159-498: Midnight Oil (known informally as " The Oils ") are an Australian rock band composed of Peter Garrett (vocals, harmonica), Rob Hirst (drums), Jim Moginie (guitar, keyboard) and Martin Rotsey (guitar). The group was formed in Sydney in 1972 by Hirst, Moginie and original bassist Andrew James as Farm : they enlisted Garrett the following year, changed their name in 1976, and hired Rotsey
318-611: A New South Wales seat in the Australian Senate at the federal election . He refused at first, but after consulting his bandmates, he agreed on the condition that he head the ticket. He needed 12.5% of the statewide vote to win a seat in the Senate voting system , but a primary vote of 9.6% proved insufficient when Labor allocated its second preferences to the Democrats ahead of the NDP. After
477-498: A Nuclear Disarmament Party (NDP) candidate for a NSW seat in the Australian Senate during the December 1984 federal election , Garrett obtained 9.6% of votes but was unable to obtain the required quota of 12.5%. In April 1985, Garrett, with some 30 other members, walked out of the national conference and resigned from the NDP claiming it had been infiltrated by a Trotskyist group. Although unsuccessful in that federal election, Garrett
636-468: A spallation neutron source being used for nuclear transmutation of "legacy" waste and/or power generation. Such reactors could also be used to produce medical isotopes. Some isotopes, like Cobalt-60 are currently mostly produced in reactors like the Canadian CANDU . Plutonium-238 , the preferred material for radioisotope thermal generators for use in spacecraft, faced a significant shortage after
795-635: A "perfect partner for renewables" (wording from Shell and Statoil advertisements). Groups like the Sierra Club , Environmental Defense Fund and Natural Resources Defense Council are receiving grants from other fossil fuel companies. As of 2011, a strategy paper released by Greenpeace titled "Battle of Grids" proposed gradual replacement of nuclear power by fossil gas plants which would provide "flexible backup for wind and solar power". However, Greenpeace has since distanced itself from advocating for fossil gas, instead proposing grid energy storage as
954-657: A 'white' myth about the extinction of Aboriginal Tasmanians . Their Native Title claims hinged upon establishing links with ancestral lands. Morris responded with, "My suggestion to these people is to stop shooting themselves in the foot and let a band like Midnight Oil voice its appeal to White Australia on behalf of Black Australia". Critics contended that Morris disparaged Indigenous Australians' ability to represent themselves and overestimated Midnight Oil's ambassadorial powers while diminishing their errors, while some indigenous activists saw benefit in Midnight Oil's highlighting of
1113-536: A 2014 book review, Garrett stated that he was concerned at the growth of private schools, which could lead to "an increasingly segregated school system". He noted that the National School Chaplaincy Program needed to change their guidelines because "the line between chaplains acting to support students in the provision of general pastoral care and proselytising was too easily crossed". Garrett supported Gillard in both 2013 leadership spills . After
1272-443: A combination of popular-voted and peer-voted awards. Anti-nuclear The anti-nuclear movement is a social movement that opposes various nuclear technologies . Some direct action groups, environmental movements , and professional organisations have identified themselves with the movement at the local, national, or international level. Major anti-nuclear groups include Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament , Friends of
1431-604: A controversial area of public policy . When compared to other energy sources, nuclear power has one of the lowest death rates per unit of energy produced – 0.07 per TWh, as compared to over 32 per TWh in case of brown coal. This figure is driven by a 2005 WHO projection of up to 4000 stochastic cancer deaths that could result from the Chernobyl disaster. The UNSCEAR reports in its 2008 summary on Chernobyl that no increases in cancer incidence (other than thyroid cancer) have been observed to date that can be attributed to radiation from
1590-637: A court ruling on discovery that would have granted the ABC access to the organisation's financial records. Six months after entering parliament, Garrett was appointed Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Reconciliation and the Arts. It was reported that he had modified some of his earlier views. He expressed support for the U.S.-Australia alliance , and recanted earlier opposition to the Joint U.S.-Australian Defence Facility at Pine Gap . He also stated that, while he would argue
1749-511: A fire at the family home when he was in his early twenties. Peter managed to escape the fire, but his mother was asleep upstairs and he was unable to rescue her. In 1973, Garrett became the lead singer for the rock band Midnight Oil , after responding to an advertisement placed by one of the band's founding members, Rob Hirst . In tandem with their musical and commercial success, the band were strongly identified with environmental and Aboriginal rights causes. They were particularly critical of
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#17328587536831908-421: A function following the 2004 election. He subsequently retracted his allegations and stated that the envelope in fact contained a cheque, which he returned, and also that the incident "took place before he was elected, which would mean the possible offence of bribery or attempted bribery of a public official would not apply". Clubs NSW subsequently sued the ABC for defamation, but withdrew the suit in 2016 following
2067-410: A group of twenty-one scientists published a critique of Jacobson's work and found that his analysis involves "errors, inappropriate methods and implausible assumptions" and failed to provide "credible evidence for rejecting the conclusions of previous analyses that point to the benefits of considering a broad portfolio of energy system options." Critics state that the anti-nuclear arguments overestimate
2226-545: A loose, raw style with almost a low-key sound. It peaked at No. 3 on the ARIA albums chart, and had Top 40 success in New Zealand and Switzerland. They returned to No. 1 on the ARIA albums charts with the compilation 20,000 Watt R.S.L. in 1997 on Sony Records , which achieved 4×Platinum sales. Later album releases include the electro tinged hard rock Redneck Wonderland in 1998, live album The Real Thing in 2000 and
2385-459: A major issue. In 1975, an administrative court withdrew the construction licence for the plant. The Wyhl experience encouraged the formation of citizen action groups near other planned nuclear sites. In 1972, the nuclear disarmament movement maintained a presence in the Pacific, largely in response to French nuclear testing there. New Zealand activists sailed boats into the test zone, interrupting
2544-503: A nuclear phase-out policy, aiming to end nuclear power generation in Sweden by 2010. On 5 February 2009, the Government of Sweden announced an agreement allowing for the replacement of existing reactors, effectively ending the phase-out policy. Globally, the number of operable reactors remains nearly the same over the last 30 years, and nuclear electricity production is steadily growing after
2703-620: A nuclear power programme. Protest movements against nuclear power first emerged in the United States, at the local level, and spread quickly to Europe and the rest of the world. National nuclear campaigns emerged in the late 1970s. Fuelled by the Three Mile Island accident and the Chernobyl disaster , the anti-nuclear power movement mobilised political and economic forces which for some years "made nuclear energy untenable in many countries". In
2862-474: A number of related concerns: Of these concerns, nuclear accidents and disposal of long-lived radioactive waste have probably had the greatest public impact worldwide. Anti-nuclear campaigners point to the 2011 Fukushima nuclear emergency as proof that nuclear power can never be 100% safe. Costs resulting from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster are likely to exceed 12 trillion yen ($ 100 billion) and
3021-632: A performer he is known for his signature bald head, his eccentric dance style, and a "mesmerising onstage presence". He served as President of the Australian Conservation Foundation for ten years before being elected for the Labor Party as the Member of the House of Representatives for the seat of Kingsford Smith in the 2004 election . After Labor's victory in the 2007 election , Garrett
3180-603: A reputation as one of the toughest managers and became notorious for banning critics or journalists, who were usually given free admission to concerts, for writing unfavourable reviews. Writer and critic Bruce Elder , in a mid-1980s newspaper review described their music as "narrow and xenophobic" and declared Midnight Oil were: "a kind of antipodean pub rock version of Queen [...] life-denying, sexist, secular and bigoted [...] endless touting of Australia and all things Australian" In retaliation, Morris banned Elder from Oils shows permanently. Elder later recanted, describing them as
3339-567: A side project called Ghostwriters . The name refers to the practice of ghostwriting , wherein famous writers contribute under assumed names in order to remain anonymous. Ghostwriters' line-ups – both live and in the studio – changed considerably through the years, with only founders Hirst and Grossman being mainstays. Between successive album releases Hirst and Grossman returned to active involvement with Oils and Gurus respectively. Ghostwriters have released Ghostwriters (1991), Second Skin (1996), Fibromoon (1999) and Political Animal (2007). At
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#17328587536833498-517: A single reactor producing it shut down, before the U.S. established a capacity to produce it from Neptunium-237 at one of their laboratories. Anti-nuclear groups say that reliance on nuclear energy can be reduced by adopting energy conservation and energy efficiency measures. Energy efficiency can reduce energy consumption while providing the same level of energy "services". Renewable energy flows involve natural phenomena such as sunlight , wind , tides , plant growth , and geothermal heat , as
3657-518: A solution to issues caused by intermittent renewable energy . In Germany the Energiewende , which was advertised as a shift to renewable energy but included a gradual phaseout of nuclear power from 2000 to end 2022, caused among other things a rise in fossil gas power production from 49.2 TWh in 2000 to 94.7 TWh in 2020. In the same interval total electricity generation barely changed (576.6 TWh in 2000 vs 574.2 TWh in 2020) while it did rise and fall in
3816-899: A spot in Farm, and by 1975 the band had started touring the east coast of Australia. By late 1976 Garrett had moved to Sydney to complete his law degree, and Farm changed its name to Midnight Oil by drawing the name out of a hat. The name was coined by Peter Watson, a short-term keyboard player with Farm. Important to their development was manager Gary Morris, who successfully negotiated favourable contracts with tour promoters and record companies and frustrated rock journalists. Guitarist Martin Rotsey joined in 1977 and Midnight Oil, with Morris, established their own record label, Powderworks, which released their debut eponymous album in November 1978. Their first single "Run by Night" followed in December. Founding bass-guitarist James, forced to leave due to illness in 1980,
3975-582: A variety of strategies to persuade the public to accept nuclear power", including the publication of numerous "fact sheets" that discuss issues of public concern. M.V. Ramana says that none of these strategies have been very successful. Nuclear proponents have tried to regain public support by offering newer, purportedly safer, reactor designs. These designs include those that incorporate passive safety and Small Modular Reactors . While these reactor designs "are intended to inspire trust, they may have an unintended effect: creating distrust of older reactors that lack
4134-431: A year later. Peter Gifford served as bass player from 1980 to 1987, with Bones Hillman then assuming the role until his death in 2020. Midnight Oil have sold over 20 million albums worldwide as of 2021. Midnight Oil issued their self-titled debut album in 1978 and gained a cult following in their homeland despite a lack of mainstream media acceptance. The band achieved greater popularity throughout Australasia with
4293-404: Is a threat to modern civilization from global nuclear war by accidental or deliberate nuclear strike. Some climate scientists estimate that a war between two countries that resulted in 100 Hiroshima-size atomic explosions would cause significant loss of life, in the tens of millions from climatic effects alone as well as disabled future generations. Soot thrown up into the atmosphere could blanket
4452-403: Is almost certainly the case with Israel ) or indeed the reverse, as is the case with most users of nuclear power past and present. There are large variations in peoples' beliefs regarding the issues surrounding nuclear power, including the technology itself, its deployment, climate change , and energy security . There is a wide spectrum of views and concerns over nuclear power and it remains
4611-601: Is also growing rapidly and has reached around 4% of worldwide electricity usage, 11.4% in the EU, and it is widely used in Asia , and the United States . In 2014, worldwide installed photovoltaics capacity increased to 177 gigawatts (GW), sufficient to supply 1 per cent of global electricity demands . As of 2020 wind power expansion slowed down due to protests of residents and environmentalists. Solar thermal energy stations operate in
4770-488: Is feasible and existing energy supply arrangements could be replaced by 2050. Barriers to implementing the renewable energy plan are seen to be "primarily social and political, not technological or economic". Jacobson says that energy costs with a wind, solar, water system should be similar to today's energy costs. Many have since referred to Jacobson's work to justify advocating for all 100% renewables, however, in February, 2017,
4929-518: Is the case with any energy sources, including renewable energy , IPCC analyzed total life-cycle greenhouse-gas emissions , which account for all emissions during manufacturing, installation, operations and decommissioning. With 12 gCO2eq/kWh nuclear power still remains one of the lowest emitting energy sources available. In 2011, a French court fined Électricité de France (EDF) €1.5m and jailed two senior employees for spying on Greenpeace, including hacking into Greenpeace's computer systems. Greenpeace
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5088-402: Is well under way. In the old economy, energy was produced by burning something – oil, coal, or natural gas – leading to the carbon emissions that have come to define our economy. The new energy economy harnesses the energy in wind, the energy coming from the sun, and heat from within the earth itself. In 2014 global wind power capacity expanded 16% to 369,553 MW. Yearly wind energy production
5247-482: Is widespread", and a 2001 survey by the European Commission found that "only 10.1 percent of Europeans trusted the nuclear industry". This public distrust is periodically reinforced by nuclear safety violations, or through ineffectiveness or corruption of the nuclear regulatory authorities. Once lost, says Ramana, trust is extremely difficult to regain. Faced with public antipathy, the nuclear industry has "tried
5406-482: The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) 1988 Awards ceremony, Midnight Oil won " Best Cover Art " for Diesel and Dust and both " Best Single " and " Best Song " for " Beds Are Burning ". A fracas developed between Morris, accepting awards for Midnight Oil, and former Countdown compere Ian Meldrum who was presenting: Meldrum objected to Morris making political commentary from
5565-544: The Chernobyl disaster , an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 people marched in Rome to protest against the Italian nuclear program. In Australia unions, peace activists and environmentalists opposed uranium mining from the 1970s onwards and rallies bringing together hundreds of thousands of people to oppose nuclear weapons peaked in the mid- 1980s. In the US, public opposition preceded the shutdown of
5724-723: The Essendon Bombers in the Australian Football League , although he has also shown favour to the Melbourne Demons as a secondary team when they faced Essendon rival Carlton in an AFL final . In September 2023, Garrett publicly advocated for the "Yes" campaign in the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum , a vote to change the Australian Constitution to enshrine a Voice to Parliament for Indigenous Australians . He also provided ongoing support of
5883-576: The Exxon Valdez oil spill the previous year. In February 1990, Blue Sky Mining , produced by Livesey , was released by CBS/Columbia. It peaked at No. 1 on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) albums charts. It stayed at No. 1 for two weeks in Australia and had Top 5 chart success in Sweden, Switzerland and Norway. It peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard 200 and No. 28 on
6042-523: The International Energy Agency explains: Renewable energy is derived from natural processes that are replenished constantly. In its various forms, it derives directly from the sun, or from heat generated deep within the earth. Included in the definition is electricity and heat generated from solar, wind, ocean, hydropower, biomass, geothermal resources, and biofuels and hydrogen derived from renewable resources. Anti-nuclear groups also favour
6201-626: The Mary River cod would be too great and of national environmental significance. In a 2010 reshuffle of his Cabinet, Rudd demoted Garrett to the outer ministry in response to Garrett's administration of the Home Insulation Program (HIP), which was linked to four deaths, over 100 house fires and allegations of fraud. It was subsequently revealed in May 2010 that Garrett had written to Rudd on four occasions raising concerns about safety. Following
6360-588: The Pacific . In 1961, at the height of the Cold War , about 50,000 women brought together by Women Strike for Peace marched in 60 cities in the United States to demonstrate against nuclear weapons. In 1963, many countries ratified the Partial Test Ban Treaty which prohibited atmospheric nuclear testing. Some local opposition to nuclear power emerged in the early 1960s, and in the late 1960s some members of
6519-694: The Shoreham , Yankee Rowe , Millstone 1 , Rancho Seco , Maine Yankee , and many other nuclear power plants. For many years after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, nuclear power was off the policy agenda in most countries, and the anti-nuclear power movement seemed to have won its case, so some anti-nuclear groups disbanded. In the 2000s , however, following public relations activities by the nuclear industry, advances in nuclear reactor designs , and concerns about climate change , nuclear power issues came back into energy policy discussions in some countries. The 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident subsequently undermined
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6678-688: The Southern Ocean to kill whales in the name of science was most controversial issue, with the Australian Government attempting to negotiate a cessation of "scientific" whaling at the annual meetings of the International Whaling Commission . These negotiations were unsuccessful, culminating in Australia taking Japan to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Although the case was concluded after Garrett had left politics,
6837-730: The Stolen Generations . But he had also said their reconciliation-themed single " Beds Are Burning " was his favourite Midnight Oil song. Midnight Oil performed the song at the ceremony with the word SORRY conspicuously printed on their clothes as a form of apology to Indigenous people for their suffering under white settlement and to highlight the issue to Howard, who was in the audience at the Olympic stadium as an estimated one billion people watched on television. Midnight Oil had consulted with tour mates Yothu Yindi and other Indigenous activists, so that their performance would bring popular protest to
6996-680: The WaveAid concert on 29 January 2005 to raise funds for the victims of the 26 December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami . The concert, which took place at the Sydney Cricket Ground , also included performances by Powderfinger , Silverchair , Nick Cave , John Butler Trio , Finn Brothers , and others. On 29 October 2006, Midnight Oil was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame with ARIA chairman Denis Handlin describing them: For 30 years, on their journey from inside Sydney's Royal Antler Hotel to outside
7155-540: The leadership spill in June 2010, which saw Rudd replaced by Julia Gillard , Garrett's colleague Gary Gray revealed most MPs believed Garrett was demoted because "...Rudd had a shocking interview on The 7.30 Report and needed a scapegoat". Gray stated: The majority of caucus felt he had been badly treated. For Rudd and his office to position Garrett as the fall guy was disgraceful, weak, sneaky, unprincipled and just plain wrong. All along, Peter properly put his objections to
7314-554: The " Sound Relief " charity concerts, in honour of the victims of the 2009 "Black Saturday" fires in Victoria and floods in Queensland. In 2010 their album Diesel and Dust ranked no. 1 in the book The 100 Best Australian Albums by Toby Creswell , Craig Mathieson and John O'Donnell . In 1971 drummer Rob Hirst , bass guitarist Andrew James, and keyboard player /lead guitarist Jim Moginie were performing together. They adopted
7473-443: The "range of physical hazards which accompany the technology" and leads to a "concern over the political relations of the nuclear industry". Baruch Fischhoff , a social scientist, said that many people really do not trust the nuclear industry. Wade Allison , a physicist, said "radiation is safe & all nations should embrace nuclear technology" M.V. Ramana says that "distrust of the social institutions that manage nuclear energy
7632-471: The 'last' Tasmanian Aboriginal person , the treatment of Aboriginal artist Albert Namatjira , the Australian flag debate , and republicanism . Liner notes for the single claimed "Truganini was the sole surviving Tasmanian Aborigine, the last of her race, when she died in 1876." The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, representing over 7000 contemporary Tasmanians, called for the single to be boycotted as it perpetuated
7791-565: The 1950s was engaging in campaigns against the nuclear industry which it perceived as a threat to their commercial interests. Organizations such as the American Petroleum Institute , the Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association and Marcellus Shale Coalition were engaged in anti-nuclear lobbying in the late 2010s and from 2019, large fossil fuel suppliers started advertising campaigns portraying fossil gas as
7950-612: The 1970s and while opposition to nuclear power continues, increasing public support for nuclear power has re-emerged over the last decade in light of growing awareness of global warming and renewed interest in all types of clean energy (see the Pro-nuclear movement ). A protest against nuclear power occurred in July 1977 in Bilbao , Spain, with up to 200,000 people in attendance. Following the Three Mile Island accident in 1979, an anti-nuclear protest
8109-486: The 1970s and 1980s was often a direct result of anti-nuclear politics. Scientists and diplomats have debated nuclear weapons policy since before the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. The public became concerned about nuclear weapons testing from about 1954, following extensive nuclear testing. In 1963, many countries ratified the Partial Test Ban Treaty which prohibited atmospheric nuclear testing. Some local opposition to nuclear power emerged in
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#17328587536838268-549: The 1970s and 1980s, the formation of green parties was often a direct result of anti-nuclear politics (e.g., in Germany and Sweden). Some of these anti-nuclear power organisations are reported to have developed considerable expertise on nuclear power and energy issues. In 1992, the chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said that "his agency had been pushed in the right direction on safety issues because of
8427-600: The 1991 ARIA Awards ceremony, Midnight Oil won ' Best Group ' and an 'Outstanding Achievement Award' and ' Best Cover Artist ', 'Best Video' and ' Album of the Year ' for Blue Sky Mining . Morris, accepting awards for Midnight Oil, was criticised for a speech lasting 20 minutes. Scream in Blue (Live) , their June 1992 live album produced by Keith Walker, contained material from concerts between 1982 and 1990, including "Progress" from their Exxon Valdez protest gig. It peaked at No. 3 on
8586-579: The 8 May 1993 episode hosted by Christina Applegate . In 1993, the band also participated in the Another Roadside Attraction tour in Canada and collaborated with The Tragically Hip , Crash Vegas , Hothouse Flowers and Daniel Lanois on the one-off single " Land " to protest forest clearing in British Columbia. Breathe was released in 1996. It was produced by Malcolm Burn and had
8745-622: The ARIA albums charts; Top 50 in Austria, Sweden and Switzerland; and appeared on the Billboard 200. Midnight Oil's Earth and Sun and Moon album, produced with Nick Launay, was released in April 1993 and also drew critical acclaim and international success, peaking at No. 2 on the ARIA albums charts, top 20 in Sweden and Switzerland, Top 50 on Billboard 200, and top thirty in the UK albums chart. The single " Truganini " referenced multiple issues, including
8904-585: The Aboriginal nations and the need for Reconciliation in Australia . Peter Gifford left the band before the album's release due to extensive touring schedules, and was replaced by Bones Hillman , formerly of The Swingers . Diesel and Dust peaked at No. 1 on the Australian albums charts for six weeks, No. 21 on the Billboard 200 charts in 1988, and No. 19 on the UK albums charts. " Beds Are Burning "
9063-414: The Australian charts for 171 weeks. It retained their live energy but was more adventurous and radical than previous work. Their ascendancy was signalled by a series of concerts on the release of the album at Sydney's Capitol Theatre, one of which was filmed and recorded and later released on their 2004 Best of Both Worlds DVD. The band also played their first shows outside Australia during this time, with
9222-464: The Australian singles charts. One of its four tracks was the surf-instrumental "Wedding Cake Island" named after the rock outcrop in the ocean off Sydney's Coogee Beach . The band's third LP Place without a Postcard , released by CBS Records in November 1981, was recorded in Sussex with English producer Glyn Johns ( The Rolling Stones , The Who ). Creative tensions between the band and Johns plagued
9381-632: The Earth , Greenpeace , International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War , Peace Action , Seneca Women's Encampment for a Future of Peace and Justice and the Nuclear Information and Resource Service . The initial objective of the movement was nuclear disarmament , though since the late 1960s opposition has included the use of nuclear power . Many anti-nuclear groups oppose both nuclear power and nuclear weapons. The formation of green parties in
9540-491: The Environment, Heritage and the Arts. Garrett supported Rudd in that month's leadership spill , a decision he would later come to regret, saying years later that it was "certainly the biggest mistake" he made in his political career. During the 2007 election campaign, Garrett caused some controversy after the journalist Steve Price claimed that Garrett had said to him Labor would change their policies if put in power. This
9699-679: The Exxon Building in New York, the Oils have always led from the front. They spoke to us – and to the world – in a uniquely Australian way. [...] Their music speaks first – it's powerful, it's uncompromising, it's unique rock music that inspires, entertains and will last forever. [...] My favourite Oils lyric, which summarises it all is: 'It's better to die on your feet than live on your knees.' Rob Hirst , in his acceptance speech, thanked his family, bandmates, and support from fellow Australians. He also lamented
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#17328587536839858-609: The Fukushima disaster. The application of nuclear technology , as a source of energy and as an instrument of war, has been controversial. These issues are discussed in nuclear weapons debate , nuclear power debate , and uranium mining debate . Scientists and diplomats have debated nuclear weapons policy since before the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. The public became concerned about nuclear weapons testing from about 1954, following extensive nuclear testing in
10017-512: The Government claimed that the program improved indigenous school attendance, it was heavily criticised by some indigenous spokespeople and academics for being excessively punitive rather than implementing other policies that may have been far more effective in improving school attendance. In 2013, Garrett pledged to increase funding to public schools as recommended in the Gonski Report , in order to reduce inequality in educational performance. In
10176-426: The Government on climate change within the House of Representatives, Rudd instead gave that responsibility to Treasurer Wayne Swan . In his first acts in the role, Garrett approved a controversial plan to dredge Melbourne's Port Phillip Bay. This move attracted strong criticism from some environmental groups, who were concerned that the 23 million cubic metres of sand, rock and contaminated silt dredged from
10335-639: The Greens were embroiled in a tight contest. In the letter Garrett urged voters not to vote for the Greens, claiming they were in alliance with the conservative Liberal Party . This incurred the ire of Greens Leader, and former Garrett ally, Bob Brown , who accused Garrett of having "sold out" and of going against the environmental movement since joining the Labor Party. In December 2006, Kevin Rudd appointed Garrett to his Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Minister for Climate Change,
10494-425: The ICJ eventually announced its judgement, based on his application, that Japan must stop whaling in the Southern Ocean. In August 2008, Garrett approved a major expansion of South Australia's Beverley uranium mine , saying the mine would demonstrate global best practice for environmental protection. Garrett's decision was praised by the uranium industry , but criticised by the Australian Conservation Foundation ,
10653-437: The June spill, where Rudd defeated Gillard, Garrett immediately announced his resignation as Education Minister, and the following day declared that he would not seek re-election at the 2013 election , ending his career in Parliament after nine years. Garrett is married and has three daughters. He is the uncle of Maude Garrett , formerly of Nickelodeon Australia and SourceFed . Garrett's grandfather, Tom Vernon Garrett,
10812-401: The Midnight Lamp ", although the word "oil" appears nowhere in the lyrics. The expression "midnight oil" first appeared in a 1635 poem by Francis Quarles (1592-1644): To heaven's high city I direct my journey, Whose spangled suburbs entertain mine eye. We spend our midday sweat, our midnight oil ; We tire the night in thought, the day in toil. After changing its name to Midnight Oil,
10971-421: The National Coalition of Aboriginal Organisations. During 1989–1993 and 1998–2002 Garrett was the President of the Australian Conservation Foundation , whilst during 1993–1998 he was on the International Board of Greenpeace . In 1990 Midnight Oil played an impromptu lunchtime set in front of Exxon headquarters in New York with a banner reading, "Midnight Oil Makes You Dance, Exxon Oil Makes Us Sick," protesting
11130-633: The Passion" peaked at No. 8. The album also includes their denunciation of American military interference in foreign affairs in " US Forces " and their critique of imperialist repression in " Short Memory ". 10 to 1 was recorded in London during September and produced by Englishman Nick Launay , who had previously worked with acts including The Jam , XTC , Peter Gabriel , PiL , Gang of Four and The Birthday Party . Launay worked on several other major Australian recordings in this period including INXS ' The Swing , Models ' The Pleasure of Your Company and The Church 's Seance . The album remained in
11289-427: The Passion" was also listed in APRA's Top 30 best Australian songs . Garrett announced his decision to quit Midnight Oil on 2 December 2002, to refocus on his political career. In the 1984 federal election , Garrett had stood for the Australian Senate under the Nuclear Disarmament Party banner and narrowly lost. He won the seat of Kingsford Smith at the 2004 General Election for the Australian Labor Party and
11448-566: The Philippines, there were many protests in the late 1970s and 1980s against the proposed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant , which was built but never operated due to safety concerns and issues regarding corruption. In 1981, Germany's largest anti-nuclear power demonstration protested against the construction of the Brokdorf Nuclear Power Plant west of Hamburg. Some 100,000 people came face to face with 10,000 police officers. In
11607-566: The Special Award). The ARIA Music Awards are a set of annual ceremonies presented by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), which recognise excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of the music of Australia . They commenced in 1987. Countdown was an Australian pop music TV series on national broadcaster ABC-TV from 1974 to 1987, it presented music awards from 1979 to 1987, initially in conjunction with magazine TV Week . The TV Week / Countdown Awards were
11766-604: The Sunset in October 1984, which was recorded in Japan, produced by Launay again. It peaked at No. 1 for four weeks on the Australian charts, and charted on the Billboard 200. Singles from the album were released in US and UK but had no chart success. Whilst the album showed an overreliance on technical wizardry, their lyrical stance was positive. The band continued to expand their sound and explore themes of politics, consumerism, militarism,
11925-551: The Top 40 in Australia. Driven largely by commercial pressures to stay with reliable chart-toppers and teenage pop sensations, the Australian music industry in the mid-1970s cast a dismissive eye toward most bands with an alternative outlook. Although consistently championed by Sydney alternative rock station Double Jay and its FM band successor Triple J, Midnight Oil were almost totally ignored by Australia's mainstream commercial radio stations in their early career. Manager Morris developed
12084-802: The Top Ten of the Australian singles chart: Aside from chart success, the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) in 2001 listed both "Power and the Passion" and "Beds Are Burning" in the Top 30 best Australian songs of all time, a chart in which Midnight Oil are the only artists to feature twice. In December 2002 Garrett announced that he would seek to further his political career and Midnight Oil disbanded, but they reformed for two warm-up shows in Canberra leading up to their performance, at one of
12243-513: The UK charts. The album was more defiant and outspoken; the single "Blue Sky Mine" describes asbestos exposure in the Wittenoom mine tragedy . The single peaked at No. 8 on the ARIA singles charts, top 15 in Norway and Switzerland, No. 47 on Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on both their Mainstream and Modern Rock Tracks charts, and appeared on the UK charts. The second single, "Forgotten Years",
12402-469: The United States and Spain, and as of 2016, the largest of these is the 392 MW Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System in California. The world's largest geothermal power installation is The Geysers in California, with a rated capacity of 750 MW. Brazil has one of the largest renewable energy programs in the world, involving production of ethanol fuel from sugar cane, and ethanol now provides 18% of
12561-562: The Victorian bushfire appeal. In November 2012, Garrett and Paul Kelly inducted Yothu Yindi into the ARIA Hall of Fame and performed with the band their best-known song " Treaty ". On 5 May 2016, after the conclusion of his career in Parliament, Garrett announced that Midnight Oil would be reforming and that they would be touring in 2017, including a trip to the United States. Midnight Oil stated on their Facebook page: "We wanted you to be
12720-500: The Yes campaign in the lead up to the unsuccessful referendum. These annual awards were established by Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) in 1982 to honour the achievements of songwriters and music composers and to recognise their song writing skills, sales and airplay performance, by its members annually. From 1982 to 1990, the best songs were given the Gold Award (also called
12879-508: The accident. Many studies have shown that the public "perceives nuclear power as a very risky technology" and, around the world, nuclear energy declined in popularity in the aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster , but it has recently rebounded in response to the climate crisis. Anti-nuclear critics see nuclear power as a dangerous, expensive way to boil water to generate electricity. Opponents of nuclear power have raised
13038-485: The administration of the program on the record. How can you have a situation where Rudd executes complete and total influence, micromanages everything, yet not the home insulation program? The shape and execution of the program was certainly designed by the prime minister's office, if not the prime minister himself. Garrett initially retained the portfolio of Environment Minister in the First Gillard Ministry , and
13197-466: The album being released in the US on Columbia Records , where it charted in 1984 on the Billboard 200 ; in the UK it was released on CBS . Midnight Oil undertook more politically motivated benefit concerts, including organising the Stop The Drop nuclear disarmament concert in 1983, which received a United Nations Association of Australia Media Peace Prize . 10 to 1 was followed by Red Sails in
13356-459: The band was something of a new concept for the Australian music scene, and Peter Garrett quickly earned a reputation as one of the most charismatic and outspoken musicians in the country. He recalled that there were dangers in playing the pub scene: You get booked into a pub or hotel, say in the western suburbs of Sydney. Halfway through your set, two large, drunk truck drivers decide to have a fight. They're beating each other up and careening towards
13515-732: The band would reach a wider audience within the predominantly Caucasian urban centres. Midnight Oil requested that all royalties from the song go to indigenous communities . In addition, two indigenous groups, Warumpi Band and Gondwanaland, toured with them. Following the 1988 American tour in support of Diesel and Dust with Australian band Yothu Yindi , Midnight Oil launched the Building Bridges – Australia Has A Black History album with various artists contributing, including Paul Kelly , Scrap Metal , Coloured Stone, Hunters & Collectors , James Reyne , The Saints , Crowded House , INXS and Yothu Yindi. All sales proceeds were donated to
13674-580: The band, Garrett performed several times with Midnight Oil in the following years. After the Asian tsunami on 26 December 2004, Garrett joined the other members of Midnight Oil to perform as part of the fund-raising event WaveAid . On 7 July 2007, Garrett presented Crowded House at the Australian leg of Live Earth . On 14 March 2009, Garrett performed live at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with Midnight Oil for Sound Relief , in order to raise money for
13833-451: The bay's shipping channels would affect fishing and tourism in the area. Garrett also refused federal funding that would have enabled a remount of Elke Neidhardt 's acclaimed Adelaide production of Der Ring des Nibelungen in 2008. As Environment Minister, Garrett was responsible for implementing the Government's whaling conservation policy, which included the cessation of commercial and "scientific" whaling. Japan 's annual trips to
13992-473: The benefits of renewable energy and fail to consider land per unit of energy inefficiencies and data that claims to forecast, "...biomass, wind, and solar power are set to occupy an area equivalent of the size of the European Union by 2050." The anti-nuclear movement is a social movement which operates at the local, national, and international level. Various types of groups have identified themselves with
14151-420: The case for environmentalism inside the Labor Party, he would observe the ultimate decision of the party caucus , including accepting any decision on the "no new uranium mines" policy. Garrett's change of stance drew criticism from both journalists and Midnight Oil fans, who contrasted Garrett's former pronouncements on environmental and political issues he had made before joining the Labor Party. While some in
14310-716: The clean up effort to decontaminate affected areas and decommission the plant is estimated to take 30 to 40 years. Excluding accidents, the standard amount of high-level radioactive waste is claimed to be manageable (UK has produced just 2150 m during its 60 years nuclear program), with the Geological Society of London alleging that it can be effectively recycled and stored safely. In his book Global Fission: The Battle Over Nuclear Power , Jim Falk explores connections between technological concerns and political concerns. Falk suggests that concerns of citizen groups or individuals who oppose nuclear power have often focused initially on
14469-536: The conclusion of Garrett's term as President of the Australian Conservation Foundation ended, in June 2004 Labor Leader Mark Latham announced that Garrett would become an Australian Labor Party candidate for the House of Representatives at that year's federal election , in the safe New South Wales seat of Kingsford Smith which was being vacated by the former Cabinet Minister Laurie Brereton . There
14628-463: The corner where the band is set up. Meanwhile, everyone else is going, 'Aaah, turn it down, I'm trying to watch TV.' Try to contemplate that as an environment to play music in every night for three years. Their Australian breakthrough and first international recognition came in 1982, with the release of 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 , which included the singles " Power and the Passion " and " Read about It ". The album peaked at No. 3 and "Power and
14787-854: The country's automotive fuel. Ethanol fuel is also widely available in the United States. As of 2020 expansion of biomass as fuel, which was previously praised by environmental organizations such as Greenpeace , has been criticized for environmental damage . Greenpeace advocates a reduction of fossil fuels by 50% by 2050 as well as phasing out nuclear power, contending that innovative technologies can increase energy efficiency, and suggests that by 2050 most electricity will come from renewable sources. The International Energy Agency estimates that nearly 50% of global electricity supplies will need to come from renewable energy sources in order to halve carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 and minimise climate change impacts. Mark Z. Jacobson says producing all new energy with wind power , solar power , and hydropower by 2030
14946-419: The day of the show they were "bumped" from the line-up. Countdown required artists to mime their songs during 'live' performances, Midnight Oil and Morris insisted they perform completely live and have their sound engineer supervising – neither side backed down. According to Countdown producer Michael Shrimpton, the band had arrived late for rehearsal and, due to the show's very tight schedule and budget, there
15105-481: The early 1960s, and in the late 1960s some members of the scientific community began to express their concerns. In the early 1970s, there were large protests about a proposed nuclear power plant in Wyhl , West Germany. The project was cancelled in 1975 and anti-nuclear success at Wyhl inspired opposition to nuclear power in other parts of Europe and North America . Nuclear power became an issue of major public protest in
15264-455: The earth, causing food chain disruption in what is termed a nuclear winter . Many anti-nuclear weapons groups cite the 1996 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice , Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons , in which it found that 'the threat or use of nuclear weapons would generally be contrary to the rules of international law applicable in armed conflict'. Ridding
15423-461: The fact that unlike the Vietnam war, which had inspired some of the best protest songs ever written, very few had been written in reaction to the invasion of Iraq. Peter Garrett Peter Robert Garrett AM (born 16 April 1953) is an Australian musician, environmentalist, activist and former politician. In 1973, Garrett became the lead singer of the Australian rock band Midnight Oil . As
15582-626: The first to know that the five of us are planning to do some gigs in Australia and overseas during 2017." Days later, Garrett also announced his first solo album, A Version of Now , which was released on 15 July. His second solo album, The True North , was released in March 2024. Garrett's first attempt to enter the Australian Parliament came in December 1984, when the Nuclear Disarmament Party (NDP) invited him to stand for
15741-447: The former policy of removing Aboriginal children from their families . During his time with Midnight Oil, Garrett served two terms as President of the Australian Conservation Foundation (from 1989 to 1993 and 1998 to 2004). He was also invited to join the international board of Greenpeace in 1993 for a two-year term. He served as an adviser and patron to various cultural and community organisations, including Jubilee Debt Relief, and
15900-582: The four-track EP Species Deceases produced with Francois Kevorkian was released by CBS/Columbia; it peaked at No. 1 on the Australian singles charts for six weeks. Species Deceases , featuring the track "Hercules", featured a return to their pub rock sound with hard hitting firepower. Midnight Oil spent several months in 1986 on the Blackfella/Whitefella tour of outback Australia with indigenous groups Warumpi Band and Gondwanaland , playing to remote Aboriginal communities and seeing first hand
16059-520: The group began to develop an aggressive, punk-hard rock sound for their pub rock audiences. Guitarist Martin Rotsey joined in 1977 and Midnight Oil, with their manager Gary Morris, established their own record label Powderworks. In June 1978 they entered the Alberts Studio in Sydney with producer Keith Walker, from local radio station 2JJ , to record their debut eponymous album, Midnight Oil , which
16218-494: The issues. Nevertheless, "Truganini" released in March peaked at No. 10 on the ARIA singles charts, No. 10 on Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks and No. 4 on their Modern Rock Tracks charts, and top thirty for the UK charts. Peter Garrett issued an apology for the mistake in the liner notes. The band performed the song along with "My Country" from the album on the American sketch-comedy series Saturday Night Live during
16377-737: The late 1970s and early 1980s, the revival of the nuclear arms race , triggered a new wave of protests about nuclear weapons. Older organizations such as the Federation of Atomic Scientists revived, and newer organizations appeared, including the Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign and Physicians for Social Responsibility . In the UK, on 1 April 1983, about 70,000 people linked arms to form a 14-mile-long human chain between three nuclear weapons centres in Berkshire. On Palm Sunday 1982, 100,000 Australians participated in anti-nuclear rallies in
16536-482: The late 1970s, with the outfit being cited as an influence, and their songs covered , by numerous popular artists. Aside from their studio output, the group are celebrated for their energetic live performances, which showcase the frenetic dancing of Garrett. Guardian writer Andrew Street described Midnight Oil as "one of Australia's most beloved bands". While studying at Australian National University in Canberra, vocalist Peter Garrett answered an advertisement for
16695-472: The meantime, reaching a peak of 652.9 TWh in 2017. As much of that fossil gas was and is imported from Russia, controversial pipeline projects like Nord Stream 1 were built to satisfy increasing German gas demand. After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine it came to light that significant amounts of Russian lobbying was involved in both the continued anti-nuclear movement in Germany and the anti- fracking movement. From an anti-nuclear point of view, there
16854-475: The media labelled him a "turncoat", some, such as Eureka Street and the Canberra Times columnist and ANU academic John Warhurst, defended his need to be a "team player" if he was going to succeed in the political game "from the inside". Garrett campaigned for Labor in the 2006 Victorian state election , causing some controversy when he sent a letter to voters in the seat of Melbourne , where Labor and
17013-516: The military and foreign policy of the United States during the 1980s. On and off stage, Midnight Oil often made political statements. At the closing ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, the group performed before then-Prime Minister, John Howard , and a television audience of hundreds of millions, wearing black overalls bearing the word "sorry". This referred to the Howard Government's refusal to apologise to Aboriginal Australians for
17172-524: The more stripped back Capricornia in 2002 again renuniting with producer Warne Livesey , all charted into the ARIA Top Ten. Midnight Oil again brought the politics of Reconciliation to the fore during their performance at the closing ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics . Then Prime Minister John Howard had triggered controversy that year with his refusal to embrace symbolic reconciliation and apologise to Indigenous Australians and members of
17331-547: The movement: Anti-nuclear groups have undertaken public protests and acts of civil disobedience which have included occupations of nuclear plant sites. Other salient strategies have included lobbying, petitioning government authorities, influencing public policy through referendum campaigns and involvement in elections. Anti-nuclear groups have also tried to influence policy implementation through litigation and by participating in licensing proceedings. Anti-nuclear power organisations have emerged in every country that has had
17490-563: The name "Farm" in 1972, and played covers of Cream , Creedence Clearwater Revival and Led Zeppelin songs. They placed an advert for a band member; Peter Garrett (ex-Rock Island Line) became their new vocalist and synthesizer player and began introducing progressive rock elements of Focus , Jethro Tull and Yes , as well as their own material. Garrett was studying at the Australian National University in Canberra , so Farm
17649-687: The nation's largest cities. Growing year by year, the rallies drew 350,000 participants in 1985. On 29 October 1983, the Committee Cruise Missiles No [ nl ] organised a demonstration in The Hague, Netherlands which was attended by 550,000 people, and was the largest demonstration in the history of the Netherlands. In May 1986, following the Chernobyl disaster , clashes between anti-nuclear protesters and West German police were common. More than 400 people were injured in mid-May at
17808-417: The nuclear power industry's proposed renaissance and revived nuclear opposition worldwide, putting governments on the defensive. As of 2016, countries such as Australia , Austria , Denmark , Greece , Malaysia , New Zealand , and Norway have no nuclear power stations and remain opposed to nuclear power. Germany , Italy , Spain , and Switzerland are phasing-out nuclear power . Sweden formerly had
17967-432: The only Australian band to have developed a truly Australian sound. The frostiness of Midnight Oil's relationship with the traditional music media quickly saw the band develop a strong "street cred" and a reputation for making no compromises with the music industry. In the early 1980s the band was scheduled to appear on an episode of the all-powerful Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) TV pop show Countdown but on
18126-661: The opportunity to employ, instead of "a religious support worker" (chaplain), a "secular student well-being officer". In February 2012, Garrett, alongside Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin , announced an expansion of the Improving School Enrollment and Attendance through Welfare Reform Measure (SEAM), a program through which parents of indigenous students in the Northern Territory can have their Centrelink payments suspended for three months if their children are not attending or enrolled in school. Though
18285-588: The organisation Garrett previously led, which said the decision would result in the mine spreading acid and radioactive pollution over 100 square kilometres (39 sq mi). Later that year, Garrett announced the withdrawing of all A$ 2.6 million funding from the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM). In 2009, Garrett chose not to give the proposed A$ 2 billion Tamar Valley mill approval until more studies were undertaken on its potential impact on marine environments. A new condition
18444-570: The planned nuclear power projects. On 14 July 1977, in Bilbao , between 150,000 and 200,000 people protested against the Lemoniz Nuclear Power Plant . This has been called the "biggest ever anti-nuclear demonstration". In France, there were mass protests in the early 1970s, organized at nearly every planned nuclear site in France. Between 1975 and 1977, some 175,000 people protested against nuclear power in ten demonstrations. In 1977 there
18603-474: The pleas and protests of nuclear watchdog groups". National and local anti-nuclear groups are listed at Anti-nuclear groups in the United States and List of anti-nuclear groups . In 1971, the town of Wyhl , in Germany, was a proposed site for a nuclear power station. In the years that followed, public opposition steadily mounted, and there were large protests. Television coverage of police dragging away farmers and their wives helped to turn nuclear power into
18762-447: The plight of Indigenous Australians , with the latter charting at number one in multiple countries. Midnight Oil had continued global success with Blue Sky Mining (1990) and Earth and Sun and Moon (1993) – each buoyed by an international hit single in " Blue Sky Mine " and " Truganini ", respectively – and remained a formidable album chart presence in Australia until their 2002 disbandment. The group held concerts sporadically during
18921-401: The podium. There were concerns about Diesel and Dust and Midnight Oil's attempts to express indigenous issues to white urban audiences – namely, the question "who holds the power to tell whose history?" The lyrics of "The Dead Heart" tell the story of colonisation from an indigenous point of view but some critics felt they reinforced the "primitive" stereotype . Use of the bullroarer
19080-553: The project has run into many delays and budget overruns . Several milestones of the project has already been finished, but the finishing date for First Plasma has been discussed and postponed many times with various conclusions. In late 2016, the ITER council agreed on an updated project schedule, with a planned First Plasma opening by 2025, nine years after the originally anticipated opening. Some anti-nuclear groups advocate reduced reliance on reactor-produced medical radioisotopes , through
19239-458: The recording and the group were not totally happy with the outcome. Johns had an arrangement with A&M Records and they asked Midnight Oil to return to the studio to record material suitable for an American single release – they refused and returned to Australia. Place without a Postcard peaked at No. 12 on the albums charts and related singles "Don't Wanna be the One" and "Armistice Day" reached
19398-597: The release of 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 (1982) – which spawned the singles " Power and the Passion " and " US Forces " – and also began to attract an audience in the United States. They achieved their first Australian number one album in 1984 with Red Sails in the Sunset , and topped their native country's singles chart for six weeks with the EP Species Deceases (1985). The group garnered worldwide attention with 1987 album Diesel and Dust . Its singles " The Dead Heart " and " Beds Are Burning " illuminated
19557-434: The remainder of the 2000s and announced a full-scale reformation in 2016. The band released their 15th and final studio album, Resist , on 18 February 2022, and announced an accompanying tour. The band's music often broaches political subjects, and they have lent their support to multiple causes. They have won eleven ARIA Awards and were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2006. Midnight Oil's legacy has grown since
19716-421: The scientific community began to express their concerns. In the early 1970s, there were large protests about a proposed nuclear power plant in Wyhl , Germany. The project was cancelled in 1975 and anti-nuclear success at Wyhl inspired opposition to nuclear power in other parts of Europe and North America. Nuclear power became an issue of major public protest in the 1970s. The fossil fuel industry starting from
19875-435: The seriousness of the issues in health and living standards. The tour was criticised by some journalists for being a one-off event instead of a long-term attempt to build bridges between communities. The band was galvanised by the experiences and made them the basis of Diesel and Dust , released in 1987 and produced by Warne Livesey . The album focused on the need for recognition by white Australia of past injustices involving
20034-460: The show. Fans of the group were drawn to the band's "us and them" mindset, and fan loyalty to the Oils' ideas and music was fierce. Two venues at which they built significant fan bases from their early live performances were the Sydney northern beaches pub The Royal Antler at Narrabeen and the Bondi Lifesaver club near Sydney's Bondi Beach . Politically oriented rock of the style produced by
20193-737: The south of France. A collaboration between the European Union (EU), India, Japan, China, Russia, South Korea and the United States, the project aims to make a transition from experimental studies of plasma physics to electricity-producing fusion power plants. In 2005, Greenpeace International issued a press statement criticizing government funding of the ITER, believing the money should have been diverted to renewable energy sources and claiming that fusion energy would result in nuclear waste and nuclear weapons proliferation issues. A French association including about 700 anti-nuclear groups, Sortir du nucléaire (Get Out of Nuclear Energy), claimed that ITER
20352-531: The testing program. In Australia, thousands of people joined protest marches in Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney. Scientists issued statements demanding an end to the nuclear tests. In Fiji, anti-nuclear activists formed an Against Testing on Mururoa organization. In the Basque Country (Spain and France), a strong anti-nuclear movement emerged in 1973, which ultimately led to the abandonment of most of
20511-506: The threat of nuclear war and environmental issues. The album cover by Japanese artist Tsunehisa Kimura featured a photomontage of Sydney – both city and harbour – cratered and devastated after a hypothetical nuclear attack. Live concert footage of "Short Memory" was used in the Australian independent anti-nuclear war movie One Night Stand . A promotional video for "Best of Both Worlds", later on Best of Both Worlds , received airplay worldwide on cable music TV station MTV. Garrett ran as
20670-498: The touted safety features". Since 2000 the nuclear power was promoted as potential solution to the greenhouse effect and climate change as nuclear power emits no or negligible amounts of carbon dioxide during operations. Anti-nuclear groups highlighted the fact that other stages of the nuclear fuel chain – mining, milling, transport, fuel fabrication, enrichment, reactor construction, decommissioning and waste management – use fossil fuels and hence emit carbon dioxide. As this
20829-503: The two guitarists Moginie and Rotsey, the drumming and vocals of Hirst and the presence of the towering, bald Garrett as lead singer. The Midnight Oil LP disappointed some critics as it did not capture their powerful live performances, with undemanding playing and Garrett's vocals sounding stilted. Their second album Head Injuries , released on Powderworks in October 1979, was produced by former Supercharge member Leszek Karski. It mixed solid guitar rock with progressive flourishes and
20988-567: The use of renewable energy , such as hydro , wind power , solar power , geothermal energy and biofuel . According to the International Energy Agency renewable energy technologies are essential contributors to the energy supply portfolio, as they contribute to world energy security and provide opportunities for mitigating greenhouse gases . Fossil fuels are being replaced by clean, climate-stabilizing, non-depletable sources of energy. According to Lester R. Brown : ...the transition from coal, oil, and gas to wind, solar, and geothermal energy
21147-404: The use of alternative radioisotope production and alternative clinical technologies. Cyclotrons are being increasingly used to produce medical radioisotopes to the point where nuclear reactors are no longer needed to make the most common medical isotopes. However, the development of newer, more reliable and efficient particle accelerators also fuels the proposals for subcritical reactors with
21306-491: The world arena. In 2001, when Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) surveyed 100 music industry people for their Top 10 Best Australian songs of all time, "Beds Are Burning" was voted No. 3 behind The Easybeats ' " Friday on My Mind " and Daddy Cool 's " Eagle Rock ". At the 2001 APRA Awards ceremony "Beds are Burning" was shown on video and introduced by Australian Democrats Senator Aden Ridgeway as an Indigenous spokesperson on Reconciliation. "Power and
21465-560: The world of nuclear weapons has been a cause for pacifists for decades. But more recently mainstream politicians and retired military leaders have advocated nuclear disarmament . In January 2007 an article in The Wall Street Journal , authored by Henry Kissinger , Bill Perry , George Shultz and Sam Nunn . These men were veterans of the cold-war who believed in using nuclear weapons for deterrence . But they now reversed their previous position and asserted that instead of making
21624-764: The world safer, nuclear weapons had become a source of extreme concern. Since the 1970s, some countries have built their own second-strike capability of massive deterrence in the event of a military attack with weapons of mass destruction . Two examples of this second-strike capability are the Samson Option strategy of Israel, and the Dead Hand system of Russia. During the era of nuclear weapons testing many local communities were affected, and some are still affected by uranium mining , and radioactive waste disposal. It should however be noted, that countries can possess nuclear weapons without possessing nuclear power plants (as
21783-628: Was a founding member of the Surfrider Foundation . In 2000, Garrett was awarded the Australian Humanitarian Foundation Award in the environment category and in 2001 he received an honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of New South Wales . Garrett announced his departure from Midnight Oil in 2002, saying he wished to concentrate more fully on his environmental and social activism. Although no longer part of
21942-421: Was a hazard because scientists did not yet know how to manipulate the high-energy deuterium and tritium hydrogen isotopes used in the fusion process. According to most anti-nuclear groups, nuclear fusion power "remains a distant dream". The World Nuclear Association have said that fusion "presents so far insurmountable scientific and engineering challenges". Construction of the ITER facility began in 2007, but
22101-646: Was a massive demonstration at the Superphénix breeder reactor in Creys-Malvillein which culminated in violence. In West Germany, between February 1975 and April 1979, some 280,000 people were involved in seven demonstrations at nuclear sites. Several site occupations were also attempted. Following the Three Mile Island accident in 1979, some 120,000 people attended a demonstration against nuclear power in Bonn . In
22260-406: Was a strict policy that latecomers were not allowed to appear; and, as such, they were told they could not perform that day. In response, the group declared that they would never appear on the show, a promise they faithfully kept. Countdown presenter Molly Meldrum shaved his head bald, imitating Garrett, for its final show on 19 July 1987 and expressed regret that Midnight Oil had never appeared on
22419-422: Was an improvement by highlighting the group's strengths and growth. It peaked at No. 36 and by mid-1980 had achieved gold status. In April 1980 founding bass guitarist Andrew James left because of ill-health and was replaced by Peter Gifford (ex-Huntress, Ross Ryan Band). Further interest in Midnight Oil was generated by the popular Bird Noises EP , also produced by Karski, which peaked at No. 28 on
22578-464: Was appointed Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd . Following the 2010 election , he was made Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth by Prime Minister Julia Gillard . In the aftermath of the 2013 leadership spill , Garrett resigned from the Ministry and announced he would retire from politics at the 2013 election . In 2003, Garrett
22737-656: Was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia , "for service to the community as a prominent advocate for environmental conservation and protection, and to the music industry." In 2009, the French Government appointed Garrett an Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters . In 2010, the World Wide Fund for Nature presented him with their Leaders for a Living Planet Award. Born on 16 April 1953, in Wahroonga , Sydney , Garrett
22896-419: Was awarded €500,000 in damages. There are some energy-related studies which conclude that energy efficiency programs and renewable power technologies are a better energy option than nuclear power plants. The international nuclear fusion project International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is constructing the world's largest and most advanced experimental tokamak nuclear fusion reactor in
23055-414: Was criticised as belonging to sacred rituals and therefore not appropriate for rock songs. "The Dead Heart" had been written in response to a request by organisers of the 1985 ceremony to return control of Uluru to its indigenous caretakers ; Midnight Oil had originally resisted, arguing it would be more appropriate for an indigenous band to release the single. However, the organisers insisted, arguing that
23214-534: Was disputed by Garrett as a "short jocular conversation". Garrett was comfortably re-elected for Kingsford Smith in the election, with a 4.56% swing towards him. After Labor's victory in the 2007 election, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd appointed Garrett as Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts in the Cabinet , although responsibility for climate change was separated from the portfolio and handed to Senator Penny Wong . Although Garrett requested to represent
23373-657: Was held in New York City, involving 200,000 people. In 1981, Germany's largest anti-nuclear power demonstration took place to protest against the Brokdorf Nuclear Power Plant west of Hamburg ; some 100,000 people came face to face with 10,000 police officers. The largest protest was held on 12 June 1982, when one million people demonstrated in New York City against nuclear weapons. A 1983 nuclear weapons protest in West Berlin had about 600,000 participants. In May 1986, following
23532-566: Was more moderately successful, reaching No. 26 on the ARIA singles chart, No. 97 in the UK, No. 11 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks, and No. 1 on the Modern Rock Tracks. In Sydney in 1990, while Midnight Oil were taking a break, Hirst joined up with guitarist Andrew Dickson, drummer Dorland Bray of Do-Ré-Mi , guitarist Leszek Karski (Midnight Oil producer) and bass guitarist Rick Grossman of Hoodoo Gurus to form
23691-531: Was now a recognised public figure. In January 1985, Midnight Oil performed Oils on the Water , a concert on Goat Island in Sydney Harbour to celebrate Triple J 's tenth birthday, before a select audience of fans who had won tickets in a radio competition. The concert was filmed, simulcast on ABC-TV and Triple J, and released on video, which was remastered for their 2004 Best of Both Worlds DVD. In December 1985
23850-571: Was one of many prisoners of war who died in the sinking of Montevideo Maru . That sinking is considered the worst maritime disaster in Australia's history. He refers to this event in the opening line of the Earth and Sun and Moon track "In the Valley". In 2007, artist Michael Mucci entered a portrait of Garrett in the Archibald Prize , while in 2022 Anh Do 's portrait was a finalist. Garrett supports
24009-488: Was only a part-time band. They played for the northern-Sydney surfing community and, by 1975, were touring the east coast. In late 1976 Garrett moved to Sydney to complete his law degree. Farm then became a full-time group and changed its name to "Midnight Oil" by drawing a name out of a hat, leaving behind "Television", "Sparta", and "Southern Cross". The name "Midnight Oil" was inspired by the Jimi Hendrix song " Burning of
24168-549: Was put on the mill, meaning Gunns could be liable for criminal and civil penalties if the mill was approved and broke defined "environmental limits". That same year saw Garrett also rejected proposals to impound the Mary River through the construction of the Traveston Crossing Dam . Garrett determined that the impacts of the proposed dam on the threatened species of Australian lungfish , the Mary River Turtle and
24327-477: Was re-elected at the 2010 election , albeit with a substantially reduced majority, suffering a two-party preferred negative swing against him of 8.1%. After the election, Gillard promoted him back to the full Cabinet as Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth . In September 2011, Garrett announced an alteration of the National School Chaplaincy Program by offering schools
24486-510: Was released by Powderworks in November 1978 and peaked at No. 43 on the Australian albums charts. Midnight Oil's first single "Run by Night" followed in December, but had very little chart success, peaking at No. 100 on the singles charts. The band built a dedicated fan base, initially restricted to Sydney, which was extended to other Australian cities through constant touring – performing some 200 gigs in their first year. They became known for their furious live performances, which featured
24645-500: Was replaced by Peter Gifford . Gifford was himself replaced by Bones Hillman in 1987. Through a long and distinguished career, the band became known for its driving hard-rock sound, intense live performances and political activism, particularly in aid of anti-nuclear , environmentalist and indigenous causes. The following Midnight Oil albums peaked in the Australian Top Ten: The following Midnight Oil releases peaked in
24804-520: Was selected as Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Environment, Heritage and the Arts. On Thursday, 29 November 2007, Prime Minister elect Kevin Rudd named Garrett as Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts. The other members of the band continued to work together, but not under the Midnight Oil name. After a warm up gig the previous evening at the Manly-Warringah Leagues Club, the band, including Garrett, reunited to perform at
24963-406: Was some initial criticism from Labor members within the electorate, as the local branch had wished to select their own candidate; in the end, Garrett was comfortably elected for the seat in October 2004. In 2015, Garrett alleged in his autobiography and an ABC documentary that he had been handed an envelope containing "hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars" in cash by a representative of Clubs NSW at
25122-468: Was the eldest of three siblings. He suffered from severe asthma as a child. He attended Gordon West Public School and then Barker College in Hornsby before studying politics at the Australian National University (ANU), where he was a resident at Burgmann College , and later law at the University of New South Wales . His father died from an asthma attack while Peter was in his teens, and his mother died in
25281-528: Was their biggest international hit single, peaking at No. 6 in Australia, and No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 , No. 6 on the UK singles charts. "The Dead Heart" peaked at No. 6 in Australia, and charted on the Hot 100 and in the UK. "Put Down that Weapon" also charted in Australia, while "Dreamworld" charted on Billboard 's Mainstream Rock Tracks and at No. 16 on its Modern Rock Tracks . At
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