Yes indeed Perdsus

A minor correction to your post though - "fringed" should read "unfringed!"

This month, Germany has been engulfed in a discussion over how to best handle nuclear waste, after it surfaced that several leaks threaten security at a dumping site in Lower Saxony state.

"German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel did not beat around the bush. The dumping site in the Asse mountain range in northern Germany is "the most problematic nuclear facility in all of Europe," he said last week, after a report drawn up by Lower Saxony's Environment Ministry highlighted the rapidly deteriorating security at a site that holds some 125,000 rusty barrels of nuclear waste.

"According to the report, the site's operator, the Helmholtz Center, a Munich-based research organization, for years has dumped radioactive waste into the site, neglecting its deteriorating security. Over the past decades, some 3,170 gallons of salty base have been flushing into the site each day, and barrels with waste have leaked, adding to the problem.

"Engineers predict that Asse, a former salt mine, will endure no more than seven years before it could collapse. Asse already has "as many holes as Swiss cheese," Gabriel told the German mass-selling daily newspaper Bild.

"In Germany, where opposition to nuclear energy is strong, the blame game is now in full swing. Gabriel has blamed the Helmholtz Center and Lower Saxony's state mining office for not adhering "to the required regulations for radioactive protection."

"The violations surrounding Asse are so outrageous that state prosecutors in the city of Braunschweig have decided to launch a criminal investigation into the matter."

So let's not dwell on the "unfringed" misfits of the '40s Plerdsus.

Enter the 21st century Plerdsus, where the scientifically "enlightened" developed countries' nuclear programmes are being controlled by "unfringed" lunatic politicians and their sidekicks, who continue to "make demands that cannot be satisfied!"

And we have not yet touched on the G8 countries' commitment of millions of dollars to clean up (smile) Russia's nuclear trash whilst poor old Australia fiddles away and can't even get one reactor to work!

"Scare campaign" Pete?

Huh?

What a yawn! There are many far more dangerous toxins and harmful substances on the planet - asbestos, arsenic, cyanide, strychnine - none of which decay over time, yet we have no trouble finding safe and secure waste disposal processes and localities for these materials. Why? Because politicians like Ludlam prefer to win a few votes from people who respond to scare stories rather than accept that nuclear energy is just another tool that should be used wisely and safely like any other tool available to humanity.

Bernie Masters

Why have you chosen to ignore the evidence in the previous post and continue dumbing down the hard facts?:

"There are many far more dangerous toxins and harmful substances on the planet - asbestos, arsenic, cyanide, strychnine - none of which decay over time, yet we have no trouble finding safe and secure waste disposal processes and localities for these materials."

Safe and secure waste disposal processes Bernie Masters?

There remains an ignominious documented history of irresponsibility in the handling of those chemicals.

I remind you of the cyanide spill in Romania in 2000 which contaminated four rivers where the toxic effects were found in Hungary, Serbia Bulgaria etc. 100,000 cubic metres containing 100 tonnes of cyanide and Hungarian officials claimed that all animal life in the Hungarian section of the River Szamos were wiped out. Strange you haven't mentioned that since Esmeralda, the mine owners were West Australian.

One truck transporting 120 tonnes of cyanide lost its load last year in the NT - the second spill in five years.

There has also been some 30 cyanide spills in the last five years, causing havoc in water systems across the world.

I recall a huge arsenic spill in a bay in Cuba where officials stated it would take ten years of natural cleansing before the bay was safe.

Wesfarmers in WA were also prosecuted for dumping 1032 kilograms of arsenic into Cockburn Sound.

So you believe the "safe and secure" practice of river dumping is a mere "bagatel" Bernie Masters? You would be well aware that Perth's major rivers are now constantly on life support and marine life has depleted at a rapid rate.

Asbestos? Need I say more on the disgraceful history in Australia and the subsequent deaths of workers, used as cannon fodder?

The history of Australia's handling of radioactive waste is recorded under "spills, leaks and breaches" but you would also be aware of that and no doubt on the Maralinga "clean-up."

I deal in documented facts Bernie Masters and facts are what the Australian people seek - not obfuscations from the industry's masters-of-spin.

Excellent post Dickie.

Which really underscores the need for cleaning up our act in every facet of industry - in fact the focus on nuclear waste while of grave importance, has taken the aim off other polluting practices.

Smoke and mirrors, yes?

Dear dickie and Fractelle,
You give the impression that, with 6 billion people on the planet, we should be somehow living in a state of absolute perfection, never making a mistake. It may be time for you to wake up and realise that we all live in a world full of imperfections where, with luck, we won't make any monumental stuff-ups like having a nuclear war or destroying our planet's currently hospitable atmosphere.
The examples you gave, dickie, of problems with arsenic and a few other substances are, while serious at the local level, need to be viewed at the global level, where they can be seen to be regrettable (and hopefully not to be repeated) but relatively unimportant. While this may sound a bit callous, we should view them as learning experiences that will ultimately lead us to a position where we either never need to use these materials again or where we really do know how to handle them safely.
The problem with Ludlam's article remains that he deliberately fails to look at the global picture and instead (like many Greens) tries to scare us into making emotional decisions that are devoid of sound science in the hope that his political party will get a few extra votes.

Bernie Masters

I am well aware that we do not or will not live in a "state of absolute perfection." In addition most researched posters would disagree when you allude to "our planet's currently hospitable atmosphere." Have you yet been advised of anthropogenic climate change?

Furthermore, I assure you my criticisms are raised at a global level.

You are suggesting that the mining and management of a nuclear industry in this country can be conducted in a responsible fashion. Alas, I do not agree.

Australian owned and/or Australian based mining companies are internationally recognised as opportunistic thugs, pillaging the lands of others and leaving a big mess:

Currently abounding, are litigations and investigations around the world, against Australian companies:

1. Villagers in Papua New Guinea are suing BHP Billiton for $5 billion:

http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/villagers-sue-bhp-billiton-for-5bn/2007/01/19/1169095978975.html

2. Alcoa is being investigated for fraud in Bahrain:

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidDN20080228000013

3. Barrick, AngloGold and Newmont are held responsible for trashing the lands of Africa:

"Cyanide and mercury contamination of the groundwater had led to cases of paralysis, blindess and numerous miscarriages:"

http://www.terradaily.com/2007/071009154249.xytavr0w.html

4. In the Philippines, "some 500 villagers from Rapu-Rapu had set up camp in front of the Albay Provincial Capitol demanding that the Australian-owned Lafayette Mining Ltd be closed down permanently. Likewise, the protesters are demanding compensation for mining-affected communities:"

http://bicoltoday.wordpress.com/2007/12/06/protest-against-lafayette-mining-heats-up/

5. Again in the Philippines, "OceanaGold has caused widespread community displacement, human rights violations, economic dislocation, environmental devastation and social disputes in the indigenous people (IP) communities in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya as illustrated by the following violations of economic, social, cultural, and human rights:"

http://www.kalikasan.org/kalikasan-cms-new/

I do recall providing you with the following link in a previous thread. Why do you resist acknowledging the details?:

6. http://protestbarrick.net/downloads/barrick_report.pdf

There are several more links I can provide, at your request.

Please now provide me with a sensible reason why the people of Australia should place their trust in the "Big" Australians (and their sycophantic and collusive regulators) in the safe management of a nuclear waste dump.