The week in climate and nuclear news

In our anglophone world, it doesn’t seem to matter that much, when floods hit Asian countries. But USA? That’s different. As I write, Hurricane Harvey is hitting Texas. Well, they’ve had hurricanes before, but climate change just makes them that much more severe.

I fear that we are all getting “nuclear-crisis-North-Korea-fatigue”. A pity, as North Korea and USA continue to ramp up the nuclear ante.

CLIMATE. Climate change threat: ALASKA’S PERMAFROST IS THAWING – Coral bleaching is happening across the Pacific Ocean. For the first time, tanker crosses the Arctic without icebreaker. Investment fund company Vanguard calls for climate change risk disclosures. Omigawd! Climate Change is messing up our wine supply!

NUCLEAR. Ionizing radiation: Radiation protection standards need to be improved. Women seen as powerful advocates for the nuclear lobby.

KOREAN PENINSULA. As USA and South Korea hold military exercises on Korean peninsula, Russia flies nuclear bombers around the peninsula. Clarifying the facts on North Korea. -Head of the U.S. military’s Pacific Command says diplomacy — not military action, is the answer to North Korea crisis. South Korean President Moon Jae-in warns USA against military action on North Korea.

USA. Nuclear

Donald Trump ready to use ‘full range of capabilities’ against North Korea, says US ambassador. “There’s no military solution [to North Korea’s nuclear threats], forget it – Steve Bannon. Trump preoccupied with the idea of nuclear annihilation, but knows little about nuclear weapons.
Trump planning to decertify Iran’s compliance with the international nuclear deal?
Lockheed, Raytheon winning companies [Trump has shares] to start USA’s $1.46 trillion missile spend-up.
USA’s Dept of Energy gives Rick Perry the pro coal pro nuclear report that he wanted.
Trump’s dangerous use of Twitter – prompts a move to buy Twitter, and ban Trump’s tweets.
For the first time, the nuclear lobby states the essential role of ‘peaceful’ nuclear energy in nuclear weapons making. –
The State, South Carolina, names the people who brought on the nuclear power fiasco.- Despite the financial fiasco, nuclear executives busily planning for more bonuses.– It would take a miracle to salvage South Carolina’s abandoned nuclear power projects. -Nuclear industry just haemorrhaging money.– -Ohio Governor Not Backing Bailout for State’s Nuclear Plants.
Hanford nuclear site – a rich source of comedy for John Oliver.

USA.Climate. The Trump Southeastern States will cop the hardest costs of climate change. No free speech in Trump’s America when it comes to climate research. – Exxon Mobil misrepresented climate change to deliberately mislead the public. -America’s National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has deleted references to climate change from its site. America’s federal advisory committee on climate change abolished by Trump!

INDIA. Massive protest : thousands against French Nuclear Project in Jaitapur.

JAPAN. Another $5bn US suit against TEPCO over Fukushima nuclear disaster. Japan’s Lobbying to Export Fukushima Produce. -Fukushima ice wall facing doubts as project nears completion. Fukushima aftermath: General Electric and Tokyo Electric Power Co sued by Navy families for wrongful death.

RUSSIA. Mysterious forest explosion a year ago- now revealed to have been a failed Russian missile launch. Russia’s Rosatom buying into the wind energy business in India, as well as in Netherlands.

INDONESIA. “Dirty radioactive bomb” planned for attack in Indonesia – using THORIUM

IRAN. Iran fully compliant with its obligations under the nuclear agreement. Inaccurate translations in media increase tensions between Iran and USA.