal Government’s support of coal, and its antipathy to renewables, we need to actively promote renewables and the transformation of our energy markets.

There’s a meeting for FoE members and supporters at 3pm on Monday, April 30th at the common room at Christie Walk to discuss what such a renewables campaign might do. If you’re interested in FoE Adelaide taking up such a campaign, please come along, or email roman to let him know you’re interested (roman.orszanski@foe.org.au)

Adelaide FoE Notes, Renewables, Sustainability

Wentworth against Adani…

March 12, 2018

More than three-quarters of voters in Malcolm Turnbull’s Sydney electorate of Wentworth would support reviewing the environmental approvals for the controversial Adani coalmine, according to a new opinion poll.
A ReachTel survey of 676 residents in the prime minister’s electorate, commissioned by  the Australia Institute, found an emphatic majority favoured a review of the project approvals, including 70% of Liberal voters.
Opposition to the mine is a significant issue in the head-to-head contest between Labor and the Greens in the by-election in Batman

More details: Katherine Murphy in the Guardian.

Note: Election comment this issue (unless otherwise noted) is Authorised by Roman Orszanski, 65 Russell St Adelaide 5000

Adelaide FoE Notes

Where do the parties stand on the proposed Nuclear Waste Dump?

March 12, 2018

Radioactive waste

One of the questions asked of the parties was whether they would

Protect SA from the threat of radioactive waste importation, storage and disposal.

Actively oppose the federal government plan for a radioactive waste facility in SA and support the state Nuclear Waste Storage Facility (Prohibition) Act 2000 which makes any such facility illegal. Commit to further strengthen this legislation by removing the modified section 13(2).

 

The detailed responses given to the SA Our Future Questionnaire are as follows:

The Greens

11a. Categorically rule out the creation of an international high and/or intermediate level radioactive waste storage and disposal facility  Yes

11b. Actively oppose the federal government plan for a radioactive waste facility in SA                    Yes

11c. Actively support the state Nuclear Waste Storage Facility (Prohibition) Act 2000. Commit to further strengthen this legislation by removing the modified section 13(2).                           Done! Thanks to Greens Bill

 

The Liberals

11a. Categorically rule out the creation of an international high and/or intermediate level radioactive waste storage and disposal facility  Yes

11b. Actively oppose the federal government plan for a radioactive waste facility in SA                    No response

11c. Actively support the state Nuclear Waste Storage Facility (Prohibition) Act 2000. Commit to further strengthen this legislation by removing the modified section 13(2).                                                                                    The Liberal Party supports the current act.

SA Best

11a Categorically rule out the creation of an international high and/or intermediate level radioactive waste storage and disposal facility          Yes

11b. Actively oppose the federal government plan for a radioactive waste facility in SA
SA Best recognises the benefits of nuclear medicine and research and supports a responsible approach to radioactive waste management in Australia. However, this must be based on transparent and inclusive processes. SA Best notes community concern and is not supportive of any planned national radioactive waste facility in SA in the absence of full federal government transparency regarding its consultation, selection and assessment processes. Should the federal government fail to demonstrate this SA Best would support using existing state legislation to block the plan.

11c No Response

Labor

No radioactive waste
Actively oppose the federal government plan for a radioactive waste facility in SA and support the state Nuclear Waste Storage Facility (Prohibition) Act 2000 which makes any such facility illegal. Commit to further strengthen this legislation by removing the modified
section 13(2).

Response

SA Labor has supported changes to the Nuclear Waste Storage Facility (Prohibition) Act 2000.

We have written to the Turnbull government outlining our strong expectations around community support for any proposed facility, including a veto for the local Aboriginal Community.

The State Labor Government supported an amendment in parliament that affirmed the State’s ban on spending public money on nuclear waste. The Government has also been clear that any Commonwealth nuclear waste facility MUST have the support of the community, including the local Aboriginal community.

Premier Jay Wetherill has recently written to the Turnbull government and made our expectations in this regard very clear, and to request their process include a veto policy for any local Aboriginal community.

513 of the Nuclear Waste Storage Facility (Prohibition) Act 2000 prohibits the expenditure of money on any nuclear waste facility. 513(2) allowed us to spend money on consultation on the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission. We recently supported an amendment Bill to remove this clause — but with a modified replacement clause as follows:

Subsection (1 ) does not prohibit the appropriation, expenditure or advancement to a person of public money for the purpose of financing the maintenance or sharing of information or to enable the State to engage with other jurisdictions

This clause means that money cannot be spent on pursuing a nuclear waste facility, but allows us respond to enquiries from the public and to engage with the Commonwealth on their process. Without this amendment, our Act would prohibit us from even talking to the Commonwealth in relation to their process.

 

Adelaide FoE Notes

Where do the parties stand on the top ten environmental issues for South Australia?

March 12, 2018

33 environmental and community organisations scored parties on 36 key environmental issues.

The full response, with details on questions at  https://www.ourfuturesa.org.au

A summary of the “top ten” issues at star_ratings_for_top_10_issues (Out of 50: Liberal 18.5, Labor 21.5, Greens 50, SABest 38.5)

The ACF

The ACF have been handing out their leaflet comparing the parties on pollution, clean energy and protecting nature

 

They note:

  • The Greens are leading the way in South Australia, with five stars for policies on cutting climate pollution, ramping up clean energy and respecting and protecting nature.
  • SA Best made some good commitments on banning oil exploration in the Bight and fracking in the South East, but only back a 50% Renewable Energy Target by 2025, which SA has almost already reached.
  • We found Labor scored well on policies to make SA a global leader on clean energy (a 75% Renewable Energy Target by 2025!), but has a blind spot on banning oil and gas.
  • The Liberal Party scored lowest with 1.5 stars – they’re weak over radioactive waste dumping in SA and want to scrap the Renewable Energy Target.

 

 

 

Solar Citizens

Solar citizens have provided a detailed report on where the parties stand in renewables, and how they respond to issues raised in the Solar Citizens’ Repowering South Australia report. See https://www.solarcitizens.org.au/south_australian_election_guide

Solar Citizens’ Solar Scorecard

See separate entry on the nuclear waste dump issue.

 

Adelaide FoE Notes, FoE