The past week in climate and nuclear news

People are experiencing “nuclear brink fatigue”. It’s only human, as right now, most of the world is unable to do anything about the impending showdown between USA and North Korea. It’s all too possible that both the North Korean and American regimes are now pondering just how many lives can be blown up while still assuring the leaders of staying in power. Brown and yellow lives are the risked ones, as North Korea can’t or wouldn’t attack USA. Meanwhile Donald Trump has assured that “If thousands die, they’re going to die over there. They’re not going to die over here — and he’s told me that to my face.” – Senator Lindsey Graham

Climate and nuclear concerns merge in Florida. With our news media focusing on Hurricane Irma, you’d hardly know that 40 million people are impacted by floods in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is being urged to get strong participation of women in climate change discussions and decisions.

International security must be part of the discussion on nuclear weapons ban treaty. The world now reaches a nuclear weapons stalemate. Militant groups can use drones as weapons.

Promising development in non nuclear production of medical isotope technetium-99m (Tc-99m).

Climate change did not cause hurricanes, but made them more destructive.

Very few scientific papers dispute climate change – and they all turn out to be flawed.

Fighting climate change: chocolate company Mars to spend $1 billion on this cause.

GREENLAND. Global effects of rapid thaw of Greenland’s permafrost.

USA.

Shutdown of Florida’s nuclear power stations in advance of Hurricane Irma. Wildfire burning in former Nevada nuclear site– Human-caused climate change amplified the damages and suffering associated with Hurricane Harvey . You don’t hear about this, but there WAS flooding at South Texas Nuclear Plant.
Again, President Trump threatens force against North Korea. Without any outcry, Donald Trump triggers a new arms race, promising $billions in new nuclear weapons contracts.
Trump’s devious sabotage of the Iran nuclear deal– America threatening Sweden because Sweden signed the UN nuclear weapons ban treaty. Trump is considering abandoning trade agreement with South Korea – (strange timing!).
USA’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant cannot fit in excess plutonium radioactive trash.
Dying Navy Sailors Push for Trial on Fukushima Meltdown. Lawsuit against Indiana University over nuclear lab spill.
America’s new nuclear reactors – after $2 billion in expenditures, none ready for deployment. 31 out of 32 South Carolina lawmakers received money from the utility and owners of failed V.C. Summer nuclear project. Nuclear power is on the nose, so the industry is launching an advertising campaign.

ANTIGUA and BARBUDA. Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda says mighty hurricanes are ‘living consequences of climate change’

NORTH KOREA. Kim Jong Un’s nuclear aim is to save his regime, not to attack Los Angeles. North Korea’s latest threats against USA. North Korea claims to have successfully tested hydrogen bomb. Danger: Plutonium nuclear fuel being transported by sea in the North Korean missile influence area. Underground complex of tunnels ready for Kim Jung Un’s escape, if nuclear war occurs. Satellites show landslides and land disturbances at North Korea’s nuclear site.

SOUTH KOREA. Radioactive particles from North Korea nuclear tests now found in South Korea’s air, land and water.

GUAM, OKINAWA. American military bases have made Okinawa, Guam, nuclear ‘targets’

JAPAN. Despite earthquake risks, Japan’s Kashiwasaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant might be restarted. Japan’s Rokkasho nuclear reprocessing plant runs into trouble yet again Tokyo Metropolitan Area is Widely Radioactively Contaminated. Ice wall at crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant damaged by typhoon rain.- Battling nuclear demons: Mental health issues haunt those who were the first line of defense after 3/11.

UK.

Confusion and anxiety over UK’s withdrawal from Euratom as part of Brexit.
Concerns over growing number of live bombs found near Hinkley Point Nuclear Power Plant.
Britain’s new nuclear power projects – a public spending disaster in the making. Japan will fully insure bank loans for costly UK nuclear projects!
Dismantling of Sellafield’s Pile Fuel Cladding Silo (PFCS) locked vault.
UK’s offshore wind farms set to be much cheaper than nuclear power projects.
Scotland tackles greenhouse gas emissions, with new Programme for Government.