Links, info for Friday December 14 on #Assange #Psychiatry #BigPharma #Disability #NDIS #Australia #Auspol

Disclosure: I am a long time supporter of Wikileaks and the work of Julian Assange and all the others who risk everything to shed light on the ugly truth.

I was a mainstream journalist/radio host for 30 years, but no longer work in a newsroom ( apart from the odd fill-in to help out at 6PR & 96fm ) My work now is not objective, but I do strive for balance and welcome polite opposition.

Audio of Interview with Christine Assange as Mainstream Media focusses again on Julian Assange’s bid for the Senate.

 click here for audio of Christine Assange with Tony Serve Perth’s 6PR Dec. 14 2012 

***Edited audio segments here, grabs of 1-3 minutes on everything from Govt lies to Mainstream Media #FAIL – more to follow

CA on our tweets making us terrorists, and liable to arrest

CA ON Gillard Roxon lies over draconian new laws

CA on MSM not pursuing Govt lies

CA on MSM & citizen journalism

Wikileaks site is here http://wikileaks.org ( including the store  ) and needs/deserves your support , see also http://justice4assange.com

Follow @wikileaks for news, infoz from WL and occasional tweets from JA.

Follow & support Christine Assange on twitter @AssangeC  - cowards and trolls often hassle her so don’t be shy with support

(1) Legal brief to parl-#Assange Extradition by Jen Robinson: http://wlcentral.org/node/1418

Justice4Assange website: http://justice4assange.com

Campaign Site for #Wikileaks &#Assange supporters.. http://bit.ly/UroYTG

Poll suggesting at least 7 in 10 Aussies would vote for Julian. http://www.theage.com.au/polls/assange-for-senate-20121212-2b9rp.html

English: Demonstration in front of Sydney Town Hall in support of Julian Assange, 2010, December 10 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What the Australian Govt can do to end the “Assange stalemate” by Professor Donald Rothwell ANU College Law  http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4408852.html#

Pollbludger’s William Bowe on Assange for the Senate http://www.crikey.com.au/2012/12/14/poll-bludger-win-or-lose-assanges-senate-tilt-will-cause-a-stir/

and his article from March 19 2012 http://www.crikey.com.au/2012/03/19/poll-bludger-assange-for-canberra-a-new-can-of-worms/?wpmp_tp=1

abc election maestro Antony Green doesn’t rate Julian a chance http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-13/green-what-chance-does-assange-have-for-senate-seat/4425990

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long standing Mental Health advocate & former MP Martin Whitely is running for Senate pre-selection in the Australian 2013 Federal Election. See more at MartinWhitely.com

Article on disastrous new diagnosis “guidelines” that will be gospel for Psychiatrists in most of the western world  http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/dsm5-in-distress/201212/dsm-5-is-guide-not-bible-ignore-its-ten-worst-changes

Article on Martin Whitely’s highly recommended site. http://speedupsitstill.com/american-psychiatric-association-approval-dsm-5-sad-day-psychiatry

Click here for audio of Martin Whitely A 2012-12-14 at 16.04

Dexamphetamine Sulphate 5 mg tablets (photograph) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Friend and colleague Zel Iscel from EDAC.org.au joined me to chat about the effect of the much vaunted NDIS plans for people with #Disability

click here to hear Zel on the actual impact of the NDIS 

Zel on the right on air for Ethnic Ability Mondays 7.30pm

link for Zel’s radio show -> http://www.mrtawa.org.au/1/ethnicability.php

click here for the Govt NDIS website 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I recommend you follow my colleague  Maath Musleh (MaathMusleh) on Twitter @MaathMusleh. Lecturer at Al-Quds-Bard College. Journalist. MA in Political Journalism from City University in London. Jerusalem, Palestine

English: Jerusalem, Mount of Olives, Gethsemane, Church of all nations Deutsch: Jerusalem, Ölberg, Kirche aller Nationen (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Australian Mental Health at a critical stage, you can make a difference today and tomorrow wherever you are – WA: will Premier Barnett stand up for mental health?

Mental ill health is the leading killer of Australians under 45 and the leading cause of disability for all Australians.

Premier Barnettt, PM Rudd

But with the biggest health reforms in decades up for negotiation on Monday, mental ill health may be forgotten – unless we act now.

In just 48 hours, the Prime Minister and the leaders of every Australian state and territory will sit down in Canberra to negotiate a new plan for healthcare across the nation.

In their offices across Australia, our state Premiers and territory Chief Ministers are working all weekend in preparation for Monday’s meeting. They are deciding where to push hard, and where to compromise.

We’ve found the office fax number for WA Premier, Colin Barnett

We all want to see reform of our hospitals. But tackling mental health will require more than increasing the number of beds in our hospitals, or changing the source of health funding. More of the same won’t work.

There are solutions. Here’s just one example: there are 30 Government run Headspace centres across Australia. An extra $100million a year would expand capacity in these centres and build an extra 60 across the nation. This alone would double the number of young Australians receiving treatment for mental ill health.

On Monday, the PM will need every Premier on board, so here in WA, Colin Barnett will have huge influence. These decisions are being made in his office right now – let’s fill it with faxes asking him not to come home without mental health care reform:
www.getup.org.au/campaign/healthreform&id=1033

There must be no health reform without mental health reform. Together we can make sure this silent disease, which half of us will experience in our lifetime, is on the agenda at Monday’s crucial meeting of all levels of Australian Government.

Thanks for all that you do,
TheGetUp team

PS –

We’ve joined forces with Australian of the year, mental health expert Professor Patrick McGorry to call for mental health reform.

Already, tens of thousands of GetUp members have petitioned the Prime Minister and raised $85,000 for the campaign to put our message on TV.

Now it is our state Premiers who hold the keys to reform – click here contact yours now.

NAMI Raises Voice For Mental Health – let’s talk lobbying and effective campaigning

Well done @NAMI for your work ( see story below )

A Healthy Blog » NAMI Raises Voice For Mental Health.

Tuesday night (USA) Wednesday morning (W. Australia) we plan to talk lobbying and effective campaigning – share success stories, and adopt the Greens strategy of thinking globally and acting locally.

please follow @MHSMchat

MHSM is Mental Health Social Media and we are mostly people who’ve travelled the rocky road and hope to light the way for others.

please follow @MHSMchat

Please follow our #mhsm convenor Amy at @MHSMchat

please follow @MHSMchat

We are also planning to meet via Skype conference call in the near future and set up a global clearing house for resources on brain health, healing and recovery.

please follow @MHSMchat

Anyone who derives income from providing MH services is asked to declare that as they join, and any other potential conflicts of interest or bias need to be on the table too.

please follow @MHSMchat

Many #mhsm crew are doing amazing work already, the chat is about us sharing, not re-inventing the wheel and forging effective networks for effective change.

please follow @MHSMchat

There has never been a better time for those of us who’ve been or are ill to have our voices heard and to effect much needed change and public education.

please follow @MHSMchat

As a local colleague says ” nothing about us without us”

please follow @MHSMchat

Geeks, bloggers, journalists and sponsors are especially welcome, because right now a very few are doing a lot more than might be good for them, so please help lighten the load if you can.

please follow @MHSMchat

more tomorrow

cheers and thanks

tony ( @perthtones )

click here for more from this blog on mental health, including resources and audio

Related articles  by Zemanta

• Mental health beds closed over psychiatrist shortage (ctv.ca)
• Mental health system fails times two. (depressionmarathon.blogspot.com)
• Harriet Shetler, Co-Founder of NAMI (psychcentral.com)
• Sound Mental Health to Present at International Mental Health Conference (eon.businesswire.com)

West Australia gets ready to DUCK & COVER to dance away the Uranium blues – Special Events Notice – You Don’t Want to Miss the Event of the Year!!!

*Please share this

DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY AT THE DUCK & COVER HOP
A fancy dress fundraiser for the campaign to stop uranium mining in WA
http://duckcoverhop.wordpress.com

WHEN: Friday 6 November 2009
WHERE: Fremantle Town Hall
TIME: 7.30pm-midnight
Fully licenced bar & supper available

Travel back in time, dust off your cool threads and get crazy for a cause at the Duck and Cover Hop – Fremantle’s first and finest retro radioactive ball.

Dance the night away to Harry Deluxe and DJ Atomic ‘Burn’, with special appearances by the radioactive ladies of Sugar Blue Burlesque and the Swing Academy.

TIckets: $30 unwaged / $40 waged / $60 solidarity *all tickets include supper
BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL! Book here

For more information:
Email: duckcoverhop
Web: http://duckcoverhop.wordpress.com

All money raised goes to the Anti-NuclearAlliance of Western Australia, Conservation Council of Western Australia & Fremantle Anti-Nuclear Group

Sponsors: Fremantle City Council, Fremantle Festival & Little Creatures

image0062

image0072

Kate Vallentine

ANAWA Campaigner

5 King William Street, Bayswater WA 6053

Ph/Fax: (08) 9271 8786

Email: kate

Website: www.anawa.org.au

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ANAWA

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/ANAWA/147771085564

Myspace: www.myspace.com/473370523

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/AntiNuclearWA

HELP AUSTRALIAN ADULT SURVIVORS TO UNTANGLE THE KNOT OF CHILD ABUSE & Win tickets to the Big Apple by supporting ‘FORGET ME KNOT DAY’- Friday 13th November

HELP AUSTRALIAN ADULT SURVIVORS TO UNTANGLE THE KNOT OF CHILD ABUSE & Win tickets to the Big Apple by supporting ‘FORGET ME KNOT DAY’- Friday 13th November

ASCA Knot Day Pin

MEDIA RELEASE

Win tickets to the Big Apple by supporting

‘FORGET ME KNOT DAY’- Friday 13th November

HELP AUSTRALIAN ADULT SURVIVORS

TO UNTANGLE THE KNOT OF CHILD ABUSE

26th October 2009: Participants in the inaugural Forget-me-knot Day celebrations, on Friday 13th November, could win two tickets to fly to New York to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art.

Part of an International Week For Prevention of Child Abuse, Forget-me-knot Dayhas been established by Adults Surviving Child Abuse (ASCA) to encourage Australians to show their support for the two million+ adult Australians[i] personally affected by childhood abuse, as.

The Symbol:

The knot in ‘Forget me knot’ Day symbolises the ‘tangle’ of childhood abuse, which in most cases is a lifelong challenge for the survivor to unravel. As a society, we forget that abused children grow up – and for many adulthood is when they are first able to confront the issue of abuse and begin to heal the emotional scars. Unfortunately, the shame around abuse can prevent adult survivors disclosing and others from reaching out to them.

The impact of child abuse is not just felt by the children. The adults they become, their families, their partners and their community are all impacted by this tragedy. More than eight million Australian community members are directly affected by child abuse. In a population of 22 million, this is a staggering figure.

The Competition:

As part of the ‘Forget me knot’ Day campaign,ASCA invites all Australians to submit photographs of any object tied in a blue tangled knot to go in the draw to win a trip for two to New York, including two economy airfares, two nights’ accommodation and free entry to the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, New York. The competition is active now and entries close midnight on Friday 6th November. Submissions can be made online at www.asca.org.au/competition. The competition winner will be announced on Forget-me-knot Day, Friday 13th November.

ASCA Chair Dr Cathy Kezelman said “We chose the knot to help explain the struggle or ‘tangle’ survivors encounter as they live with and attempt to overcome the damage inflicted by childhood abuse. As a society we can find the trauma of childhood abuse difficult to comprehend; so it is often ignored, left unspoken and unaddressed. To help engage people in this very real issue, we chose a public art competition to encourage thinking, discussion and debate about a challenge faced by more than two million adult Australians. Artists, creative thinkers and even laypeople can often explore and connect with complex issues through art and a trip to New York is a wonderful incentive to encourage people to engage in this discussion. I look forward to seeing the results.”

Forget-Me-Knot Day Campaign Components:

Through a range of activities including a national petition, a photographic competition, a ceremony of connection which involves the unravelling of a mammoth knot on an iconic Sydney building, ASCA’s ‘Forget-me-knot Day’ raises awareness of this struggle, and gives all Australians an opportunity to donate, and help adult survivors to reconnect with their community. Details can be found here www.asca.org.au/forgetmeknot

People can also order the official blue tangled knots pins from the ASCA website www.asca.org.au/forgetmeknot and donate to help survivors overcome their trauma and reconnect with their community.

The Solution:

With the right help and support, survivors can find their way through the tangle of child abuse and find a sense of health and wellbeing and re-engage positively in their communities. Listening, understanding and supporting are critical to the healing process. ASCA is a core part of the solution, delivering evidence-based workshops to adult survivors of child abuse, and workshops for health practitioners to inform treatment of survivors of child abuse around Australia.

Media Contact: Amanda McGregor ph: (02) 9492 1004 mb: 0411 222 311

About ASCA: (www.asca.org.au) (www.asca.org.au/forgetmeknot)

ASCA is a charity which focuses exclusively on advancing the needs of the more than 2 million Australian adults surviving child abuse. ASCA was formed in 1995 and its current activities encompass: a 1300 information/support line – 1300 657 380, website, newsletters for survivors and health professionals, workshops for survivors and their supporters, education and training programs for health care professionals and frontline workers. ASCA is currently developing a national network of services and practitioners with the experience and expertise to specifically address survivors’ needs. ASCA is the key national Australian organization to support adults who have experienced all forms of child abuse and neglect, and receives no ongoing government funding.

(attached: Image of Forget Me Knot Day Pin)

Amanda McGregor

Mental Health Minister to address noon rally, can’t say what staff cuts have & will be made – Alison Xamon MLC Media Release

Alison Xamon MLC

MEMBER FOR THE EAST METROPOLITAN REGION

P.O. BOX 104, MAYLANDS, WESTERN AUSTRALIA 6931
PHONE (08) 9275 7474 – FAX (08) 9275 7574

The W.A. Mental Health Minister has told Parliament he doesn’t know what cuts to staff and services have been made in his portfolio as those behind the cuts of at last 13%,Troy Buswell and Colin Barnett, talk shopping hours.
mp3 audio cut 3 lays out the spin and distraction being put out by the Premier & Treasurer and runs 20 secs

Greens MLC Alison Xamon last night asked the Minister what cuts to staff and resources had been made and what cuts are coming. The reply was to the effect that it would take “some time” to provide answers.
mp3 audio Alison on his reaction and runs 25 secs

Ms Xamon also moved an Urgency Motion, supported by the Opposition, calling on the Government to spell out its plans for the sector.
mp3 Audio Ms Xamon explaining that the Mental Health Minister has little Idea what his Premier and Treasurer have done and have planned – runs 23 secs

Organisers of the midday rally to overturn the dedly cuts say they’ve been approached by the Minister, asking if he can speak to them as they deliver a petition to the Lower House.
mp3 Audio Alison on people in the public and private sector being fed up with spin and lack of answers to urgent questions – runs 22 secs

It will be worthwhile sending reporters and cameras to the midday rally to see what happens, and to interview the Auditor General who’s due to issue a report on the prformance of the Mental Health Sector around 1pm.

mp3 audio  Alison lashing the rush to make cuts before the AG’s report is handed down, and the lack of consultation with stakeholders, staff, service providers and those who use mental health services – runs 13 secs

There will be people from public and private groups like, the HSU, WAAMH, MHC, COMIC, RUAH etc, as well as the Minister, Shadow Minister, Alison Xamon, Many of my dear 6PR listeners and Twitter friends will be there too because this is life or death for many west australians and the damage will be almost impossible to undo.

IF YOU CAN’T MAKE THE NOON RALLY

please call talkback radio TODAY ( 6PR 922 11 882 )   You can also email Colin Barnett at wa-government@dpc.wa.gov.au or  Treasurer Troy Buswell at Minister.Buswell@dpc.wa.gov.au or call the Premier’s office today on 9222 9475, Troy Buswell’s office is 9222 9111  ( contact details are from the public WA Government website )

Perth Mental Health Rally midday Wednesday 14th Oct at State Parliament, please copy and sign petition below – hear Greens MH spokesperson Alison Xamon on a tragic MH Week in WA

Email from Ingrid Bentsen Background to the issue

The State Government is proposing budget to Mental Health of between 10-15%

Where people can find a petition to sign

Copy of petition attached, When completed, they need to be returned to PO box  3167 Carlisle South WA 6101on or before 12th October OR BRING THEM TO THE RALLY

3. And about the Parliament house action

ALL interested parties Consumers carers providers encouraged to attend the official hand over of the petition at

Parliament house MIDDAY 14th October.

No permits for a march have been applied for however the gathering of a large number of people at Parliament house along with media coverage should send the message loud and clear.

The intention is to show the state government we are not invisible we will not be treated like the poor cousin regarding adequate funding and we will be a strong voice for those who have none!

The media will be there and some placards available hopefully making it easier to get our message out:

• INCREASE FUNDING TO MENTAL HEALTH.

• REJECT PROPOSED CUTS

Click blue link for mp3 audio of Greens MLC Alison Xamon on a tragic Mental Health week in Perth

PETITION OPPOSING THE PROPOSED FUNDING CUTS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

TO THE HONOURABLE THE SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF THE PARLIAMENT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED.

We, the undersigned, are concerned about the effect that any proposed funding cuts will have on consumers of the mental health services, their carers, families, members of the community, as well as the providers of mental health services in Western Australia

Of major concern are any cuts in relation to the much needed recovery programs, which are known to prevent re hospitalisation.

We are also concerned of the affect any proposed cuts would have on service providers, many of whom are already under funded and understaffed

We urge the State Government to oppose any such proposal and ensure that those involved in mental health will not have their health and lifestyles compromised

Secondly, we strongly urge the Legislative Assembly propose an increase in funding to raise staffing levels to a safe and effective standard

We now ask that the Legislative Assembly take every appropriate action to ensure the above.

NAME	ADDRESS	SIGNATURE

Please clearly mark envelope petition and return to Sound Psychiatric Information Network C/O

P/O Box 3167 Carlisle SOUTH WA 6101

Big Pharma’s huge profits from human suffering features in brilliant doco and awesome new novel, listen to Producer Kevin Miller and author Pamela Glasner

click the blue link for audio

Pamela Glasner & Kevin Miller talking with Tony Serve

Pamela Glasner author "Finding Emaus"

Kevin P Miller Producer of "Generation Rx "

Pamela’s Novel “Finding Emmaus” Out Oct 1 Pre-order now

Kevin Miller’s Documentary trailer – DVD available now

Media ban on reporting Suicide – a deadly mistake ( see also abc story on 60 minutes being gagged )

Image by Aaron Edwards via Flickr

The ongoing silence in the media about suicide is being challenged by 60 minutes and supported by website advocacy group Beyond Blue (see abc.net.au story here)

As a long time advocate for mental health and suicide prevention I support a change in the deadly silence.

The only real debate is the nature of change to reportage and education.

Image via Wikipedia

It is particularly galling to hear cries of ” let’s protect potential suicides by not mentioning it” even as the media continues to almost champion the activities of the Euthenasia proponent known as Dr Death with tragic consequences.

And in simple terms we can ask ” well how’s that working for ya?” as yet another school community is wracked by unwell youngsters taking their own lives. Their being “protected” from truthful reporting of the issues didn’t work out so well.

Stigma is deadly, and it thrives in a vacuum of i

Image by ashley.adcox via Flickr

nformation such as we have surrounding suicide. It’s time for the so-called ” sane” people in Government, Bureacracy and Services to “get over it” and stop perpetrating a culture of deadly denial.

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Really useful info for west australians from WACOSS – WACOSS Update – 7th August

social policy | organisation development | membership | training

Please distribute through your networks WACOSS Update Friday 7th August 2009 News items listed in this bulletin include… Message from Sue Ash, CEO at WACOSS Media Release: Unemployment Rises in WA More than Expected Semester Two WACOSS Training Calendar Available NOW! WACOSS Pre-Budget Submission: Consultation with Regional Community Organisations OSH for Community Organisations, Wednesday 12th August Time and Stress Management in the Workplace, Tuesday 18th August Fundraising and Submission Writing, Wednesday 26th August Message from Sue Ash, CEO at WACOSS Thank you to all those who have renewed their membership of WACOSS for 2009-10. WACOSS is fundamentally a membership based organisation and we value the large number of agencies and individuals who choose to continue on as members of the organisation. If you haven’t renewed your membership, there is still time. For information about becoming a WACOSS Member, or to renew your membership please click on the link below: Membership of WACOSS top Media Release: Unemployment Rises in WA More than Expected New figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on 6 August show that the unemployment rate in WA increased from 5.2% in June to 5.7% in July. To read more details and the WACOSS media response to these figures click here top Semester Two WACOSS Training Calendar Available NOW! WACOSS workshops are designed to strengthen the skills and knowledge of managers, staff, volunteers and committee/board members. Our workshops are all designed to be highly practical and interactive and are delivered by people who have extensive experience of the not for profit sector. Many of our workshops are also suitable for staff working in the government and business sectors. If you would like WACOSS to post an A2 copy of Semester Two’s Calendar to your organisation please email training@wacoss.org.au or click on the link below: Semester Two Calendar top WACOSS Pre-Budget Submission: Consultation with Regional Community Organisations In our large and diverse state, delivering funding and services to the regions is a critical component of sustaining healthy, vibrant communities. But how do we ensure that what is delivered is what is actually needed on the ground? Have your say on what the State Government should be funding in the 2010/11 Budget. WACOSS will be hosting a consultation forum near you which will encompass: - Roundtable discussion on your regional funding priorities for the next State Budget - Your opportunity to provide input to WACOSS’ social policy priorities - Private consultations available on request Please note this event is dependant on adequate numbers. To ensure consultations are held in your region please confirm your place by Friday 14 August. To register, click on the relevant link below. Bunbury: Monday 24 August Esperance: Tuesday 25 August Albany: Wednesday 26 August Port Hedland: Thursday 27 August Kalgoorlie: Friday 28 August Geraldton: TBC top OSH for Community Organisations, Wednesday 12th August Do you wish that you had a system for identifying health and safety risks before they turned into accidents? Do you believe that it is essential for your staff, managers, and board members to know what the law expects of them, and the potential fines, if they do not keep the workplace free from physical and psychological harm? If you answered Yes! to either of these questions, then this training will benefit your organisation. WHAT DOES IT COVER? >A presentation by Worksafe on the Occupational Safety and Health legislation applying WA. This workshop is not an accredited training course for elected Occupational Health and Safety Officers as defined by the Act. But if you are wondering what all this means then you should attend! > Responsibilities of Employees/Employers under the OSH act; > Including what is required when electing an occupational health and safety representative > What are your responsibilities to volunteers > Defining areas of risk for community based not for profit groups > What is the workplace? > Who does the Act apply to? > Starting the Risk Management system > OSH committees- Who to consult and who to consult with > Implementing a culture of safety in your workplace Further Information For the full details and to register CLICK HERE or visit the new WACOSS Organisation Development Services website at www.wacosstraining.org.au. top Time and Stress Management in the Workplace, Tuesday 18th August YOUR TIME WONT BE WASTED IF YOU ATTEND THIS WORKSHOP FULL OF PRACTICAL TIPS AND TOOLS Learn how to IMPROVE your work performance and REDUCE stress to achieve your work-life BALANCE. - Most of us spend 3 hours each day dealing with interruptions - 3 hours each week looking for things on our desk and - 11 hours a week in meetings - while managing 600% more information than we managed 20 years ago. Time Management training is ideal for anyone who has countless tasks demanding their attention and who needs to juggle conflicting priorities. In this Workshop you will learn to improve planning, set goals and feel more in control of your work load. What previous participants have said… “The Time Management seminar has been very valuable and has motivated me to make changes which will benefit myself, my clients and my organisation.“ Further Information For the full details and to register CLICK HERE or visit the new WACOSS Organisation Development Services website at www.wacosstraining.org.au. top Fundraising and Submission Writing, Wednesday 26th August Everything you wanted to know about finding grants, fundraising and community business partnerships This workshop will cover where to look for funds and grants for community groups, essential information for grants and submissions and practical tips to writing successful applications. Explore the various methods for working smartly and being strategic in how you raise funds in an effort to secure the financial survival of your organisation. Fundraising is a changing dynamic. With more and more services looking for support, organisations need to work smart and be strategic in how they approach their financial survival. WHAT DOES IT COVER? >Determining resources & funding needs >Types of funding & grants available >Developing a fundraising strategy >Why, how and what of business community partnerships >Negotiating sponsorship agreements Further Information For the full details and to register CLICK HERE or visit the new WACOSS Organisation Development Services website at www.wacosstraining.org.au. top

[social service health community support training perth}

Proposed BHP Billiton Olympic Dam Uranium Mine Expansion opposed on a series of logical, economic, environmental and ethical points – former Senator Jo Valentine’s letter to the”authorities”

The letter below is from the Chair of the Anti Nuclear Alliance of Western Australia, former Senaor Jo Vallentine.

There are details here that Government and the mining/uranium industry have yet to address, read on and ask your own questions of those in charge of our future.

The Manager

Assessment Branch,

Department of Planning and Local Government,

GPO Box 1815, Adelaide, SA 5001.

Re: Proposed BHP Billiton Olympic Dam Uranium Mine Expansion

Dear Manager,

On behalf of the Anti-Nuclear Alliance of Western Australia, I make this submission: there should be no expansion of the uranium mining operations of BHP Billiton at Olympic Dam.

Our organization, working to challenge the nuclear industry in all its forms, has been operating since 1997. We are comprised of twelve determined community based, not-for-profit groups.

There are four parts to my argument:

1. Warming

2. Waste

3. Water

4. Weapons

1. WARMING: Since around 2003 -4 the global nuclear industry has positioned itself as part of the solution to climate change. In what has been an unprecedented attempt to fool governments and the public about its merits, and to minimise its dangers, the nuclear industry has been cavalier with the truth, to say the very least.

It claims that it is greenhouse friendly, and therefore should be a sought-after energy source for the future. The only part of the nuclear industry’s operations which is not a heavy greenhouse gas emitter is the boiling of the water in the reactor. At every other stage in the chain, from uranium mining, to milling, to transport, to enrichment, to construction of reactors, to re-processing, to storage of waste (probably requiring more transport), to making of weapons, to de-commissioning of reactors, greenhouse gases are emitted. Just take the reactor construction and deconstruction as an example of what is never referred to by the industry’s proponents. The making of cement is widely acknowledged as a huge contributor to CO2 emissions, and there is a massive amount of cement used in both operations ….. especially in de-commissioning of ageing reactors, which will become a common, but likely unacknowledged feature of the industry in the coming decade. So, concrete and steel manufacturing emissions should be included in any assessment of the carbon footprint of this industry.

Likewise, transport components are also huge …… uranium ore to ports, across the seas to clients, to enrichment, then reactor plants and so on. Going one step further back …… consider the diesel used in the gigantic trucks and other machinery required to dig the rocks out of the ground, and to mill those large pieces into powder. Most of the fuels used to generate nuclear power in all its stages, comes from the consumption of fossil fuels. Why are those greenhouse (and monetary costs) not accounted for in either the greenhouse or financial costs of nuclear power production? (Ref.: Jan Storm van Leeuwen and Philip Smith, “Can Nuclear Power Provide Energy for the Future? Would it solve the CO2 Emission Problem? ” , October 12, 2004.)

Another component, often overlooked in this consideration of the dirty, rather than “clean” industry is the production of CFC’s in the enrichment process. Going against the trend to limit the production of chlorofluorocarbons according to the Montreal Protocol of 1987, as the U. S Department of Energy acknowledges, the nuclear industry’s enrichment plants emit most of the 114 gas still produced in the United States, which is an ozone layer destroyer (James Bruggers, “Uranium Plants Harm Ozxone Layer, Kentucky, Ohio Facilities Top List of Polluters …. The Courier Journal, May 29, 2001).

Various studies show that CO2 emissions depend on the grade or uranium ore ….. high grade ore, requiring less energy input than low grade ore. In most cases a nuclear power station must operate for three years to generate the amount of energy it costs to install and get the reactor operating (by comparison, wind power requires only about six months of generation of energy, in order to “pay” for its installation in energy terms(Danish wind Industry Association 1997 “The Energy Balance of Wind turbines).

However, with low-grade ore, containing less than 0.01% yellowcake, at least 10 tonnes of ore has to be mined in order to obtain 1 kg. of yellowcake, entailing a huge increase in the fossil energy required for mining and milling. Consumption of fossil fuels then becomes so large that nuclear energy emits total quantities of CO2 comparable with those from an equivalent combined cycle gas-fired power station (van Leewen & Smith, 2005 “Can nuclear power provide energy for the future; would it solve the CO2 emission problem?”)

The vast majority of the world’s uranium reserves are low-grade. With the current contribution by nuclear energy of 16% of the world’s energy production, the high grade reserves would only last several decades if nuclear energy were to be expanded, as the industry hopes.

Far from being any part of the answer to global warming, I submit that the nuclear industry is a major contributor to greenhouse emissions. As Storm van Leewen argues: “The Nuclear Industry should commit itself to publish a thorough analysis of the emissions of carbon dioxide and all other greenhouses gases in all processes of the fuel chain before claiming that nuclear energy is carbon free or greenhouse gas free.” (J.W. Storm van Leewen. “Uranium and Greenhouse Gases” August 13, 2005, as quoted by Helen Caldicott in “Nuclear Power is Not the Answer to Global Warming or Anything Else” – Melbourne University Press, 2006)

Specific to the Olympic Dam expansion, it is incongruous for the government to allow a $350 million subsidy in diesel fuel rebates, and for the company to plan for an increase in greenhouse gas emissions from 1.2 million tones of CO2 per year, up to 5.9 million tonnes per year by 2020. This would increase South Australia’s current total emissions of 33 million tonnes a year by up to 14% by 2020, and severely compromise the potential for urgent action on deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions overall. There is no sense in that. It is a license for the big polluters to continue with business as usual, and is totally unacceptable when communities, small businesses and households are expected to (and in most cases are keen to) reduce their emissions.

ANAWA is clear that BHP Billeton’s plans for expansion of the Olympic Dam operation should be disallowed on the grounds that there will be a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions from the plant.

2. WASTE

The nuclear industry has had sixty four years to figure out waste disposal. It has failed, utterly and universally. This isn’t just any toxic waste disposal, which might damage waterways, or pollute the air, or contaminate the soil, although it does all of those things. This is radioactive waste with the capability of altering the gene pools of all living things on the face of the earth. It is a very serious charge: the possibility of affecting the reproductive organisms, interfering with the DNA of every facet of life on earth.

Yet this industry continues to promote itself as some sort of “saviour” when the global community is faced with the challenge of climate change. It is a big challenge, but not ne which will be assisted in any way by introducing more nuclear waste on the scene. There are already mountains of waste to be disposed of securely, safely, for the unforeseeable future. This is a shameful legacy to be leaving future generations – they will have to deal with the folly of this twentieth century failed experiment.

The problem of nuclear waste begins with the uranium mining process. Huge volumes of lower level radioactive wastes are left behind at abandoned minesites, as much as 680 parts of finely ground rock for every part uranium oxide extracted. At Ranger mine in the Northern Territory, there are constantly overflows from the tailings dams during a heavy wet season. At Olympic Dam, it’s a different problem (usually) of high winds sending the tailings blowing in the wind. The proposed expansion would add a further mountain of tailings, which could not be guaranteed against leakages, seepages, windstorms.

BHP Billiton’s proposal to spend at least five years digging the world’s largest open pit, to be 3 kms. by 3 kms. at the surface, and 350 metres deep, just to reach the ore body, will leave not only a huge hole in the ground, because there are no plans to rehabilitate, or to fill in that pit, but also, the storage proposed would cover an area of up to 44 square kms. to a height of up to 65 metres. This toxic mountain will probably leak as all tailings dams/pits do, for the duration of the open pit mine’s life, which is predicted to be until 2050. From ANAWA’s perspective, this scenario is totally unacceptable. We call on the government to reject the BHP Billiton proposal for expansion.

Because whatever happens at an Australian uranium mine is directly linked to the wider international nuclear picture, because we sell uranium to overseas clients for use in nuclear power plants, and indirectly for making bombs, and producing waste elsewhere, we make further comment on other situations regarding waste.

There have been numerous international scientific attempts to find a solution to the storage of spent fuel from reactors, like synroc, once touted as the magic answer. Still not proven. But no company, either involved in uranium mining, or nuclear power generation, or weapons production, is taking the ultimate responsibility of dealing with its contaminated waste until the radioactive e materials are no longer dangerous. This responsibility will have to be borne by governments and communities long after the companies involved now have made their profits, and cut and run.

A very serious attempt was made in the United States to establish one single waste depository for high-level waste at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. Opponents said for years that it was not a suitable site for many reasons (earthquake zone, porous rocks included). The industry persisted against the wishes of the people and against scientific data, and after twenty years and the expenditure of more than eleven billion dollars (mostly taxpayers’ dollars), President Obama has called it quits. Yucca Mountain is not going ahead. So, the United Sates nuclear industry is back to square one in its search for a suitable site, or for new technology to deal with the waste.

There is one possibly viable project underway in Olkiluto in Finalnd, where the government is paying billions of dollars constructing a deep depository to take the spent fuel rods from its four reactors. It is way behind schedule. It remains to be seen whether the technology is deemed safe for the long term (how can that be proved with material that is radioactive for 250.ooo years?) before a license would be granted for it to continue operation.

Here in Western Australia, we experienced the push from an international consortium seeking a permanent waste depository, deep underground in the desert, which was considered expendable. The Pangea company wooed the government and offered massive financial inducements. But the people sent Pangea packing, even finally gaining the support of the conservative Court Government, which passed legislation outlawing the dumping of international nuclear waste in Western Australia. That legislation still stands, and is supported by current Liberal Premier Colin Barnett, despite his enthusiasm for uranium mining. This is neither an ethical nor a consistent policy. The rationale for excluding international waste would b e a lot stronger if no uranium mining was exported from this state. This is a position towards which ANAWA continues to work.

South Australia successfully challenged Prime Minister John Howard’s plan for a national waste depository in that state. Aboriginal people and their land had already suffered contamination from British nuclear testing in the 1950’s and sixties, and they were not going to let that kind of contamination occur again. Fortunately, they were supported by the people and Government in their strong stand.

Now the Northern Territory is experiencing the pressure to make way for a national nuclear waste dump (and Australia’s stored nuclear waste is miniscule, compared with countries which have major nuclear programmes) – Labor’s promises to reverse the Howard government’s plans remain unfulfilled. A real concern is that once a national repository is confirmed, the international nuclear industry will be lining up, again (new name, same crowd, Arius?), with huge inducements for Australia to take the waste from many countries desperately trying to get rid of the material which is mounting up exponentially in all countries with nuclear power stations.

Why on earth would we want to add to that dangerous stockpile by further increasing uranium mining operations in this country?

Most of the worlds 440 plus nuclear reactors are ageing, and due for de-commissioning. The industry keeps on trying to get them re-licensed to continue for a few more years. Finally they become too radioactive to continue. The mothballing required to segregate the large buildings, requiring massive amounts of concrete, leaves monuments dotted around the countryside as testament to this failed technology.

Then there’s the question of so-called “depleted” uranium. This is highly toxic material, used by the United States military wherever it has been fighting wars, since 1990. Depleted of U235, it is still highly radioactive as U238, which is very dense – an ideal anti-tank weapon which can penetrate heavy metals, like a hot knife cutting through butter. It ignites on impact, disintegrating into a fine powder which is blown by the wind …. this radioactive mist has half-life of 4.5 billion years. The Pentagon admitted to using 360 tons of DU in the anti-tank shells in Kuwait, Iraq and Saudi Arabia in the 1991 gulf War. Probably more was used in the second Gulf War , beginning in 2003. ‘Since 1991, there has been a sevenfold increase in both childhood cancers and gross congenital abnormalities in the Basra region of Iraq’ (Helen Caldicott, “Nuclear Power is Not the Answer to Global Warming or Anything Else,” op. cit., p. 52).

It is also important to recognize the international global Nuclear Energy Program devised by President Bush, and signed on to by Prime Minister John Howard, which could be interpreted as an obligation by a uranium exporting country to accept the radioactive waste generated by its primary product overseas. This is yet to be tested.

ANAWA considers the production of more nuclear waste a gross violation of the human rights of future generations, and a gross violation of the integrity of our global environment into the unforeseeable future. This is not a right of this generation, but we have a responsibility not to add to the enormous problem which already exists, and to which there is no answer on the horizon. That argument alone, our organization to strongly resists any moves by the Government of South Australia to consider expansion of the Olympic Dam uranium mining operation.

3. WATER

In the driest state of the driest continent on earth, it is unwise, to put it mildly, to consider expanding the Olympic Dam operations. Already a huge water guzzler, taking 35 million litres of water daily from the great Artesian Basin, this is an industry out of control, and out of line with the thinking of most Australians who are increasingly realizing that water is our most precious resource, and that we shouldn’t be squandering it on any unnecessary projects. The Olympic Dam expansion is an unnecessary project. It is a gross waste of water, whether that water is sourced from the Great Artesian Basin, at considerable cost to the unique and fragile Mound Springs, listed as an endangered ecological community, or from a specially commissioned de-salination plant, 500 expensive kilometers away. The fact that the water currently taken from GAB is free of charge, adds insult to the injury of water wastage. BHP Billiton plans to increase that water usage to at least 42 million litres per day – this must be rejected outright. ANAWA calls on the S.A. Government to phase out all water extraction from the GAB’s Borefield A as soon as possible.

The nuclear industry generally is a heavy water user. As Tim Flannery says “Coal fired power plants have large water requirements for cooling and steam generation, but these are dwarfed by the water needs of nuclear power.” (Friends of the Earth and the Medical Association for the Prevention of War, 2008).

Water for nuclear power stations can be sourced from a river, lake, dam, or the ocean. It has two uses: it is converted to steam to drive a turbine, and cooling water then converts the steam back to water. Per megawatt, existing nuclear power stations use and consume more water than power stations using other fuel sources. Depending on the cooling technology utilised, the water requirements for a nuclear power station can vary between 20 to 83% more than for other power stations. Water outflows expel relatively warm water which can have adverse local impacts in bays and gulfs. In recent very hot summers in Europe, some French nuclear reactors had to be switched off, because the cooling water became not only too hot to be effective in the reactors, but too dangerous for the outflows.

Water pollutants, such as heavy metals and salts, build up in the water used in the nuclear power plant systems. A U.S. report ‘Licensed to Kill: How the Nuclear Power Industry Destroys Endangered Marine Wildlife and Ocean Habitat to Save Money’ (Greenpeace, 2007), details the nuclear industry’s destruction of delicate marine ecosystems and large numbers of animals, including endangered species. Water shortages, driven by climate change, drought or heat waves have caused reactors to be taken off line periodically, reducing their effectiveness in being reliable producers of baseload power.

ANAWA therefore believes that adding to the myth that nuclear energy can assist with the global warming climate crisis is grossly irresponsible because of the industry’s voracious appetite for water. Therefore the Olympic Dam’s expansion would not only add to Australia’s water usage pressures, but add to global water issues as well. ANAWA strongly recommends that the Olympic Dam expansion be rejected because of its extraordinarily high usage of our most precious and scarce resource, water.

1. WEAPONS

This is another vexed area of deep concern, and one which no doubt BHP
Billiton does not want to address. But the bald facts are undeniable: nuclear weapons cannot be produced without the raw material of uranium being mined, and secondly, that every country which has acquired nuclear weapons, has done so by association with the nuclear power programme within their country.

By exporting uranium, despite safeguards galore, Australian uranium at very least, frees up uranium from other sources to be used in bomb-making programmes, and at worst, Australian uranium could be used directly in the manufacture of nuclear weapons. There is no way to prove that Australian uranium oxide, once it leaves Australia’s shores, does not end up in other countries’ nuclear weapons programmes. A case in point is the Tricastin plant in France, which is owned and operated by the French government, which serves both the military and civilian sectors. Atom by atom, Australian uranium cannot be separated from uranium sourced from other countries once it enters the nuclear fuel chain. And what country would want to admit that its uranium has been diverted for use in the North Korean nuclear weapons programme? Every exporter claims innocence!

It was Al gore, former U.S. Vice President who said “In the eight years I served in the White House, every weapons proliferation issue we faced was linked with a civilian reactor program.” (Guardian Weekly 9-15 June, 2006)

The International Energy Agency, like a fox in charge of the chicken house, has a dual role: to promote “peaceful” application of nuclear energy, and to guard against nuclear ;weapons proliferation. Despite the attempts of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, with its five yearly Review conferences, nuclear weapons have proliferated, but probably not as much as they would have without that treaty being in existence. However, as recent former head of the IAEA, Dr. Mohamed El Baradei has said: “the IAEA’s Illicit Trafficking Database has, in the past decade, recorded more than 650 cases that involve efforts to smuggle nuclear and radioactive materials” and “IAEA verification today operates on an annual budget of about $100 million – a budget comparable to that of a local police department. With these resources, we oversee approximately 900 nuclear facilities in 71 countries. When you consider our growing responsibilities – as well as the need to stay ahead of the game – we are clearly operating on a shoestring budget.” And “we are only as effective as we are allowed to be.” And “If a country with a full nuclear fuel cycle decides to break away from is non-proliferation commitments, a nuclear weapons could b e only months away.” And “the IAEA’s legal authority to investigate possible parallel weaponisation activity is limited.” (from “An Illusion of Protection” Australian Conservation Foundation and Medical Association for the Prevention of War – 2006).

Australia has in place various safeguard agreements with its client states, but ANAWA has little confidence in such measures. In June 2006, The Weapons of Terror report by the Mass Destruction Commission chaired by Dr. Hans Blix had this to say: “The Commission rejects the suggestion that nuclear weapons in the hands f some pose no threat, while in the hands of others they palace the world in mortal jeopardy. The three major challenges the world now confronts – existing weapons, further proliferation and terrorism – are interlinked politically and also practically: the larger the existing stocks, the greater the danger of leakage and misuse.” (from “An Illusion of Protection” Australian Conservation foundation and Medical Association for the Prevention of War – 2006).

Under article VI of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, nuclear weapons states are obliged to disarm their nuclear weapons. The recognized five nuclear weapons states (at the time of the NPT’s inception in 1970) were Britain, France, the Soviet Union, China and the United States of America. It’s no accident that they are also the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council with the power of veto. They have not fulfilled their obligations. Yet we still sell uranium to some of those states. Other countries have acquired nuclear weapons since that time, including Israel (undeclared, but a real threat to peace in the Middle East) and India, which previous and present Government toys with as a potential client state.

ANAWA believes that Australia has a moral responsibility not to add to the stockpiles of weapons-available material on the world market, whether such materials are available by legal or illegal means.

ANAWA calls on the Australian and South Australian Governments to reject the Olympic Downs uranium mine expansion on the ground that it adds to the availability of material for manufacture, testing, storage of nuclear weapons – a big problem from any perspective, and one to which Australia need not, and should not contribute.

CONCLUSION:

As well as the four headings above, and the recommendations to scrap plans for Olympic Dam expansion due to outstanding problems in the areas of global warming, water usage, waste disposal and weapons proliferation, ANAWA could site many more reasons for denying BHP Billeton’s request for expansion. These grounds include, but are not limited to

1. the scant regard for the rights of indigenous people in the area (people whose rights have already been trampled upon by the nuclear industry with the history going back to British nuclear testing, to despoilation of their water supplies) and

2. b) the outrageously unfair Roxby Downs Indenture Act of 1982, which allowed the then owner of the mine, Western Mining, to totally disregard any other legislation which might have bearing n that land, or their operations. ANAWA considers this extraordinary financial assistance, and exemption from Aboriginal Heritage and environmental considerations to be totally inappropriate, and calls for the abandonment of the aforesaid legislation: the Roxby Downs Indenture Act, 1982.

We believe that the grab for uranium by BHP Billiton and other uranium mining companies is a cynical grab for the grubby dollar while there is some vestige of hope for this ailing industry. It must be seen in light of the fact that this is a declining industry, with less nuclear power being generated each year (mostly due to ageing reactors being de-commissioned, or reactors with major problems being shut down “temporarily”) and the fact that more reactors are shutting down each year than opening, despite all the industry hype. The industry’s projections look rosy, but the new generation IV reactors are still only promises and the facts reveal that, on the other hand, renewable energies are growing at exponential rates, and would be proceeding even faster, if more research and development dollars were put their way, instead of propping up a filthy, failing industry.

Neither is it any argument whatsoever to claim that because coal is finally being recognized as a filthy power source (but without the radioactive legacy offered by the nuclear industry), and being mindful of the fact that there is no such thing as “clean coal”, that the world is forced to make a choice between the two. Both are bad. Both need to be phased out, as soon as possible. Why on earth would any sane nation think of jumping out of the coal-fired frying pan into the nuclear fire? It just doesn’t make sense.

What does make sense is for Australian governments both Federal and South Australian, to invest strongly in the renewable energy sector, to stop bailing out old technology industries, to stop allowing the polluters to continue polluting, and to back up the community desire for transformation into the new technologies which we have to have to prevent runaway climate change occurring.

ANAWA re-iterates its profound concern for a multiplicity of reasons, if the Olympic Dam expansion is allowed to proceed. We call for the proposal to be rejected, and for a total phase out of uranium mining at the Olympic Dam minesite.

******************************************************************

Document prepared by Jo Vallentine

Chairperson, ANAWA.

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www: anawa.org

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A big swag of useful info, news,updates,reports and media Australian Policy Online Weekly Briefing – 30 July 2009 – please let me know if you’d like the APO or others like WACOSS blogged regularly :)

New commentary

Chewing the fat

29 July, 2009 | How many of the government’s health policies have been implemented? Angela Beaton and Lesley Russell look at the record

Preventable hospitalisation: the US initiative

28 July, 2009 | Re-admissions to hospital are a costly failure in the hospital system, here and in the US, writes Lesley Russell

Indonesia’s Australian connection

27 July, 2009 | The tragic Jakarta bombings should not distract our attention from the good news coming out of Indonesia, argues Hal Hill on our partner website, INSIDE STORY

New research

Creative Economy

A fistful of festivals

Lynden Barber | Meanjin
30 July, 2009 | It sometimes appears that not only every major capital city, but every café at the end of every street of every godforsaken one-horse town has a film festival — or soon will have.

Effective corporate tax reform in the global innovation economy

Rob Atkinson | Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
26 July, 2009 | This US report examines the issue of corporate tax reform and lays out six key principles for policymakers to consider as well as specific policy recommendations for crafting an innovation-based corporate tax code.

Disability arts sector consultation report

Andi Sebastian, Jacqueline Chant | Arts SA
23 July, 2009 | In late 2008, Arts SA funded a sector-wide consultation to determine the service needs of the disability and arts sector and to identify the most appropriate model for the delivery of these services

Should copyright of academic works be abolished?

Steven Shavell | Berkman Center for Internet and Society
27 July, 2009 | The conventional rationale for copyright of written works, that copyright is needed to foster their creation, is seemingly of limited applicability to the academic domain.

The world of e-portfolios

Allison Miller | Knowledge Tree, Australian Flexible Learning Framework
30 July, 2009 | This article argues that as we move deeper into a digital age, e-portfolios will be a key method for demonstrating existing skills.

Reconceptualising ‘time’ and ‘space’ in the era of electronic media and communications

Panayiota Tsatsou | PLATFORM: Journal of Media and Communication
23 July, 2009 | This paper examines to what extent electronic media and communications have contributed to currently changing concepts of time and space and how crucial their role is in experiencing temporality, spatiality and mobility.

Use of electronic media and communications: Early childhood to teenage years

Australian Communications and Media Authority
23 July, 2009 | This report provides a comprehensive snapshot of young people’s use of electronic media from early childhood through to teenage years, and parents’ views about that media use.

The impact of the crisis on ICTs and their role in the recovery

OECD Directorate of Science, Technology and Industry | Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
30 July, 2009 | A sudden upturn in global sales of information and communications technology (ICT) goods in May and June suggests the ICT industry may have reached a turning point and be on the road to recovery, according to this OECD report.

An implosion of knowledge

Humphrey McQueen | Meanjin
30 July, 2009 | This articles argues that the privileging of access to data above its application means that the debate over whether libraries are in the book business or the information business is diverting us from the thought that they should be in the knowledge business

Economics

Retail trade industry profile

Jocelyn Pech, Lucy Nelms, Kelvin Yuen, Thomas Bolton | Australian Fair Pay Commission
24 July, 2009 | This report examines the structural and workforce profile of the Retail trade industry, an industry that employs a relatively large proportion of low-skilled and low-paid employees.

Power, mobility and diaspora in the global city

Dale Leorke, Saskia Sassen | PLATFORM: Journal of Media and Communication
23 July, 2009 | While globalisation has given rise to the global financial market, cross-border activities, digital networks with global span, and international organisations such as the UN and WTO that operate independent of nation-states, these remain materially embedded at the local, national level.

Young people with poor labour force attachment

Jocelyn Pech, Anne McNevin, Lucy Nelms | Australian Fair Pay Commission
24 July, 2009 | Drawing on labour force data and previous research findings, this report charts recent trends in a number of indicators, including the population of young people not fully engaged in employment and/or education.

IT modernisation: An exercise in alignment

Dan Briody | Economist Intelligence Unit
23 July, 2009 | This report, based on interviews and a global survey of 170 senior executives, concludes that while firms recognise the importance of modernising IT systems, they do not always implement such projects effectively.

Education

Numeracy, maths and learning difficulties

Anne Bayetto | Curriculum Leadership
25 July, 2009 | This article describes a program where postgraduate education students at Flinders University are helping to support young people who struggle with mathematics.

A new federalism in Australian education, 2009

Jack Keating | Education Foundation, Foundation for Young Australians
27 July, 2009 | This report proposes a national reform agenda for Australian schooling.

Childhood Education and Care, Australia

Australian Bureau of Statistics
30 July, 2009 | Seven out of ten young children attended a preschool or a preschool program in 2008.

Identifying and teaching children and young people with dyslexia and literacy difficulties

Jim Rose | Department for Children, Schools and Families
25 July, 2009 | This UK report focuses on the identification of dyslexia among students and the possible intervention approaches that can be made by teachers and parents.

Environment & Planning

Climate change discussions and negotiations: a calendar

Nina Markovic, Nick Fuller | Parliamentary Library
26 July, 2009 | This background note will be updated to include any new developments on the formal negotiations are taking place within the meetings and working groups that have been established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Kyoto Protocol framework.

A quiet revolution: City governments tackle global warming

Stephen Jones | Australian Review of Public Affairs
26 July, 2009 | While Australia’s federal and state leaders have been stuck discussing the introduction of the emissions trading scheme, some of our local governments have been trying to do something about the impact of human activity on global warming.

Health

Oral health impacts among children by dental visiting treatment needs

Jason Armfield | Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
24 July, 2009 | This report provides information on the oral health impacts experienced by Australian children during the period 2004-06.

Why public hospitals are overcrowded: ten points for policymakers

Jeremy Sammut | Centre for Independent Studies
28 July, 2009 | The three-hundred page reform ‘blue print’ from the National Health and Hospital Reform Commission has endorsed a range of health reform measures that will not solve the hospital crisis in this country, argues Jeremy Sammut.

Indigenous

Staying strong on the outside: improving the post-release experience of Indigenous young adults

Robyn Gilbert, Anna Wilson | Indigenous justice clearinghouse
27 July, 2009 | This research brief draws on international research to identify current understandings of good practice in prisoner reentry generally as well as issues particular to Indigenous prisoner reentry.

Bridges and barriers – addressing Indigenous incarceration and health

National Indigenous Alcohol and Drug Committee | Australian National Council on Drugs
24 July, 2009 | This report argues that the strong links between substance misuse and Indigenous incarceration highlight an urgent need for government to address this disturbing problem.

International

Force 2030: China drives Australia toward its first strategic missile system

Ron Huisken | Nautilus Institute
24 July, 2009 | This essay argues that the strikingly different dimension of Australia’s recent Defence White Paper, stems from a disjointed, inconclusive but unmistakably alarmist assessment of China’s potential impact on order and stability in East Asia.

Middle East outlook and energy security in the Asia-Pacific region

Leanne Piggott | Australian Strategic Policy Institute
24 July, 2009 | This report explores the issue of energy security in the context of a growing dependence of the energy-hungry Asian economies on Middle Eastern supplies.

China: stumbling through the Pacific

Fergus Hanson | Lowy Institute for International Policy
26 July, 2009 | This paper suggests that China’s Pacific aid-giving is unpredictable, secretive and is mired in a vicious cycle of short-termism that is a legacy of its long-running diplomatic battle with Taiwan.

Beyond the nuclear issue: North Korea and non-traditional security challenges

Jeffrey Robertson | Parliamentary Library
26 July, 2009 | Since September 2008 North Korea has undertaken a series of measures to demonstrate the health of Kim Jong-Il, yet at the same time has demonstrated signs that succession plans may be underway.

New voices 2009: Networked

Angela Evans | Lowy Institute for International Policy
27 July, 2009 | This report is an overview of the Lowy institute’s recent conference on the ways in which network relationships, structures, and technologies affect different parts of our world.

Justice

Intimate partner abuse of women in a Central Queensland mining region

Heather Nancarrow, Stewart Lockie, Sanjay Sharma | Australian Institute of Criminology
25 July, 2009 | Perceptions about the mining industry and the rapid growth of mining communities in Australia has led to concerns that these communities are prone to higher rates of intimate partner violence than the general community.

Suspended sentences in Tasmania: key research findings

Australian Institute of Criminology
27 July, 2009 | While offenders given suspended sentences were less likely to be reconvicted, the imposition of these, rather than non-custodial sentences, on first time offenders may have serious repercussions if they are subsequently reconvicted.

Politics

State of denial

Richard Denniss | The Australia Institute
27 July, 2009 | While the Commonwealth will receive a windfall of more than $10 billion per year in revenue from auctioning pollution permits, state and local governments will transfer more than $2 billion a year to the Commonwealth Government.

A fair-weather friend: Australia’s relationship with a climate-changed Pacific

Louise Collett | The Australia Institute
27 July, 2009 | Climate change will bring significant challenges to the island nations of the Pacific. This paper examines Australia’s attitudes to climate change in the region under the two most recent federal governments.

Putting the politics back into Politics: Young people and democracy in Australia

James Arvanitakis, Siobhan Marren | The Whitlam Institute
27 July, 2009 | Young people are changing the way they engage with politics and Politics is going to have to change as a consequence.

Social Policy

Just scraping by? Conversations with Tasmanians living on low incomes

Social Policy and Research Team | Tasmanian Council of Social Service
24 July, 2009 | The voices of low income Tasmanians are reproduced in this report talking in their own words about the daily struggle to make ends meet on inadequate incomes and with limited access to health care and other services.

Managing in a downturn

Centre for Social Impact
24 July, 2009 | This report is the first comprehensive research to assess the effect of the economic downturn on Australian charities and nonprofit organisations.

Compendium of social inclusion indicators

Australian Social Inclusion Board
28 July, 2009 | Developed by the Board to generate discussion and debate on the question of how to measure disadvantage and social exclusion, these indicators are first steps towards comprehensive performance measurement and evaluation of social inclusion in Australia.

A healthier future for all Australians – final report

National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission | National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission
27 July, 2009 | The Federal Government’s health review has called for a major shake-up of the national health system, with the Commonwealth taking over the funding of most services.

New audio

Who stopped the music?

25 July, 2009 | The parlous state of music in public schools means not only are our children missing an important dimension in life, but they miss out on something that promotes brain function and social skills.

Video killed the video star

27 July, 2009 | If everyone is a producer, what role will video play in our lives in the future?

New video

2 live 2 deadly

23 July, 2009 | This video documents the historical struggle of Indigenous radio in Sydney.

Libraries of the future

30 July, 2009 | This UK documentary showcases interviews with leaders from JISC, Oxford University and LSE as well as students and academics who discuss what the library of the future will look like.

New jobs

Lecturer in Asian Studies

The Australian National University 26 July, 2009 | The Faculty of Asian Studies, College of Asia and the Pacific, wishes to appoint an outstanding scholar to lead in the coordination and teaching of its undergraduate and graduate foundational Asian Studies courses.

PhD Scholarship – MARCS Auditory Laboratories

University of Western Sydney 26 July, 2009 | MARCS Auditory Laboratories is undertaking a wide range of projects as part of a prestigious $3.4M ARC/NHMRC “Thinking Systems” grant to develop a ‘thinking head’. This is a breakthrough system that can learn from humans and will lead to advances in everything from hearing aids to mobile phones and video games. UWS is leading a consortium of Australian universities to develop the groundbreaking project including RMIT, Macquarie, Flinders and University of Canberra, with international input from the Technical University of Denmark,

Postgraduate scholarship in Chinese film and media studies

University of Sydney, School of Media and Communications 26 July, 2009 |

An ARC funded scholarship is available for a full-time Masters candidate who is undertaking research in a topic pertaining to Chinese Film and Media Studies (with a special focus on posters of the Cultural Revolution and /or film representations of contemporary Chinese history/memory)

Analyst, Credit team, Stakeholder Group

Australian Securities and Investments Commission 24 July, 2009 | The Credit team is building from the ground up.

Manager, Government Relations

NRMA Insurance 23 July, 2009 | A new position is now available for a strategic, Corporate Affairs professional to influence government policy in areas that impact on the business profitability, sustainability and reputation of NRMA Insurance.

New submissions

Collaborative and challenge-led innovation

01 March, 2010 |

New events

five: fashion musing & Innovation: Management, Policy and Practice launch

LOCATION:	The Glasshouse QUT, Creative Industries Precinct, Z2, Level 4, Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove
ORGANISED BY:	CCI – ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation

20 August, 2009 | Please join us for the joint launch of two new titles. five: fashion musing and Innovation: Management, Policy and Practice a special edition on Innovation in the Creative Industries.

Official Launch of the Indigenous Policy and Dialogue Research Unit and ‘So, what?’ Lecture with Professor Patrick Dodson

LOCATION:

20 August, 2009 | You are warmly invited to the Official Launch of The Indigenous Policy and Dialogue Research Unit in conjunction with the So, what? public lecture with Professor Patrick Dodson

Green Building and Design Conference 2009 – Green Materials

LOCATION:	Melbourne Convention Centre
ORGANISED BY:	Centre for Design, RMIT University

09 September, 2009 | Attendance in-person or online

Learning Technologies Conference

LOCATION:

Mooloolaba Campus of Sunshine Coast TAFE, 34 Lady Musgrave Drive, Mountain Creek Qld

19 November, 2009 | The objective of the two day 2009 Learning Technologies conference is to challenge and extend your thinking about the ways educators can use learning technologies to challenge, inspire, motivate, and encourage learners.

New books

After the crunch

30 July, 2009 | In this 100-page book, 42 artists, entrepreneurs, commentators, analysts, policy-makers, policy-sceptics, academics, financiers – and citizens – set out their hopes and fears for the future.

Beethoven or Britney : The great divide in music education

25 July, 2009 | Most children have little or no access to quality music teaching. And nothing is being done about it.

Innovation policy in the creative industries

30 July, 2009 | This special issue of Innovation: Management, Practice and Policy will explore some empirical and analytic connections between creative industries and innovation policy. Seven papers are presented. The first four are empirical, providing analysis of large and/or detailed data sets on creative industries businesses and occupations to discern their contribution to innovation. The next three papers focus on comparative and historical policy analysis, connecting creative industries policy (broadly considered, including media, arts and cultural policy) and innovation policy.

five: fashion musing

30 July, 2009 | Visually beautiful, the book explores fashion theory, practice and pedagogy through five key themes – mind, heart,hand, eyes and body.

New guide

Children and privacy complaints – a guide for parents and guardians

26 July, 2009 | This Privacy Victoria information sheet outlines the privacy rights of children under Victorian law.

New websites

Open video conference

27 July, 2009 | As internet video matures, we face a crossroads: will technology and public policy support a more participatory culture or will online video become a glorified TV-on-demand service?

SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to APO emails at http://apo.org.au/user/register | To unsubscribe: http://apo.org.au/subscriptions/unsubscribe | Please feel free to share this email and any of its contents with anyone who might be interested.

Great info for Western Australia on Social Services – WACOSS Update – 24th July

social policy | organisation development | membership | training

Please distribute through your networks WACOSS Update Friday 24th July 2009 News items listed in this bulletin include… WACOSS Membership Survey – Last Chance to WIN! WACOSS Social Service Organisation or Individual Member: Important Reminder! Power Assist Scheme – 2009/10 Launch of the Emergency Relief Agencies Directory 2009 Western Australian Council on Homelessness call for Nominations $135million Plan to Combat Homelessness Announced Today The National Dental Foundation Dental Rescue Day Free Job ads for WACOSS Members at EthicalJobs.com.au Risk Management: The ABC of IAC, Wednesday 29th July OSH for Community Organisations, Wednesday 12th August Time and Stress Management in the Workplace, Tuesday 18th August WACOSS Membership Survey – Last Chance to WIN! WACOSS Membership Survey You have only one day remaining for your opportunity to win $500 worth of WACOSS Training, or $500 cash! Complete the WACOSS Membership survey before close of business Friday 24th July to be in the draw! top WACOSS Social Service Organisation or Individual Member: Important Reminder! In order to secure your right to vote on important WACOSS decisions which can significantly IMPACT the community services sector…. Please ensure your Membership is renewed before 1 August! The changes to WACOSS Membership for the 2009/10 financial year can be viewed here: WACOSS Membership Fees As you will have noted Associate Members will have a completely separate fee schedule from 2009-10 onwards. For further information on fees for 2009-10 please check: the WACOSS Website REMEMBER! If your Membership is not renewed before August 1st you will not be eligible to vote in 2009/10! top Power Assist Scheme – 2009/10 WACOSS is pleased to announce Synergy’s annual contribution of $75,000 towards the Power Assist Scheme and Horizon’s $27,500 annual contribution. Horizon’s contribution is particularly pleasing as it is a 10% increase on last year’s funding. Horizon has also committed to a further two year’s funding with a 10% increase each year. As a result of these contributions the Power Assist Scheme will continue to operate during 2009/10 under the present guidelines and procedures. The funding contributions from both Utilities is in addition to the Hardship Utilities Grant Scheme and Hardship Efficiency Program presently operating throughout the WA. To find out more and download forms and guidelines please click on the link below: Utility Assistance Schemes top Launch of the Emergency Relief Agencies Directory 2009 Emergency Relief Agencies Directory 2009 The long awaited Emergency Relief Directory 09 is now out. An official launch will be held at the regular ER Forum to be held on the 5th August. We invite you to come along to the official launch. Date: Wednesday 5th August Time: 10.30 am Location: Lotteries House, 2 Delhi Street in West Perth Lotterywest has provided funding for the production of the Directory and Jan Stewart, the CEO of Lotteywest, will be presenting a cheque to WACOSS as part of the official launch. Please RSVP to bernie@wacoss.org.au or phone 9420 7222 by 31st July. The purpose of this Directory is to assist emergency relief agencies, community service organisations, Government departments, hospitals, businesses and members of the community in making appropriate and timely referrals when coming into contact with those needing material or financial assistance. All Emergency Relief organisations are listed by name in alphabetical order, along with their contact details, mailing and business addresses, operating hours and services provided. Agencies are also indexed by town/suburb. Every agency listed in the Directory has been sent a free copy. Further copies are available from WACOSS at $5.00 for community service organizations and $10.00 for Government Departments. To order copies of the ER Directory please: A) Call WACOSS on 9420 9222 OR B) Download the order form HERE and fax it to WACOSS on 9486 7966. top Western Australian Council on Homelessness call for Nominations A new Western Australian Council on Homelessness is currently being established to provide the Minister for Child Protection, the Hon Robin McSweeney MLC, with information and advice on homelessness related areas. Nominations for community representatives are currently being sought from across the homelessness sector, including; CEO’s/Senior Executives of homelessness service providers; and CEO’s/Senior Executives of non government community service agencies, especially housing, mental health, drug and alcohol, corrections and employment, that interact with homelessness service providers. The below documents provide more detailed information and the nomination form: Information Sheet Call for Nominations Nomination Form top $135million Plan to Combat Homelessness Announced Today The Federal and Western Australian governments today announced a four-year, $135.1million plan to help combat and prevent homelessness in Western Australia. To read the Media Statement please click HERE. The Fact Sheet can be read HERE top The National Dental Foundation Dental Rescue Day The National Dental Foundation Dental Rescue Day is scheduled for Saturday August 15th and will be held at a clinic in Cottesloe. This is free, one-off dental treatment. Appointments must be made prior to 1st August. Click on the link below for the types of treatments that are possible and not possible on this day: Prioritising Clients for National Dental Foundation Treatment To make an appointment email admin@ndfwa.org.au top Free Job ads for WACOSS Members at EthicalJobs.com.au EthicalJobs.com.au is a new website which promotes “work for a better world” – we connect people looking for an ethical job or career with employers who see their organisations as contributing to a more equitable, more just or more sustainable world. If you’re looking for a great you job, please visit us at www.EthicalJobs.com.au and subscribe to our free weekly e-newsletter, access a how-to guide for finding an ethical job, and check out our Ethical Jobs Blog. We’re also really keen to work with community organisations around Australia to help them find employees who are truly committed to their values and organisations. So as a special offer to WACOSS member organisations, we’re offering to post any and all of your job ads free until August 1st! Please call us on (03) 9419 7322 or email us at info@ethicaljobs.com.au if you’d like to to post some job ads for you. top Risk Management: The ABC of IAC, Wednesday 29th July Control risks within community sector organisations TRAINER: Dee Roche Identify, assess and develop strategies to control risks within community sector organisations. Identifying, assessing and managing risk within day-to-day and strategic operations is the responsibility of all levels of staff, management and Board membership. This workshop will examine the linkage between governance, risk management and control. Participants of this workshop will come away with the skills and knowledge to improve structures, procedures, systems and feedback within their own organisations. What previous participants have said… “Want to bottle this course and take it back to the board. Very practical.” Anonymous participant. Further Information For the full details and to register CLICK HERE or visit the new WACOSS Organisation Development Services website at www.wacosstraining.org.au. top OSH for Community Organisations, Wednesday 12th August Do you wish that you had a system for identifying health and safety risks before they turned into accidents? Do you believe that it is essential for your staff, managers, and board members to know what the law expects of them, and the potential fines, if they do not keep the workplace free from physical and psychological harm? If you answered Yes! to either of these questions, then this training will benefit your organisation. WHAT DOES IT COVER? >A presentation by Worksafe on the Occupational Safety and Health legislation applying WA. This workshop is not an accredited training course for elected Occupational Health and Safety Officers as defined by the Act. But if you are wondering what all this means then you should attend! > Responsibilities of Employees/Employers under the OSH act; > Including what is required when electing an occupational health and safety representative > What are your responsibilities to volunteers > Defining areas of risk for community based not for profit groups > What is the workplace? > Who does the Act apply to? > Starting the Risk Management system > OSH committees- Who to consult and who to consult with > Implementing a culture of safety in your workplace Further Information For the full details and to register CLICK HERE or visit the new WACOSS Organisation Development Services website at www.wacosstraining.org.au. top Time and Stress Management in the Workplace, Tuesday 18th August YOUR TIME WONT BE WASTED IF YOU ATTEND THIS WORKSHOP FULL OF PRACTICAL TIPS AND TOOLS Learn how to IMPROVE your work performance and REDUCE stress to achieve your work-life BALANCE. - Most of us spend 3 hours each day dealing with interruptions - 3 hours each week looking for things on our desk and - 11 hours a week in meetings - while managing 600% more information than we managed 20 years ago. Time Management training is ideal for anyone who has countless tasks demanding their attention and who needs to juggle conflicting priorities. In this Workshop you will learn to improve planning, set goals and feel more in control of your work load. What previous participants have said… “The Time Management seminar has been very valuable and has motivated me to make changes which will benefit myself, my clients and my organisation.“ Further Information For the full details and to register CLICK HERE or visit the new WACOSS Organisation Development Services website at www.wacosstraining.org.au. top

Police taser sets Aboriginal man on fire – ABC News Article link.

See today’s story and Op-ed below

A 36-year-old man has burst into flames after being shot by a police Taser in Western Australia.

Police say they were trying to arrest the Aboriginal man for petrol sniffing at the Goldfields Aboriginal community of Warburton yesterday when he turned violent.

To view on a PC/Mac please use this link

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/21/2631566.htm

To view on a mobile please use this link

http://m.abc.net.au/browse?page=11144&articleid=2631566&cat=Justin
from @perthtones’ iPhone

Image via Wikipedia

Op-ed – tony serve

• Police and Justice authorities in remote parts of Western Australia have a tough job dealing with violence and substance abuse in Aboriginal and mixed communities – no doubt about it.

• The tragedy is that Aboriginal people too often die because authorities like police and  justice staff are clearly not trained and equipped to deal with the issues in a humane and effective way.

• In the case above, which follows the “cooking” death of an elder in a prison van during a desert journey, it’s clear that the officer involved couldn’t put 2 and 2 together. That is;  petrol + spark = fire.

• Systemic racism has a long history here, and that plays a part, but it really is about the comfortable white folk in Perth not being moved to provide even BASIC health resources to deal with substance abuse and violence.

• Authorities can’t even provide proper health care to all here in the city – so imagine, just imagine, what it’s like in the remote desert communities where quick fix politicians visit in the wake of endless tragedies, and leave with empty promises still drying on their lips.

• A half-baked call for input on the next ten years of mental health policy is a start, but efforts to reach out and listen to traumatised Aboriginal communities are notably absent.

• If I were a Yamatji man instead of a white boy born on their land, I would have been dead 16 years ago – life expectancy for Aboriginal males is 37!

• Meanwhile 68% of juvenile prisoners in our jails are Aboriginal yet they make up less than 10% of the population.

• Let me draw a long bow now as the Uranium industry meets tomorrow in Fremantle to plan new mines and even nuclear power stations on land owned by Aborigines.

• Is the lack of political will to deliver even the most basic health services linked to the powerful mining lobby’s ongoing efforts to override the wishes and needs of traditional land owners in their quest for profit.

• See here for the most recent example of miners running roughshod over taditional landowners

• There’s no point in blaming the coppers, the miners or the state and federal Governments – it’s about our cosy apathy and on the “turning away.”

Shame on us all.  :/

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• Facing a Crisis, Aborigines Stage Interventions of Their Own (nytimes.com)

Uranium Industry meets to plan new mines AND nuclear power, whether you want it in Western Australia or not! join the *ACTION* Wednesday 22 July, 8am, Freo

speaking on July 4

Defend Fremantle‘s Nuclear Free Zone

Wednesday 22 July 8.00am – 9.30am
Esplanade Hotel, Fremantle

Fremantle’s nuclear free zone is being undermined once again by a global uranium forum being held at the Esplanade Hotel.

Join us for muffins and music as we defend Fremantle’s stance against the nuclear industry.

We want to give a powerful message that the forum and the uranium mining industry is not welcome anywhere in Western Australia.

For more information contact Kerrie-Ann Garlick Fremantle Anti Nuclear Group 0402 180 737

Iconic Activist, former Senator Jo Vallentine

July 4 appeal to the US

More nuclear accidents, dangerous leaks, waste risk and mismanagement won’t stop the RUDD Government’s approval of a huge new Uranium mine

‘Environment Minister Peter Garrett has formally approved the new Four Mile uranium mine in South Australia, saying it poses no environmental risks’.

Peter Garrett via last.fm

The premier of South Australian, Mike Rann, welcomed the decision saying operations at the state’s nearby Beverley mine ‘show that uranium c

an be mined without damaging the surrounding environment’.

Which means neither man can have read the South Australian governments own figures into spills at the Beverley mine. Here are just a few [http://www.wise-uranium.org/umopaus.html]…

Apr. 22, 2006: spill of 14,400 litres of solution containing approx. 0.5% uranium

Oct. 31, 2005: spill of 23,700 litres of mining solution, containing approx. 0.06% uranium
Aug. 8, 2005: spill of 13,500 litres of extraction fluid containing approx. 0.01% uranium

Mar. 7, 2005: spill of 50,000 – 60,000 litres of injection fluid

Dec. 8, 2004: spill of approx. 2,300 litres of mining solution, containing 0.028% uranium

June 13, 2002: spill of 1,750 litres of brine solution

June 7, 2002: spill of 1,500 litres of injection fluid in the well field

May 5, 2002: spill of 14,900 litres of water containing 0.0018% uranium

May 1, 2002: spill of almost 7,000 litres of brine solution containing some uranium

January 11, 2002: spill of 60,000 liters of groundwater containing acid and uranium, after pipe rupture

Fancy the premier of South Australia being so ignorant of such worrying safety violations going on in his own state. Scandalous.

In fact, that’s the word to sum up the whole Four Mile story: scandalous. Peter Garrett is a former campaigning rock star who fought doggedly against nuclear power before entering politics (‘Why would Australians support an industry that produces radioactive waste, toxic waste?’ he said just three years ago), And with the local Aboriginal communitie

s being (yet again) left out of the negotiations and decision-making over Four Mile, this all has a horribly familiar ring to it.

from Greenpeace…Full Story here – please share

http://weblog.greenpeace.org/nuclear-reaction/2009/07/the_history_of_uranium_mining.html

Meanwhile back in Germany the Uranium lobby is on the rise despite the following revelations of safety and management fiascos
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/277622,damaged-rod-found-at-crippled-german-nuclear-site.html

excerpt;
Berlin- A damaged fuel rod sought since last week has been located inside one of Germany’s 12 nuclear power stations, regulators said Wednesday.

The jinxed plant at Kruemmel near Hamburg was shut down for two years by a transformer fire.

It was crippled again July 4 by a short circuit and was then reported to have a problem in one or more of its 80,000 fuel rods. Engineers took the lid off the reactor to find the damaged uranium rod.

The problems at Kruemmel have led to calls to retire the station and re-ignited debate in Germany about nuclear power as an election approaches. Anti-nuclear activists are also highlighting mismanagement of nuclear waste dumps in old salt mines.

Skype: perthtones Google Talk: serve.tony@gmail.com
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tony serve blogs Tsunami warning issued for SE Australia & ABC News Article link.

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Uranium and Nuclear Industry swings big club, claims opposition are “cavemen” leaves major questions UNANSWERED

How are we to believe that people who make huge amounts of money digging up and selling uranium are “experts?”

The article below seems to take the claim at face value and totally ignores ALL of the unanswered questions.

It’s time for nuclear power: “experts”

Cathy Alexander  July 15, 2009 – 4:49PM

Australia should drop the “caveman” approach to electricity and build some nuclear power stations, experts say.

The uranium industry is booming, with the federal government approving a new mine for South Australia on Tuesday. Full article here  http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/its-time-for-nuclear-power-experts-20090715-dlac.html

Meanwhile, real experts who have no VESTED interests are not mentioned! See the lionk below for some counterbalance.

See here for stories on Uranium Mining and Nuclear Power plants from Greens (WA) Senator Scott Ludlum, former Senator Jo Vallentine and video/audio from other sources such as Greenpeace

Click here for information from BUMP, ( Ban Uranium Mining Permanently )

Skype: perthtones Google Talk: serve.tony@gmail.com
Links to my TwitterWordPressFriendfeedYoutubeDigg
tony serve blogs Uranium mine given not-so-green light by fallen activist Peter Garrett, Greens say his Beverley decision is ‘delusional’

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At last some good news on suicide – Mental Health programs save lives.

There is new hope for people in poor mental health as Australia’s suicide rate falls by almost half in ten years. see abc.net.au/lateline story below.

The good news is tempered by serious problems in dispensing opiates recently revealed in W.A. and the lingering, deadly stigma of being mentally unwell.

But isn’t it great and encouraging that the death toll is finally falling.

And please check this link for a preview of some amazing stories and useful first hand advice from those who are unwell and hear the voices of their children. http://mentalmedia.wordpress.com/

the very welcome abc item follows…

Reaching out for help as Australian suicides fall

By John Stewart for Lateline

Posted 3 hours 28 minutes ago
Updated 3 hours 15 minutes ago

Despair: But Australian youth suicide rates have tumbled in the past decade (ABC News: Giulio Saggin, file photo)

//

• Related Link: Reach Out website

During the past decade the suicide rate among young Australians has almost halved.

It is an extraordinary public health achievement, but one which has received little publicity.

Experts say a massive public education campaign and improvement in the treatment of depression are the key reasons for the success.

But with bad economic times upon us, psychologists are warning the suicide rate may begin to rise.

Doug Millen, a 20-year-old university student based in Melbourne, is studying hard and his life is back on track.

But during his final years at high school he suffered from depression and did not know who to turn to.

“I did what young people do and I jumped on the internet and Google for some kind of help,” he said.

He found a website called Reach Out, which had been set up to prevent youth suicide and help young people suffering from depression.

“When I was feeling like I wouldn’t achieve in year 12 and trying to figure out my sexuality, Reach Out was great because it was there when I needed it,” he said.

“It’s completely anonymous and I didn’t have to talk to anyone.”

The online advantage

The Reach Out website now gets 130,000 visits per month from young people.

The website’s managers say being online is a big advantage.

“For a young person who suspects things are not OK, they might not know who to turn to or be afraid to talk to someone about it because they are afraid they will be judged,” project manager Anna McKenzie said.

“So to be able to simply go online, Google something and have a look without anyone needing to know, that’s really invaluable and that’s what a lot of young people are doing at Reachout.”

The Reach Out website was set up 10 years ago when Australia had one of the highest rates of youth suicide in the western world.

But that rate has seen a massive decline in the decade since 1997.

Professor Ian Hickie from Sydney University says suicide rates have fallen internationally, but Australia has benefited from one of the best public health campaigns in recent times.

“In general, a period of strong economic growth and a period of increased awareness around mental health problems and a need to focus on suicide reduction has contributed in most developed countries throughout that time,” he said.

“Additionally in Australia there have been extra efforts in the medical world to treat depression, identify problems and respond appropriately, but also, in Australia, a tremendous community response.”

The Howard government‘s tightening of gun laws after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre also contributed to the decline in suicides, especially among young men.

“After the new gun laws were introduced, the rate of gun suicide dropped twice as fast,” Sydney University’s associate professor Philip Alpers said.

“If you reduce the availability of firearms, especially to impulsive young men, then the number of people dying by gunshot reduces.”

But suicide rates in many Aboriginal communities are still high and despite the overall drop in the suicide rate, reports of depression and anxiety are on the rise.

More than 12 million prescriptions for anti-depressants are filled in Australia each year.

“We’ve just had a national survey of mental health in Australia, rates of illness are as high as they ever were,” Professor Hickie said.

“The good thing is that rates of suicide have gone down so we haven’t yet dealt with the underlying problem, but we have got better at dealing with one of the worst outcomes.

“The greater availability of anti-depressants is also believed to have played a role in lowering the suicide rate, but prescribing the drugs to young people is controversial.”

Experts are concerned that if more jobs are lost, the suicide rate may begin to rise.

It is a trend that has already started overseas and workers at Reachout fear that stressful times may be ahead, especially for young Australians trying to find their first job.

For more information, head to the Reach Out website.

Tags: community-and-society, suicide, youth-issues, australia

Western Australia’s planned Uranium mines under scrutiny

Rockingham media pick up on the debate that Colin Barnettt doesn’t want.

So many questions on Uranium Colin Barnett has to answer

Thanks to Mark Winter  (frostyfae.wordpress.com ) for the heads-up nd his ongoing activism. Also see nouranium.wordpress.com for more info,  YouTube video and ways to have your say about the mine that will start at Wiluna next year

Please visit WA’s peak anti-uranium group  http://www.anawa.org.au/ and get involved

ANALYSIS-In big green push, Australia thinks too small on solar | Reuters

SOLEL make 300MW solar thermal plants for base load, AUSRA is close behind  -why aren’t they being used?                                    Image -  jdlasica via Flickr

* New laws promise boost for solar investment

* Complex rules limit size of installations

* Little incentive for commercial solar projects

By Leonora Walet and Bruce Hextall

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US Beats Australia To The Punch Again! Climate change, clean energy, carbon issues.

Sen. Milne Wikipedia

From; Mark Winter Speaks out

US Beats Australia To The Punch Again!.

America last week publicly announced their draft of the “American Clean Energy and Security Bill”

In response, Greens Senator Christine Milne said

“The world is moving on and leaving Australia behind. It is time the Rudd Government opened itself to the prospect of real domestic and global action to prevent climate catastrophe.”

The Draft Bill is a great leap ahead in comparison to the much debated deeply flawed schemes which the Rudd-Wong collaboration has “laboured” to produce. more from Mark by clicking the blue links above

West Australian Govt lies about cutting scrutiny of Uranium & other projects – Greens WA’s MLC elect Robin Chapple speaks out – we all need to speak out or suffer the consequences

Robin Chapple Greens MLC elect speaks on uranium & other projects by stealth

Click the above link for short interview. Phone numbers, SMS and email for talkback to follow.

Premier Colin Barnett hijacks mining approvals – now confirmed a

►

From Perth’s Sunday Times ( supporting documents to be posted soon.)

More leaked documents add to drama

Article from:
Narelle Towie, environment reporter

March 28, 2009 04:28pm

MORE leaked documents have cast doubt on statements made this week by the State Government about proposed changes to mining approvals.

Last weekend The Sunday Times reported that a government-appointed industry working group (IWG) – tasked with devising a plan to streamline and speed-up mining approvals – favoured moves to dilute the power and role of the Environment Minister among other far-reaching changes.
The next day the Minister for Mines and Petroleum Norman Moore stated that a leaked document referred to in the newspaper report was not produced by the IWG.

He said the document, marked confidential, was a submission to the IWG by industry associations.

He said it had not yet been properly considered by the IWG or the government.

The Sunday Times has ascertained that the document was the end product of a workshop involving key members of the WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) and the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA).

The workshop, which also included at least one IWG member, took place in January and the document has been the focus of much attention by the IWG.

Moreover, further leaked documents show recommendations in the confidential report have been adopted by the IWG – in some parts, word-for-word – and are at odds with the Minister’s statement.

- See both group’s recommendations
- See more recommendations
- See the lead agency model submitted to the industry working group

Up until yesterday Mr Moore and his media advisor were insisting there was “no draft report or draft recommendations.”

The Sunday Times has obtained a copy of the IWG’s “working draft report” dated March 6, which includes an executive summary and eight key recommendations.

The incomplete report proposes similar sweeping changes to how mining applications are processed, though no specific mention is made about the role of the Environment Minister.

Parts of the document’s recommendations appear to be copied almost verbatim from the workshop report the Minister insisted on Friday had not yet been “properly considered or endorsed” by the IGW.

A spokesman for Mr Moore yesterday confirmed the existence of the draft – after a week of denials. He said the Minister was relying on advice from the IWG.

IWG chairman Peter Jones said there are working drafts within the group but the Minister doesn’t know anything about them.

Shadow Environment Minister Sally Talbot last night hit-out: “Last week Minister Moore denied that this report existed and now we have had it confirmed.

“We have a real fear that there is going to be a watering down of the authority for the Minister for the Environment,” she said.

Ms Talbot is calling on the government to come clean on what plans are being put together by the industry working group.

Mr Moore, who is due to receive the IWG’s recommendations in May, said there were several hurdles to be surmounted before any recommendations were implemented.

They would first be considered by him and a cabinet sub-committee before full Cabinet. And any legislative amendments would need the approval of parliament.

Mr Moore said he was aware IWG were considering transferring large parts of the Department of Environment and Conservation’s role to the independent Environment Protection Agency, which is currently an advisory body.

“I’m not sure that that is a good thing if you want the approvals process to move quickly,” Mr Moore said.

Mr Moore said he could not guarantee that the powers and the responsibilities of the Minister of Environment, when dealing with approvals processes, will not be diminished at all by the reforms being considered.

“It is not within my power to provide cast-iron guarantees about issues of this nature. The granting or relinquishing of Ministerial power is a matter for Cabinet and Parliament. That said, the aim of this exercise is not to diminish the level of scrutiny applying to the environmental conditions related to mining approvals,” he said.

MLC member for mining and pastoral region Robin Chapple said the IWG’s intentions were quite clear.

“The community at large must be very seriously concerned that the environmental controls and parameters that have been established over the years are going to done away with,” he said.

Robin Chapple Greens WA MLC elect warns on hijack of approvals

West Australian Mining Town says NO to URANIUM – go figure! Maybe it ISN’T safe!!!!!

Thanks to eco warrior Robin Chapple for the newstip.

Thanks to WIN television for covering it – this is a good yarn, and I’m not sure mainstream media will cover it or understand it’s significance

West Australian Mining Town says NO to URANIUM – go figure! Kudo

►

Please share this news as a wake up call that BigNuke is on the move, thrashing around like a dying dinosaur.

Ziggy Switkowski says you want Nuclear Power Plants – did he ask? thanks to ABC for covering it.

Aussies will accept nuclear power, conference told – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).

not even Barry Obama has a plan for nuclear waste,where's Ziggy's

Is he TELLING us we will accept nuclear power?

Who is he talking to?

He admits a new Nuke plant would take 15 years – by then the cost of clean renewables will be less than dirty atom splitting.

Notice how various professors and community ” leaders” are suddenly speaking up, almost spookily singing the same words.

It’s also scary that some of my colleagues in mainstream media leave some crazy claims unchallenged and out of context. Question everything!

IF WE DON’T RAISE OUR VOICES the only ones heard will be the heavily backed and resourced Uranium and Mining complex.

contact me for info on using talkback and new media to have YOUR voice heard ( even if you disagree with me – it’s a hippie thing )

West Aussie voters please see copy and use the letter in the right column to send a message to Colin Barnett, but cc ALL MP’s – their ears are full of slick-helled lobbyist noise and they need yours for balance

Meanwhile

This article may be from 2007 but it’s so relevant for us in WA right now

The Barnett Government plans to give miners the “green” light to dig up, process and transport uranium.

Politically there is clear evidence the mighty nuclear industry is taking advantage of the fear of global warming and the global recession.

See the Greenpeace UK story & video by clicking

uranium | Greenpeace UK.

See how a Greenpeace co-founder has been drafted in to push for nuke power here, is he right, if not who’s speaking up?

http://tinyurl.com/co7k38

20+ More videos here http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=648207BCB5C42D37

Uranium waste to be dumped in Western Australia? say it ain’t so!

IT APPEARS SO – see http://nouranium.wordpress.com/ for the gory details. and Speak out radio 6PR talkback 24/7 922 11 882 ( producer )

For excellent videos on yuranium and nuclear waste – visit http://www.youtube.com/user/SocialJusticePerth

YouTube post on Pangea’s plans to store nuclear waste in Australia

The safety dealbreaker for uranium mining has again been highlighted  with the news of new radioactive leaks in the world heritage listed Kakadu National Park.

Then there’s what to do with the long lasting toxic waste ( see post on US nuclear waste plans in disarray earlier in this blog )

This accidentally released video shows Pangea spending good money to promote storing nuclear waste in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

Please subscribe to this blog ( above right ) and keep in touch with the no-uranium movement ( google ANAWA and hang in for new website, blogs and activism ) that has been stung back into action by Colin Barnett’s mad plans to ship yellowcake on our roads and through our ports when we can’t even transport lead ore safely!

Uranium mine water leaking into Kakadu – ABC News

Uranium mine water leaking into Kakadu – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).

Please let Colin Barnett know his plans have sprung a leak – see post and video below