The week in nuclear news – to 18 June

Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs

Nations with nuclear reactors are slowly waking up to the fact that mounting nuclear waste is a global emergency.   At the G20 meeting in Japan,  Japan proposed setting up an international framework for cooperative research into how to dispose of high-level radioactive waste from nuclear power plants. The first meeting on the framework is planned for October in France.

A bit of good news: First UK Supermarket Chain to Eliminate Plastic From Produce Will Save 1,300 Tons of Plastic From Landfill

Nuclear power is far from “emissions free”.

Escalating collapse of global insect populations.

Julian Assange and WikiLeaks, Journalism on trial, Scahill, Hedges, Pilger and more: the charges, the defense, what you can do.

USA.

• Catholic priests, some in gaol, some facing gaol – for dramatic opposition to nuclear weapons.  Shelby Surdyk, Alaska’s nuclear disarmament youth campaigner.
• In US House, Democrats stop Republicans’ push for low-yield nuclear weapons. Danger in Trump’s decision to keep nuclear weapons data classified.  U.S. military intelligence agency increases accusations against Russia about nuclear testing. Importance of ratifying Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
• Trump is more interested in helping nuclear companies to sell to Saudi Arabia, than in the well-being of Americans.  Former US NRC Commissioner Merrifield Registered as Foreign Agent (FARA) for Saudi Nuclear .  Rick Perry, USA’s Secretary on Behalf of the Nuclear Industry.     NUCLEAR ENERGY LEADERSHIP ACT Some USA politicians push legislation for USA to be global chieftan in new nuclear reactors.
• Sad to see U.S. progessive politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sucked in by the nuclear lobby?
•  U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard from Hawaii wants the U.S, government to provide unclassified report on Runit nuclear waste dome.
• Multibillion dollar plutonium pit factory – jobs, jobs – yeah – but is it safe, or even necessary? Yet more potential defects at nuclear power stations.
• The continuing and ever-increasing costs of America’s nuclear wastes.  Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak restates opposition to Yucca Mountain restart plan.  Oyster Creek Nuclear Station’s nuclear waste, and opposition to the Holtec plan.  U.S. Department of Energy moves to redefine ‘high-level’ nuclear waste. More waste coming to WIPP?
• Extreme heatwaves predicted for USA cities.

FRANCE. Electricite de France (EDF) has financial woes, hopes to save itself by switching from nuclear to renewables?

JAPAN. Japan’s restarted nuclear reactors could be forced to shut down for safety measures to be implemented.

NORTH KOREA. Living with a nuclear North Korea: how to move beyond the impasse.

RUSSIA. Investigative journalism. How Russia’s nuclear industry co-opted religion.

KAZAKHSTAN. HBO’s Chernobyl Stokes Anti-Nuclear Mood in Kazakhstan .

UK. UK Labour’s energy policy means that nuclear energy could be prioritised over renewables.  Climate change denier makes big donations to Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt.

INDIA. VCK Chief Thol. Thirumavalavan opposes Nuclear fuel storage facility in Kudankulam plant.

UKRAINE. “Chernobyl” TV series – was drawn from the testimony of those who were there.  Chernobyl meltdown: the melted metal, with uranium and zirconium, formed radioactive lava.  Chernobyl ‘suicide divers‘ saved Europe from nuclear devastation.  Birth defects in the Chernobyl region.    “Chernobyl” TV series gets high rating, highly viewed in Russia and Ukraine. The clean-up of the Chernobyl nuclear wreck– the costs and international effort.  Holtec and Ukraine developing Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (dodgy underground devices)

IRAN. Iran to further scale back compliance with nuclear deal.  Japanese PM Shinzo Abe says Iran has ‘no intentions’ to make or use nuclear weapons.

LITHUANIA. Lithuanian Energy Institute scientists seriously working on nuclear decommissioning system.

June 17, 2019 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes