The past week in nuclear and climate news

This week, I’m briefly aberrating, to draw attention to the situation of Julian Assange. No, this is not directly relevant to nuclear or climate issues. But, knowing the corruption and lying ingrained in the nuclear and fossil fuel industries, it’s important to be mindful of the role of whistleblowers. The Australian government, which generously supports Australian convicted murderers and drug dealers in foreign lands, has done nothing to help Australian citizen, Julian Assange.  Assange is in dire danger of extradition to USA, of being locked up, “disappeared” forever, because in 2010 he exposed US war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan.   The branding of this truth teller as “criminal” should be a warning to the world.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8j42o04AZA

On nuclear issues – India and Pakistan came close to the brink.

And the media is awash with propaganda about nuclear energy being essential to combat climate change. Especially propaganda about “new nukes” – small nuclear reactors (SMRs) . The reality is that it’s desperate hubris about a nonexistent technology without a future. Despite heavy promotion, SMRs are too expensive and there are no buyers.

CLIMATE – Climate change threatens millions of Bangladeshi children, warns UNICEF.     Some good news. Dozens of Countries Have Been Working to Plant ‘Great Green Wall’ – and It’s Holding Back Poverty.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIj764m7bys

Before we enter “a new nuclear age” – learn from the newly declassified Chernobyl health records.

Risk of nuclear weapons use is now at a record high.- Nuclear weapons accidents and losses 1950s – 2000s.

Book – “Deadly Dust – Made in the USA: Depleted Uranium Weapons Contaminating the World”

Challenges in Nuclear Verification– IAEA .

Julian Assange, Chelsea Manning, and the campaign to criminalise whistleblowing.

Reflective roofs can reduce overheating in cities and save lives during heatwaves.

EUROPE. European Parliament votes to exclude nuclear power from receiving a green stamp of approval on financial markets.

JAPAN. Japan Business Federation, Keidanren, wants maximum service life of nuclear power plants extended to over 60 years.  Few evacuees are likely to return next week to parts of Okuma, host of Fukushima nuclear plant.  New legal action compensation claim by 25 Fukushim evacuees.  Japanese panel says that people under 40 should have iodine tablets ready, in advance of nuclear emergencies.

USA.

• Absolute stalemate in nuclear negotiations, but Trump says that his relationship with Kim Jong-un is“very good.” U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hopes that North Korea will just hand over its nuclear weapons to USA.
• U.S. Congress members angry at Trump govt’s approval of licences for exporting U.S. nuclear know-how to Saudi Arabia.  Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard slams decision to sell Saudi Arabia nuclear weapons tech.
• Green New Deal must not include nuclear power, which is not a viable solution to climate change- Friends of the Earth.
• Hanford nuclear mess; the clean-up is delayed by the Trump administration.
• Trump govt allowing nuclear power stations to Regulate Their Own Safety. Nuclear Regulatory Commission fails to recognise the real danger of dirty bombs. Nuclear Device Assembly Facility In Nevada Desert at risk of earthquakes.
• Another new nuclear gimmick going way over budget – the “Virtual Test Reactor”.
• Rewarding failure: Taxpayers on hook for $12 billion Vogtle nuclear boondoggle.  Nuclear industry is aggressively milking USA States for subsidies, despite Exelon profits.  New Ohio Bill to promote nuclear energy, excludes wind and solar.
• USA Nuclear Workers Compensation deliberately dragging out process?
•  60 years and $1.2 billion to dismantle Three Mile Island nuclear reactor.  Hanford contractor responsible for radiation spread avoids penalty.  USA’s Secretary For Promoting Nuclear Energy, Rick Perry, wants Yucca waste dump site, not a bit worried about earthquake danger.
• Climate change is getting REALLY serious – could produce Financial Crisis.

SAUDI ARABIA. Saudi Arabia moves forward on developing a nuclear industry.  Tensions in volatile Middle East region, as Saudi nuclear program accelerates.  Saudi Arabia resists IAEA’s inspection regime, as it completes its first nuclear reactor. IAEA head UN nuclear inspector asks Saudi Arabia to agree to safeguards on nuclear material.

CHINA. China will fall short of its nuclear power generation capacity target for 2020. China to Resume Approving Nuclear Power Plants.

SWEDEN. Doubts on safety of Sweden’s copper canisters for radioactive wastes.

UKRAINE. Ukraine’s President Poroshenko issues nuclear decree, demands new reactors be built.

FRANCE.  It’s likely that Flamanville nuclear reactor will be delayed yet again, with discussion on how to fix faulty welds.  France’s Orano (formerly bankrupt Areva) to send MOX fuel to Japan.  France’s ‘public consultation’ on old nuclear reactors – full of bureaucratic jargon – no debate took place.

KAZAKHSTAN. Research on gene mutations caused by nuclear radiation – Kazakhstan .  Russia keen to market nuclear reactors to Kazakhstan.

SOUTH AFRICA. Concerns about radioactive waste incidents – Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI)

UK. 

•   Britain’s Ministry of Defence’s failure to dispose of retired nuclear submarines.  Scottish National Party demands public inquiry into the decommissioning of nuclear-powered submarines. Britain’s nuclear submarines, intended to harm foreign lands, now pose grave danger at home!  Massive costs of managing UK’s dead nuclear submarines.
• Westminster Abbey urged to cancel nuclear weapons ‘thanksgiving’ service .
• UK: No talks, no sites identified” regarding nuclear waste burial.    Local Councils in England, Northern Ireland and Wales reject any involvement in nuclear waste dumping.
• UK and EU agree to continue nuclear fusion project in Britain, despite Brexit. Safety rules relaxed for some UK radioactive wastes, due to fears of supply disruption after Brexit.
• Doctors want UK to be at the forefront of international nuclear disarmament.
• 4 Sound reasons why Blackwater Against New Nuclear Group (BANNG) opposes Sizewell nuclear project.
• Explosion at Vulcan nuclear submarine site at Dounreay.

BRAZIL. Former Brazilian President Michel Temer indicted on corruption charges Involving nuclear plant bribes.

SPAIN. Spain to Shut Down Nuclear Plants And Push Forward Clean Energy Plan.

GERMANY.  Renewables provide over half of German net power in March .

CANADA.  Canada replaces largest North American coal plant with solar.

NEPAL.  Nepal assures South Asian doctors that UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weaponswill be ratified soon.

April 9, 2019 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes