Category: Archive

Archived material from historical editions of The Generator

The War on Lebanon and the Battle for Oil

admin /4 August, 2006

Is there a relationship between the bombing of Lebanon and the inauguration of the World’s largest strategic pipeline, which will channel more than a million barrels of oil a day to Western markets?  

Virtually unnoticed, the inauguration of the Ceyhan-Tblisi-Baku (BTC) oil pipeline, which links the Caspian sea to the Eastern Mediterranean, took place on the 13th of July, at the very outset of the Israeli sponsored bombings of Lebanon.

One day before the Israeli air strikes, the main partners and shareholders of the BTC pipeline project, including several heads of State and oil company executives were in attendance at the port of Ceyhan. They were then rushed off for an inauguration reception in Istanbul, hosted  by Turkey’s President Ahmet Necdet Sezer in the plush surroundings of the Çýraðan Palace.

Also in attendance was British Petroleum’s (BP) CEO, Lord Browne together with senior government officials from Britain, the US and Israel. BP leads the BTC pipeline consortium. Other major Western shareholders include Chevron, Conoco-Phillips, France’s Total and Italy’s ENI. (see Annex) 

Israel’s Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Binyamin Ben-Eliezer was present at the venue together with a delegation of top Israeli oil officials.

The BTC pipeline totally bypasses the territory of the Russian Federation. It transits through the former Soviet republics of Azerbaijan and Georgia, both of which have become US "protectorates", firmly integrated into a military alliance with the US and NATO. Moreover, both Azerbaijan and Georgia have longstanding military cooperation agreements with Israel.

State of emergency as NY city’s temperature soars

admin /3 August, 2006

A heatwave that claimed more than 130 lives in California reached the US east coast on 2 August, settling over Washington and forcing New York City to declare a state of emergency for the first time, reported The Courier-Mail (3/8/2006, p.32).

Emergency agencies to take over: New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed an order for city agencies "to take whatever steps necessary to protect the wellbeing and safety of city residents in the face of excessive heat".

Electricity users asked to cut back: Temperatures were expected to climb to about 40C in New York this week, the US weather service said. The mayor’s office urged residents to curb their electricity use to avoid the power outages that paralysed a part of the borough of Queens last month.

Over-use becomes an offence: Bloomberg’s office said any individual who "knowingly" violated the request to conserve energy – for example by running their air-conditioner while no one was at home – could be charged with a misdemeanour.

383 cooling centres set up: The city said it was also setting up 383 cooling centres in seniors centres and community facilities across New York’s five boroughs, and ordering its public pools to stay open into the late evening. The temperature in Washington was expected to hover around 38C as authorities urged people with respiratory problems not to go outdoors.

The Courier Mail, 3/8/2006, p. 32

Source: Erisk Net  

Nuclear energy is politicians agenda

admin /2 August, 2006

Helen Caldicott writes in The Australian Opinion column that Howard and Beasley `seem fixated on the continued mining and burning of coal: a strategy which, at this juncture in the world’s history, is environmentally contraindicated.’

Caldicott states that `a recent invention in solar power by Professor Vivian Alberts at the University of Johannesburg, which uses a micro-thin metallic film, has made solar electricity five times less expensive than solar photovoltaic cells. For the first time, solar electricity is economically feasible and cheaper than coal.’

The question is, how could Howard and Beasley not know that nuclear energy risks public health and leaves a legacy of radioactive waste for generations to come. If they know this, why do they choose to ignore the grave consequences of going nuclear.

And economically, there is money to be made by Australia as an entrepreneur in sustainable energy. Caldicott gives examples of such opportunities other countries are embracing.

Caldicott goes on to explain why: uranium and coal mining interests are actively working against new renewable energy industries and have the support of both Howard and Beasley.

Helen Caldicott is a pediatrician and president of the Nuclear Policy Research Institute. She is the author of Nuclear Power is Not the Answer to Global Warming or Anything Else.

Source: The Australian  

Nuclear power: the most expensive way to boil water

admin /2 August, 2006

Take, for example, a small business. It can buy a solar hot water system and recoup its investment in less than a year; hot water then flows free (with six to 12 years warranty), according to The Land (27/7/2006, p.14).

Solar cells diminish electricity use: Australian-made photovoltaic cells have proved themselves in the field. NSW public schools using grid connect panels (that feed power back into the system) have seen bills for monthly electricity use fall to zero.

The problem with nuclear power: Compare this with nuclear power, the most expensive way ever devised to boil water (the steam turns electricity turbines). Vast amounts of ammonia, sulphuric acid, kerosene and lime are used in mining and milling. Uranium is finite (reserves may be exhausted in decades) and, as supply falls, the price of electricity will rise.

Nuclear power brings no savings and only increasing costs: Greenhouse emissions from processing lower grade ores will also skyrocket, as will transport costs. Multi-billion dollar nuclear power plants have a life span of 25 years and are yet to deliver a single consumer saving.

The Land, 27/7/2006, p. 14

Source: Erisk Net  

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