nuclear-news

This week in nuclear and climate news

It’s all sounding a bit same-same: nuclear posturing from Kim Jong Un and from Donald Trump. Trouble is – in our atmosphere of “nuclear brink fatigue’, it still IS getting closer to the nuclear brink.

I don’t know about you, but in my patch, Australia, well you just wouldn’t know that from Sept 20, the 10-page treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons will be open for signatures from any UN member state. No media coverage. It’s as if the thought of nuclear war just doesn’t matter. Hell, it could even be an acceptable idea, nowadays. Or maybe not.

Same-same on climate, too.  But again, not really, as the planet’s weather patterns change inexorably,  glaciers melt, and mainstream media covers the subject less than ever.

The global impact of glaciers shrinking as climate change affects them. Satellites reveal global fingerprints of sea-level rise.  – Pope Francis urges climate change sceptics to consult with a scientist.

Global Doctors Congress recognises nuclear war as the greatest public health threat.

About The World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2017  Nuclear power industry in  decline, as renewables get ever cheaper and more effective. The problem of plutonium: justification for its reprocessing is now dead.

UK UK’s ‘Operation Temperer’ replaces police with military personnel at nuclear power plants.— Police see Sellafield nuclear site seen as “a great strategic target for terrorists”.  EDF warns on Britain’s nuclear safety problems, in the exit from the European Union. Closed since 1977, Dounreay Fast Reactor at last being emptied of radioactive fuel elements Spectacular drop in the cost of offshore wind brings Hinkley nuclear plan into question.

USA. Nuclear 

•  Conference No War 2017: War and the Environment September 22-24 in Washington, D.C.
• A new book by 27 psychiatrists warns about Donald Trump 
• USA bombers and Japanese fighter jets drill over East China sea, Seattle a target for Kim’s nuclear missiles, says local politician.  Fearful Californians prepare for a nuclear attack
• As national security adviser, did Michael Flynn secretly promote a U.S.-Russian project to build dozens of nuclear reactors in the Middle East?
• Remembering America’s nuclear scientists of The Mahattan Project, those who died young because of nuclear radiation.
• Owners of South Carolina nuclear plant tried to hide negative report on the project.
• City of Zion stuck with costly, dirty, dangerous nuclear wastes.

USA Climate

• Climate change, extreme wildfires, and lung damage.
• Trump administration’s budget will cripple program for forecasting hurricanes!.
• Over 300 American Organisations Endorse Sweeping Climate Bill.
• We know that human-induced climate change is real – its role in Irma and Harvey.
• Wilder and more frequent wildfires – the new normal.
• CNN the only Sunday morning political show to mention climate change when discussing Irma.
• As hurricanes rage, USA’s Republicans in Congress Work to Gut Environmental Protections .

NEPAL. Himalayas facing grave threat from climate change.

IRAN.UN nuclear watchdog defends Iran deal.

RUSSIA. Russia to advise USA to stay in the Iran nuclear agreement.  Mayor of Russian cvoastal towm makes a fuss about abandoned radioactive generator, and other nuclear junk sunk in oceans by Russia

NORTH KOREA.  North Korea Fires a Ballistic Missile Over Japan for the Second Time in Three Weeks.   Mystery seismic energy release following North Korea nuclear test.

SOUTH KOREA. President Moon says No to nuclear weapons in South Korea. South Korean opposition party in USA asking Washington for nuclear weapons.

FRANCE. EDF has increasing safety problems on its nuclear power stations in France.

KAZAKHSTAN. Kazakhstan’s international low-enriched uranium bank makes the world LESS SAFE

September 16, 2017 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes