Archived material from historical editions of The Generator
According to president of the Nuclear Policy Research Institute, Helen Caldicott, each typical 1000-megawatt reactor makes 200 kilograms of plutonium a year, reported The Age (17 April 2006, p.11). A little goes a long way – the wrong way: Less than one-millionth of a gram is carcinogenic. Handled like iron by the body, it causes Continue Reading →
Gorbachev, Russian president at time of Chernobyl disaster, urges G8 to forget oil and nuclear power as viable future energy sources
Former Soviet President, Mikhail Gorbachev, urged the world’s biggest industrialised nations – the Group of Eight (G8) – to set up a $50 billion fund to support solar power, warning that oil or nuclear energy were not viable energy sources for the future, reported Agence France-Presse.
Petrol prices are soaring but one Australian scientist believes the cost of filling a fuel tank could be cut to peanuts. Or soyabeans. Both, says Peter Gresshoff, are rich in oil that can be harvested to produce an efficient biodiesel. … SMH article
New water saving targets for Victoria as Acting Premier warns of 250 billion litre water shortfall by 2055 if no action taken
Victoria’s acting Premier and Water Minister, John Thwaites, announced a series of water saving targets for the state on 20 April as part of a plan to counter dwindling water supplies caused by climate change and increasing population, reported The Canberra Times (21/4/2006, p.11).
Howard Govt blocks another wind farm project, this time in WA, but denies it is hostile to the industry
The WA Government will fight a Howard Government decision to oppose a second wind farm, labelling Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell’s latest ruling "a joke", reported The Australian (26 April 2006, p.2).
Gradual move away from oil to bio-fuels beginning, says FAO as price exceeds $70 a barrel
High oil prices and growing environmental constraints were causing gathering momentum for a major international switch from fossil fuels to renewable bio-energy, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).