nuclear-news

To 19 December – the week in climate and nuclear news

Climate has to dominate this week’s news. It seems that it takes a 15 year-old schoolgirl, Greta Thunberg to best spread the message, the reality of the planet’s situation. . Radio Ecoshock introduced some hard questions that have been ignored:

What social disruptions are being caused by global heating –  increased levels of malnutrition, starvation, disease, civil conflict and war – and not ecluding affluent nations?

Should we tell young people what we’ve done to the climate? (Too late: they are telling us.)

Far from perfect, but still, nearly 200 nations reached an agreement on climate action rules.

Some good news in the climate battle – over 1000 institutions to divest from fossil fuels. Makoma Lekalakala: ‘There should be no nuclear in climate financing’. Nuclear power is no answer to global heating – even if only because nuclear power is unaffordable. Global nuclear industry aggressively lobbying climate negotiators.

The drying of soils due to climate change is shrinking the world’s water supply.

Numerous nuclear accidents at sea (doesn’t inspire confidence for nuclear-powered space travel). No restraints on nuclear weapons use, if USA abandons Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

ARCTIC. Degrading permafrost puts Arctic infrastructure at risk by mid-century.

JAPAN. Japan’s nuclear export industry about to get the fatal blow.  High Iodine distribution, low intake among children after Fukushima nuclear accident.

UK. 

• Britain’s nuclear nightmare -the Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant. UK’s Sellafield nuclear reprocessing – a financial black hole for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.    Just the bare 60 years later, they will start to dismantle UK’s Dounreay nuclear reactor.
• Hitachi having trouble financing new nuclear reactors in Wales – may pull the plug on Wylfa project. Hitachi calling on Britain to further subsidise new nuclear reactors for Wales.  Cost of Chinese-designed and largely Chinese-owned nuclear reactor for Bradwell UK will probably blow out hugely.  Concern that Hinkley Point C will have ‘devastating’ impact on sea fish numbers in Burnham.
• UK’s Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) to prosecute Sellafield over worker’s exposure to radiation.

USA.

• Amazon planning to run a “global brain” for the Pentagon.
• USA Congress Democrats and Republicans want strict controls on any nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia.  USA govt will appease murderous Saudi Arabia regime – or maybe not?. Saudi Arabia, the Khashoggi murder case: the nuclear connections with Terra Power, Bill Gates, Breakthrough etc.
• Radioactive fallout killed up to 690,000 Americans from 1951 to 1973.
• Trump wants to reclassify radioactive waste from nuclear weapons to ‘Low Level’ so disposal is cheaper. Environmentalists fear that reclassifying some nuclear wastes means abandoning clean-ups. Maine watchdogs keep close eye on Trump’s bid to change nuclear waste storage rules.
• What to do with used nuclear fuel, from Illinois to California.  The mad plan to store nuclear waste on the beach.  Transport of nuclear wastes to USA’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant is stalled while maintenance work is on.
•  Washington helping nuclear workers to get compensation: State will defend its law.
• Magnitude 4.4 earthquake strikes Tennessee near nuclear power plant .

AUSTRALIA. Australian government’s hypocritical performance at UN Climate Summit.

FRANCE. How France multiplies hazardous nuclear waste. Replacing nuclear with renewables would save France $44.5 billion.

RUSSIA. Russia claims US ignoring outreach on nuclear treaty dispute. Russia woos China to join nuclear framework with US.  Russia marketing nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia.– White House fury as Russian nuclear planes visit Venezuela .

TAIWAN. Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CFTPP) held over Taiwan , because of its referendum rejecting food from Fukushima.

GERMANY.   Explosion and fire at German Advanced Nuclear Fuels plant.     Residential batteries ready to compete with fossil fuels and nuclear in Germany.

FINLAND. Radioactive reindeer in Finland and Norway.

IRAN. Iranian hackers take aim at foreign nuclear experts and US official.

INDIA. India has 140 Nuclear Warheads – And More Are Coming.

BULGARIA. Bulgaria’s planned nuclear power station unlikely to ever be built.

BELGIUM. Call for Belgium’s unsafe Tihange nuclear reactor to be shut down.

CHINA. Chinese military is building a test facility to simulate thermonuclear explosions.

 

December 19, 2018 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 1 Comment