nuclear-news

The week to 19 May in nuclear and climate news

International politics teeters about over the Iran nuclear deal. Plans falter for nuclear summit meeting between Trump and Kim Jong Un. Trump will “decimate” North Korea unless Kim agrees to denuclearise the Korean peninsula.

Pro nuclear propaganda becomes more sophisticated and subtle. National Geographic now a stooge for the International “New Nukes”lobby

Scientists warn that worst-case climate change scenario could be more extreme than previously thought.  Climate change is heading for a major wipeout of the world’s insect species.

Facing the increasing threat of nuclear war.

Global 2 degrees C rise doubles population exposed to multiple climate risks compared to 1.5 degrees C  UN climate talks suspended until September.

Clean energy investment is headed for beating fossil fuels and nuclear.

INDIA. India’s dust storms intensified by climate change.

NORTH KOREA. In nuclear talks, Kim Jong Un fears risking the same fate as Muammar Gaddafi of Libya. Trump’s planned summit meeting with Kim Jong Un in doubt.  North Korea threatens to cancel US summit over military drills.    North Korea promises ‘total ban’ on nuclear tests: satellite photos show removal work at its test site.  Grave danger in hasty methods of closing down North Korea’s nuclear test site.  After closing test site, North Korea could later still resume nuclear bomb tests. North Korea ‘will never fully give up nuclear weapons’.

IRAN. Iran to negotiate with world powers to keep nuclear deal in place.

PACIFIC ISLANDS. New reports on humanitarian and environmental impacts of nuclear bomb testing in the Pacific.

UK

• The British government has offered 2 trillion yen ($18 billion) to Hitachi to built Wylfa nuclear power station.  In UK Parliament Greens Party demands the government comes clean about funding Hitachi for nuclear project.  UK govt denies reports that it will guarantee loans for Wylfa nuclear project.
•  Britain’s wind power stations providing more electricity than its nuclear stations, in first quarter of 2018. Leaked document shows Britain’s nuclear fuel supply at risk after Brexit.
• Concerns raised in UK Parliament about safety of communities along nuclear weapons transport route.  UK Nuclear-Free Local Authorities group (NFLA) slams decision to spend £2.5 billion on nuclear-armed submarines.
• So-called “independent” think tanks, e.g Britain’s Policy Exchange, paid to favour companies.

USA

• Trump administration’s incoherence threatens success of nuclear summit with North Korea.  Donald Trump is being manipulated by both Kim Jong Un and his own security adviser John Bolton. USA tells North Korea it must ship out nuclear weapons soon after nuclear summit.
•  Bernie Sanders says – America headed for war – as Trump ends the Iran nuclear deal .  Iran Deal: US Exit Opening For Russia? Exit Must Make Multiple Trump Friends Happy
• Trump administration abandons costly MOX failed nuclear energy project.  Union of Concerned Scientists says USA government was right to end the MOX nuclear reprocessing program. US could use canceled MOX plutonium fuel plant to make new nuclear weapons.
• More early closures of nuclear stations as many USA plants cannot cover their operating costs.  Alaska’s only nuclear power station to be dismantled.
• A New ‘Screw Nevada’ Bill Passes the House.  The struggle to vitrify radioactive waste.  Danger of moving nuclear waste to new site in New Mexico – Holtec the only winner.   Fraudulent data by a Navy contractor leads to questions over radioactive clean-up of Hunters Point.
• Minnesota Senate passes legislation that would change approval process for Xcel nuclear costs

FRANCE.  Trial of French activists who entered Cruas nuclear plant to demonstrate vulnerability of spent fuel storage pools Electricite de France (EDF) is lying about renewable energy: it’s really dedicated to nuclear power.

RUSSIA. Greenpeace demands strict safety controls on floating nuclear reactor in the Arctic.  Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom trying to market nuclear power to Chile, China, Cuba, Finland, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Spain and Zambia.

JAPAN. Japan’s planned Olympics torch relay route found to have high levels of radiation.   ¥1.13 trillion of taxpayers’ money later, Japan’s Monju nuclear reprocessing reactor a spectacular failure.   Despite costs, safety concerns, waste problem – Japan sets ambitious nuclear energy targets.    Japan’s nuclear regulator reviewing Rokkasho nuclear fuel reprocessing plant.  “When they called me a ‘germ’ I wanted to die”.

UKRAINE. Timothy Mousseau to lead research into radiation in Chernobyl dogs. A personal experience of Chernobyl nuclear radiation.

SOUTH AFRICA. The business case for nuclear power – Oh – it’s NOT GOOD. South Africa’s Energy Minister goes very quiet about nuclear power, at African Utility Week.

FINLAND. New problem is troubling Finland’s Olkiluoto 3 nuclear project.

SAUDI ARABIA. Saudi Arabia is seeking to enrich its own uranium.

CANADA. NDP and Greens call for closure of Pickering Nuclear Station in August.

AFRICA. Solar power is ideal for African countries – nuclear power just doesn’t make sense there.

BULGARIA. Bulgaria’s struggle to find the money for building Belene nuclear power project.

May 19, 2018 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes