nuclear-news

This week – Climate and Nuclear News

Again – climate change is the big one.  As UN climate chief calls for clear report on ‘feasibility’ of 1.5C climate goal, it’s looking as though this goal is not achievable, and climate change could already be irreversible.  In 2016 atmospheric carbon dioxide will pass 400 parts per million – permanently. Speed of Arctic change shocks scientists.

But nuclear disaster could be imminent, too, as we consider the consequences of a nuclear war between India and Pakistan, with Pakistan upping the ante, with belligerent threats to India.

On the so-called peaceful nuclear scene, the focus is on South Africa. South Africa’s corrupt nuclear politics is like a nasty boil that developed slowly over years, and could now be ready to burst.

Shadow Courts – The Secret Tribunals That Corporations Use to Sue Countries.

EUROPE. The 100 billion pound bill for decommissioning Europe’s old nuclear power stations.

AFRICA. Risk of war in Africa escalates with rising temperatures.

SOUTH AFRICA.  South Africa’s nuclear power programme stalled.  Handing nuclear project to Eskom will limit South Africa’s Parliament control, and increase corruption. South Africa’s renewable energy success.

RUSSIA.  For Russia, Climate Change is Already Producing Fires that are Too Big to Fight

USA.

• Obama’s opportunity to reduce America’s nuclear arsenal, and reduce international tensions.
• Hillary Clinton – less hawkish than Obama.  Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump: policies on climate change.   Clinton and Trump both dance to the nuclear lobby’s tune. Hillary Clinton, evasive, contradictory on nuclear power, changed policy 9 times.
• San Onofre’s nuclear wastes a danger to public safety.
• Opposition to South Carolina becoming a nuclear waste dumping ground.
• Community protest has stopped development of deep borehole waste disposal method .

UK.  Hinkley Pt. Nuclear Power Contract Signed Days AFTER New Warnings About Areva-Creusot Defects.  At the end of the Hinkley nuclear power story – massive radioactive clean-up costs.

CANADA Forest fire risk in Canada much greater due to climate change.

JAPAN. Japan busting to market nuclear reactors to India, and busting the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty? Japan to formally decide to decommission Monju nuclear reprocessing reactor by end of year.   Fukushima. Japan mulls legislation requiring local government approval for restarting Fukushima No. 2 nuclear plant.  Fukushima ice wall failing to deliver on promise.TEPCO Delays Replacing Tainted Water Tanks. High levels of radioactive cesium pooling at dams near Fukushima nuke plant.

UKRAINE. Ukraine joining the renewable energy revolution

GREENLAND. Climate change will expose top-secret US nuclear project in Greenland.

IRAN. Iran complains that international financial sanctions are not being lifted quickly enough.

October 2, 2016 - Posted by Christina MacPherson | Christina's notes