Nuclear “education” – theme for February 2019

We’re now in the era of “STEM education” – Science Technology, Engineering, Mathematics” – and how the nuclear industry loves this! Don’t get me wrong. I think that everyone should have a good knowledge especially of maths and science.

BUT – alongside the current fervour for STEM, is a very wrong downgrading of the humanities – the so-called “soft subjects”. At this critical time of climate change and nuclear danger, we really need the insights from art, history, culture, sociology – the human studies – to help us to know what to do.

The nuclear industry thrives on this almost religious belief that technology is the answer. And of course, who is to educate us about nuclear technology, and how much we need it etc? That’s a no-brainer. On the whole, education about nuclear power relies on information from the nuclear industry. That is either not forthcoming or is a comfortable ‘we know best’ assurance, allied with technical information – designed to reiterate that only the nuclear experts can really understand it – so don’t bother your pretty little heads about it.

Much of the media mindlessly regurgitates information from the industry, but fortunately, not all of it.

It’s in academia that the nuclear industry increasingly gets a foothold, and of course, universities like to get the funding grants. Just a few examples: University of Birmingham (UK) University of Bristol; University of Oxford; Kyoto University. University of California. University of Tasmania.

But, of course, the nuclear lobby ‘s “education” is all over the place, with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) running courses in the Asia Pacific and elsewhere. And Russia, expanding its nuclear propaganda to Asia, Africa, the Middle East.

Community education is a nuclear lobby speciality – to Boy Scouts, many other organisations, and especially to where the industry wants to dump radioactive trash.

Would we trust tobacco companies to control education about healthy lungs, and lung disease? So why rely on the IAEA etc for education about nuclear power?

January 25, 2019 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's themes

11 Comments »

Really good commentary in that article, btw.

Comment by Frank Labuschagne | February 1, 2019 | Reply
I dunno, I’m not european so I can’t say much but this seems important. Maybe some more knowledgeable people feel like saying something to educate regulators.

UNECE invites comment on Draft Report on Redesigning the Uranium Resource Pathway
Submit comments by close of business on 15 February 2019.
> View/Download: Redesigning the Uranium Resource Pathway, Application of the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources for Planning and Implementing Sustainable Uranium Projects, Draft for public comment [external link] , United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Dec. 14, 2018

http://wise-uranium.org/ureg.html#UNECEPATHWAY

Comment by Frank Labuschagne | February 7, 2019 | Reply
Radon Risk: A Global Estimate of Radon’s Contribution to Lung Cancer

“Radon gas can seep into homes through cracks in floors and foundations. Even for people who have never smoked a cigarette, exposure to radon and its decay products can lead to lung cancer.1,2 Smoking compounds the risk, but according to new estimates published in Environmental Health Perspectives, radon exposure itself may be responsible for 14–17% of lung cancer cases and 3% of all cancer mortality in the 66 countries for which national data on radon exposure are available.3”

https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/EHP4169

Really? Wow, what sort of other joyful happenings would radon be related to, perhaps in the mining and agricultural industries? I do have to ask though,

https://newsmaven.io/indiancountrytoday/archive/radon-s-deadly-connection-with-uranium-mining-as-seen-from-navajo-nation-dOy4B8yU9kSsyNLaRlvVwA/

First random thing I sought. And her daughters.

Comment by Frank G Labuschagne | February 17, 2019 | Reply
I’m having a bit of a moral dilemma here, Christina. Like I know fluoride is intimately tied to uranium. Of course, this is very personal statement so I don’t expect it to be posted.

Comment by Frank G Labuschagne | February 17, 2019 | Reply
I ask, merely for admission, It is obvious enough. But I could write it off, I guess.

Comment by Frank G Labuschagne | February 17, 2019 | Reply
- I’m sorry. I got a whole heap of weird comments, and I just trashed the lot. Yours must have gone west, too. Permission about what? (And, I will be out of action for a coupla days. Things happening on the home front)
  
  Comment by Christina MacPherson | February 19, 2019 | Reply
  - That’s rhetoric. This isn’t.
    
    Comment by N/A | February 20, 2019
How uranium is destroying us

https://beyondnuclearinternational.org/2019/02/17/the-uranium-map-in-our-bodies/

Comment by Doug | February 18, 2019 | Reply
Please support this website!

Uranium watch.org

This lady moved from rad crazy canyonlands Utah because of the Greed and tourism . It is radioactive as hell there too. The dumn Anglos want a nuclear power plant close by. Same dumn Anglos that want Nuscale nuclear power for Utah and Nevada the sunniest and most wind suitable places in the worldI would encourage all to visit this website in Navajo land and support it.

https://www.uraniumwatch.org

Wise Uranium
JANUARY 2019

KCWCD NEW WATER RIGHTS AGREEMENT WITH
BLUE CASTLE HOLDINGS

The Kane County Water Conservancy District (KCWCD) has held 2 closed executive sessions to discuss a new water agreement with Blue Castle Holdings Inc. (BCH).

In 2007, KCWCD leased 29,600 acre-feet of water to BCH (in the name of their predecessor). BCH is the promoter of the Blue Castle Project nuclear reactor near Green River, Utah. In September 2016 BCH was supposed to start annual payments of $100,000 for the lease of the KCWCD water from the Green River. BCH has not made any payments. The annual payments, late fees, and interest to KCWCD now add up to $400,500, with an additional $320,400 owed to the San Juan Water Conservancy District.

The agendas for the December 2018 and January 2019 KCWCD Board meetings state the Board would discuss a new water agreement with BCH in closed executive sessions. If a new lease is agreed upon, to replace the defaulted lease, the agreement will be made publicly available.

BCH last wrote to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in 2011, indicating they would submit an Early Site Permit Application (ESPA) in late 2012. Since then, BCH has not written the NRC. Clearly, the BCP is not moving forward, and BCH does not have the funds to pay the Districts as required by the agreements. In 2017 the State Engineer extended the time to show proof of beneficial use of the water rights for an additional 10 years, beyond the original 50 years).

Comment by Doug | February 18, 2019 | Reply
The Uranium Map of our Bodies

https://beyondnuclearinternational.org/2019/02/17/the-uranium-map-in-our-bodies/
https://mobile.twitter.com/BeyondNukesInt/status/1097194062480896001?p=v

Comment by Doug | February 18, 2019 | Reply
Something for Frank about lead, arsenic, radon, Uranium from Mining tailings in South Africa
You should start a blog Frank. I think you are a smart guy. You have WiFi. I live in BF Texas by Midland and cannot even get wifi. I like your links

https://stuartbramhall.wordpress.com/2019/02/18/south-africas-gold-mines-radiation-sickness-and-lead-and-arsenic-poisoning/

Comment by Doug | February 19, 2019 | Reply