Following a public outcry, Keswick Town Council voted 9 to 3 to say NO to going any further along in the plan for a nuclear dump. At a previous meeting Town Councillors had voted 6-5 on the casting vote of Chairman and Mayor Councillor Andrew Lysser not to oppose the plan.

See http://mariannewildart.wordpress.com/2012/05/17/keswick-says-no-to-nuke-dump/.

Hinkley nuclear power station delay deals blow to government hopes

Massive earthworks needed to prepare the ground for a new nuclear power station at Hinkley in Somerset have been delayed, dealing a further blow to the government’s energy plans.

See http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/may/14/hinkley-nuclear-power-station-delay.

International Network of Engineers and Scientists for Global Responsibility statement on nuclear energy

See http://www.inesglobal.com/nukes-statement.phtml.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/11679.

Kick Nuclear and friends, dressed up as Nuclear Grim Reapers and Liquidators, joined hundreds of environmental and social justice activists at The Big Six Energy Bash in central London, targeting EDF and the other energy fat cat corporations at the UK Energy Summit.

See http://stopnuclearpoweruk.net/content/nuclear-grim-reapers-and-liquidators-join-big-six-energy-bash.

Japan to Nationalize Fukushima Utility (TEPCO)

Japan is set to nationalize Tokyo Electric Power, the operator of the ravaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, under a ¥1 trillion ($12.6 billion) bailout plan approved Wednesday. The government has separately committed ¥2.4 trillion in taxpayer money to meet compensation payments arising from the accident. But estimates of the payments that Tepco might have to pay out have reached many tens of billions of dollars, making further government support likely.

See http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/10/business/global/japan-to-nationalize-fukushima-utility.html?_r=2&hp.

The Worst Yet to Come? Why Nuclear Experts Are Calling Fukushima a Ticking Time-Bomb

The spent fuel in the hobbled unit 4 at Fukushima Daiichi not only sits in an elevated pool outside the reactor core’s reinforced containment, in a high-consequence earthquake zone adjacent to the ocean — just as nearly all the spent fuel at the nuclear site is stored — but it’s also open to the elements because a hydrogen explosion blew off the roof during the early days of the accident and sent the building into a list.

See http://www.alternet.org/health/155283/the_worst_yet_to_come_why_nuclear_experts_are_calling_fukushima_a_ticking_time-bomb?page=entire+.

Japan shuts down last working nuclear reactor

All 50 reactors now closed for maintenance after 2011 tsunami but government faces major public opposition to reactivation.

See http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/05/japan-shuts-down-last-nuclear-reactor.

Anti-nuke activists resume hunger strike in India

Update: Nearly 500 women from the coastal hamlets around KKNPP joined the fast with 24 activists who were observing the fast-unto-death stir since May 1.

See http://www.dianuke.org/koodankulam-pmane-announces-indefinite-hunger-strike-from-starting-may-day/.

The UK Energy Summit involves CEOs of the Big Six energy companies, who have recently come under widespread criticism for drawing in record profits whilst one quarter of UK households have been pushed into fuel poverty.

See http://climatejusticecollective.org/#/blog/4561604140.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11658.

See also press releases at http://londonminingnetwork.org/2012/05/bhp-billitons-move-against-aboriginal-elder-punitive-and-vindictive/ and http://londonminingnetwork.org/2012/04/bhp-billiton-wants-money-from-aboriginal-elder/.

1st May 2012

DEMOCRACY AT A PRICE: DECISION BY BHP BILLITON AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SEEK COSTS FROM ARABUNNA ELDER PUNITIVE AND VINDICTIVE

The Australian Nuclear Free Alliance (ANFA) is deeply concerned by the decision of BHP Billiton and the Federal Government to seek costs from Arabunna elder uncle Kevin Buzzacott arising from his challenge of the Federal approval of the Olympic Dam expansion.

“ANFA members fully support Uncle Kevin and admire his stand for country. We know that history will be the fairest judge of this struggle. BHP and the minister who approved the expansion of Olympic Dam will be forever linked to the toxic legacy of this mine, for thousands of years to come,” said Larrakia woman Donna Jackson, co-chair of ANFA.

“The court decided that Kevin Buzzacott had standing to pursue this challenge, as is his right under both the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act and the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act,” said ANFA Committe member Nectaria Calan. “Where does this leave the right to judicial review of such projects if those who seek such a review are then punished with costs?”

Dean Della Vale, president of BHP’s Uranium Customer Sector Group which is responsible for the Olympic Dam project, is a founding member of the Australian Uranium Associations Indigenous Dialogue Group, established to facilitate dialogue with traditional owners.

“BHP  pursuing costs undermines any claims by the Indigenous Dialogue Group that they are seeking to engage with aboriginal communities in good faith. Aboriginal communities do not have the right to say no to mining on their land, and here we have an elder using one of the few legal options available to them to ensure that at least the impacts of the project were properly considered, and they may be facing a massive bill for doing so,” said Ms Calan.

“The message BHP are sending is that there are repercussions for taking on the mining giant. Last financial year the company recorded a total net profit of US$23. 95 billion – they certainly don’t need the money,” Ms Calan concluded.

For comment contact:

Donna Jackson  + 61 427 847 186

Legal commentary: Nectaria Calan  + 61 432 388 665

For background, see http://londonminingnetwork.org/2012/04/bhp-billiton-wants-money-from-aboriginal-elder/.

MINING GIANT SEEKS COSTS FROM ARABUNNA ELDER AFTER RULING ON CHALLENGE TO FEDERAL APPROVAL OF THE OLYMPIC DAM EXPANSION

In a packed courtroom today Justice Besanko dismissed Uncle Kevin Buzzacott’s challenge of the Federal approval of the Olympic Dam expansion. The judge did not discuss his reasons in the court.

Both BHP and the Federal government are seeking costs from Kevin Buzzacott.

The hearing was held in the Federal Court on the 3rd and 4th April, after which the Judge reserved his judgement. Both BHP Billiton and the South Australian government had successfully sought to become parties to the proceedings.

“The speed with which this decision was made suggests pressure to resolve the matter as quickly as possible so as not to impact the project,” said Nectaria Calan of Friends of the Earth Adelaide.

“The judgement is really a product of the constrained nature of such administrative challenges. It really rests on interpretation of two pieces of legislation which govern the Ministers approval. The merits of the project were never on the table for discussion.”

“If such an approval with so many future plans yet to be approved constitutes a proper approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act, how can such an open-ended  project be judicially reviewed?” said Ms Calan.

“The question we are left with is whether the EPBC Act protects the environment,” Ms Calan continued.

“This is a very sad day,” said applicant Kevin Buzzacott. “We offered the judge the issue on a platter, and he wasted an opportunity to make changes that will reverberate in this nation for thousands of years.”

“But we’re not going away. This isn’t over yet,” Mr Buzzacott concluded.

Both Kevin Buzzacott and Nectaria Calan will be available for comment on the details of the ruling early next week once the lengthy judgement has been considered.

Contact: Kevin Buzzacott  +61 431 157 747 Nectaria Calan  +61 432 388 665

For earlier reporting, see http://londonminingnetwork.org/2012/04/bhp-billitons-uranium-mine-expansion-challenged-in-court/.

See http://www.mineweb.com/mineweb/view/mineweb/en/page67?oid=148393&sn=Detail&pid=92730.

Monday 2nd April

OLYMPIC DAM APPROVAL CHALLENGED IN FEDERAL COURT THIS WEEK

David and Goliath: Kevin Buzzacott v Federal Environment Minister, SA Government and BHP Billiton

Uncle Kevin Buzzacott, Aboriginal Elder of the Arabunna Nation in Northern South Australia, is challenging the Federal Environment Minister’s approval of the Olympic Dam expansion on the grounds that various environmental impacts of the project were not properly considered. He is represented by the Environmental Defenders Office, a community legal centre specialising in public interest litigation. The case will be heard on the 3rd and 4th of April in the Federal Court, Adelaide.

In October last year, the Hon Tony Burke MP approved the project under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999.

Mr. Buzzacott is challenging the Minister’s approval on the following grounds:

1. The approval is so uncertain that it does not constitute a proper approval under the EPBC Act. This is because much of the environmental assessment and decision-making is left up to plans and studies that have not yet been prepared or considered by the Minister or the public.

2. The Minister did not properly consider the impact of the Olympic Dam expansion on the environment. In particular, the impacts from the above ground storage of radioactive tailings waste.

3. The Minister failed to consider the environmental impacts associated with the export of uranium.

4. The Minister failed to properly consider the impacts of the expansion on groundwater resources including the Great Artesian Basin.

“Because this is a nuclear action, the Minister is required by the EPBC Act to properly consider all environmental impacts. The size of this project makes this particularly important. Just the tailings dams will end up covering 4,400 hectares, to be left on the surface of the land forever. These dams are designed to leak radioactive waste into the underlying rock and aquifer. Such environmental impacts are not minor details to be worked out later,” said Nectaria Calan of Friends of the Earth Adelaide.

Both BHP Billiton and the South Australian Government have successfully applied to be party to the proceedings.

“Although the challenge relates specifically to the Minister’s approval, these parties will now also participate in the proceedings, and therefore influence the final decision of the Judge,” said Ms. Calan. “Uncle Kevin is now up against two tiers of government and a massive multinational mining corporation. It’s a vast imbalance of resources, suggesting concern on the part of BHP and the SA government that the challenge may succeed.”

The community will rally outside the court at 9.30am on both days in support of the legal challenge.   The hearing is currently listed for 10.15 am Court no.7, level 7 on both days however media is advised that these details may change.

Contact:

Applicant: Kevin Buzzacott  +61 431 157 747

Legal commentary: Nectaria Calan  + 61 432 388 665

A background briefing with further details is available on request.

Media is further advised that both contacts will be unavailable whilst court is in session..

Time to say goodbye to nuclear power http://mdn.mainichi.jp/perspectives/news/20120307p2a00m0na003000c.html

Fukushima Residents Live With Fear Of Radiation http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/07/japan-tsunami-anniversary-fukushima-residents_n_1326077.html

See http://www.mineweb.com/mineweb/view/mineweb/en/page67?oid=146871&sn=Detail&pid=92730.

There are huge concerns about the pollution which this project will cause.

See article on Olympic Dam on page 15 of ‘Dirty Energy’ report at http://bhpbillitonwatch.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/bhpb_report_sml.pdf.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11519.

http://www.beyondnuclear.org/home/2012/2/4/japanese-authorities-recognize-573-deaths-related-to-fukushi.html

Fukushima: A Nuclear War without a War – The Unspoken Crisis of Worldwide Nuclear Radiation

http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=28870

See http://www.euractiv.com/energy/campaigners-mount-bid-outlaw-nuclear-subsidies-news-510325.

See http://www.mineweb.com/mineweb/view/mineweb/en/page504?oid=143022&sn=Detail&pid=92730.