Beware of "missing words" when perusing political party’s policies and
deciding where you will be casting your PRECIOUS 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th
votes....
If, like me, you wish to see an end to the nuclear industry
(firstly) on moral grounds, followed closely by environmental grounds,
and clearly not needed on financial grounds, then expanding the mining
of Uranium in Australia is NOT wanted, needed or necessary.
Of course if you are a Rio Tinto shareholder, you may think otherwise.
Recently, whilst participating in the Cycle against the nuclear
cycle, I visited the Gladstone Office of our local standing MP, Paul
Neville (National/Liberal Coalition) and spoke with his Secretary. She
couldn't tell me if their party would be considering a nuclear power
plant in this electorate or not. Her advice to me and my friend was
that this issue needed further investigation. "Informed" decisions
would not be forthcoming until after the election.
To me, that says... "when our party is voted back into power we will
do whatever we want, it's not your business now. You are not a
scientist!"
or... "don't you worry about that".
I am a registered voter. Where I put my mark IS my business. Where
my taxes are spent IS my business. I need answers before these two
parties are given further opportunities at destroying MY future.
The Labor Party won't commit to nuclear power stations (yet), they
will however commit to an expansion of Uranium mining to supply the
growing nuclear industry - and they already have.
The Greens, Socialist Alliance and Australian Democrats are clear
where they stand. They stand in favour of sustainable development,
social justice and equality. Clearly, nuclear does not fit the bill.
These parties have made it clear in their policies that they will not
support an expansion of the nuclear industry or nuclear energy - (as an
"alternative" energy).
The new party "Climate Change Coalition" (CCC) stands in favour of
sustainable housing developments, improved transportation systems and
better education (as do the three parties listed above).
The CCC are in favour of many good things which will mitigate the
worst effects of climate change in the long term but so are the Greens,
the Socialist Alliance and the Australian Democrats.
However, the CCC intend to leave ALL OTHER polices to the
"conscience vote" of any candidate who is elected. This tends to really
worry me. How will their ideas and policies be implemented? Where is
their financial plan for our taxes? What say the CCC on our health care
taxes? Where do they stand on Industrial Relations and Workplace
Agreements?
What also worries me is that they leave the door open for the nuclear industry when they state:
..."Does nuclear power have a role to play in a climate change
reduction strategy? James Lovelock, the founder of Gaia Hypothesis,
thinks that it can be a useful element in a greenhouse reduction
strategy for some countries. Others, such as Australian scientist and
climate change campaigner, Emeritus Professor Ian Lowe sees nuclear
power as a cure as bad as the disease.
This debate is unavoidable and essential. The CCC encourages our best
and brightest minds to state their cases - realising that any debate on
Nuclear Power immediately involves alternative power."
In other words... when it comes to the nuclear industry and nuclear
power... they sit on the fence. Let others worry about that in an
informed and "open" debate? History clearly shows the "openness" of the
nuclear industry and the honesty of their "debate".
There is no need for further debate. Expanding the nuclear industry IS avoidable and NOT essential.
The nuclear industry is not safe, and it never was, and it never will be.
In any doubt? please visit:
Startling fact and figures:
http://www.43things.com/entries/view/1888283
Or "Maralinga - Learn from our experience" by my (then) 15yo daughter, Natalie:
http://www.43things.com/entries/view/1881061
and explore the highly educational links in the Appendix
or Nuclear Industry - human effects - facts you should know http://www.43things.com/entries/view/1875511
Finally, today's latest:
Nuclear Power and water scarcity: By Dr Jim Green
http://globalclimatechangeaction.org/node/122
(fliers available shortly)
It appears that the CCC's nuclear policies are hand in hand with
those of our currently elected leaders... they "may" support nuclear
industry power generation and an expansion of this industry and the
associated waste.
Their "vote catching policies" are attached in a PDF document.
Unless the CCC can inform me clearly that they will not support
nuclear power or an expansion of the nuclear industry in Australia, I
will be putting my vote for the CCC below the ALP, to be sure that
their preference flow does not re-elect a National/Liberal Coalition.
I hope other voters are aware of the insidious nature of the nuclear
industry and all of their "dirty tricks" to retain their control over
our precious taxes.
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