nuclear-news

Nuclear news – the coming year

As an Australian, this one is hard for me – so many countries, so many issues.

CHINA We are always being told that China is the big player, and will set off the wonderful new version of the “nuclear renaissance .”  That remains to be seen. Safety issues, Renewable energy successes, Public opposition –  it’s not all roses for the global nuke lobby.

CLIMATE CHANGE.  Nagging facts persist about nuclear lobby’s claim to fix climate change. A lot of people are realising that the Breakthrough Energy Coalition, the Breakthrough Institute and The Third Way are front groups for the nuclear lobby. Their propaganda will continue, but might not be effective.

IONISING RADIATION. Nuclear propaganda about this is a scary development. USA is still a leader in opinion about nuclear issues, despite its own failing industry. It would make life so much easier for the nuclear industry if radiation safeguards could be relaxed –  if we all found out that ionising radiation is OK after all. heck! there’s “hormesis” – telling us that radiation is good for us! he lobby’s grip on the Nuclear Regulation Authority, the EPA, The Department of Energy –  is  a worry.

FUKUSHIMA.  Off the agenda for the mainstream media, but still in crisis, as even PM Shinzo Abe has recently admitted.

UK. The saga of the Hinkley C Nuclear Project drags on – ever more expensive, ever more dodgy.

POLITICS UK. Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn throws a spanner in the discussion on rebuilding and actually using the Trident nuclear weapons system.  USA – Bernie Sanders is making anti nuclear weapons noises. Even Hillary Clinton airs doubts on this. Then there’s Donald Trump etc – it doesn’t bear thinking what might happen if that lot got in.

I know that there’s more –  India’s nuclear ambitions, North Korea’s inflammatory statements – it’s all too much.

On the positive side – RENEWABLE ENERGY grows apace. The Paris Climate Agreement showed a global good will to act.

January 8, 2016 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes