Nuclear, climate, news to 31 March

The United Nations has just held the first of two global summits to negotiate “a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination”.   This was sponsored by 57 nations, and with 125 nations represented, but the nuclear weapons-dependent  nations did not participate.

Does this mean that the conference is meaningless? Perhaps. Yet, increasingly, public opinion supports nuclear disarmament, and those governments are being challenged, to explain their support for nuclear weapons.

As for the “peaceful” nuclear industry – it is having a financial meltdown. Westinghouse’s bankruptcy, and Toshiba’s record loss, shed doubt on new nuclear build in America and Britain.

Globally, the Paris climate agreement will continue, while Trump Trashes U.S. Climate Policy.

Pope Francis backs nuclear weapons ban treaty. Buddhist Association joins Christian groups in support of historic UN nuclear weapons negotiations

Climate change forcing indigenous peoples from their homelands.

International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA): global economic growth possible with 2˚C scenario with Renewable Energy.

USA.

• America leads boycott of historic UN conference on nuclear weapons ban. $Trillions for nuclear weapons, as USA rejects UN nuclear ban conference.   How did the Pentagon lose $10 Trillion? Air Force B-2 to Get New Digital Nuclear Weapons.
• Would Trump stage a “terrorist situation” if his popularity went right down?
•  Will Westinghouse be able to complete any of its nuclear projects? South Carolina, Georgia, nuclear projects under the cloud of Westinghouse’s troubles. 
• Cover-up of America’s nuclear waste disaster: Hanford, Oak Ridge, Los Alamos, Westlake….  Concern about nuclear waste shipments to South Carolina.
• Remembering Three Mile Island.
• Nuclear power, once the “golden goose” for small towns – now a liability.
• Another pretend-environmental nuclear front group joins the throng- “Environmental Progress”.
• Trump attack, in his war on science and on the Earth’s climate.
• Governors of New York and California Reaffirm Commitment to Exceeding Targets of the Clean Power Plan. Wisconsin and Louisiana cities join 23 others in USA, in going for 100% renewable energy.
• Great Barrier Reef bleaching? No, according to Breitbart, that is fake news.

JAPAN.  11,000 Wikileaks documents related to Fukushima.   Residents furious over high court decision to revoke Takahama nuclear plant injunction. TEPCO fails to pinpoint melted fuel at Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.

NORTH KOREA. Need for America and China to work together on North Korean situation.

UK.  Ireland demands to be consulted on potential effects of nuclear power station on England’s west coast.   Nuclear decommissioning debacle is costly for Britain. Britain will struggle with nuclear regulatory system, after leaving European Union. Britain’s Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) sounds alarm over doctored papers and security breaches at French nuclear parts supplier.  As if in a department store sale day, foreign nuclear companies compete to sell their radioactive products to Britain.

UKRAINE. Danger to Europe of Ukraine’s nuclear corruption.

March 31, 2017 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes