nuclear-news

To 27 August – the week in nuclear and climate news

The thing about climate change is –  it’s all happening faster than we expected!  Only a few days ago, MEDIA MATTERS was highlighting the way that mainstream media was practically ignoring the Amazon forest fires. That is changing. World leaders are now alert to this international tragedy.The Amazon fires bring to the fore the awful dilemma facing climate scientists in telling the public the truth about the world’s climate crisis.

The recent Russian nuclear accident cast a bit of gloom over Russia’s launching of its floating nuclear reactor for the Arctic region. Questions are still flying around about the radioactive illnesses and deaths involved in that accident. Also – a general recognition of the Russian government’s record of secrecy about nuclear accidents.

I suspect that the USA and UK nuclear industries are getting pretty desperate about their commercial future, and the necessity to export new nuclear technology.   There’s a hasty push going on in Australia to buy Small Modular Nuclear Reactors. In a rater undignified rush, there are no less than 4 separate Parliamentary Nuclear Inquiries going on, with abnormally short times permitted for Submissions.

Distinguished scientist Martin Rees – world must fight climate change, don’t waste tax-payers’ money on space travel.

Massive wildfires are burning across the world- July was hottest month ever.  New fires – hundreds – in Amazon rainforests. Life on Earth threatened by climate change – loss of Amazon Forests.

Sea level rise only half the story – climate change is altering ocean waves.

Chinese Academy of Sciences warns on the safety hazards of new nuclear .

JAPAN. Hiroshima Round Table’s urgent appeal to save nuclear agreements.  International concern growing over Fukushima’s radioactive contamination of surface-level soil. Warning on radiation risks at some parts of Fukushima, for Olympic Games 2020. Controversy over radiation and heat surrounding Tokyo Olympics.  The Fukushima Nuclear Disaster and Its Tragic Aftermath.

GREENLAND. Who will clean up America’s nuclear wastes in Greenland?

ICELAND. Funeral for the first glacier lost to climate change.

USA.

• The Green New Deal – Bernie Fraser.
• Massachusetts Attorney General objects to transfer of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station license to Holtec. Plymouth League of Women Voters Sends Letter of Protest to NRC Re Plans to Approve Transfer of Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station to Holtec Inc.
• Grand space travel plans – to rescue USA’s collapsing nuclear industry? USA administration promotes space nuclear power for travel and for weapons. White House new system guidelines for nuclear power in space includes weapons grade materials.
• USA’s nuclear regulators concerned about possibility of an electromagnetic pulse attack.

EUROPE. 18 nuclear power plants in the EU are operating without a valid license.  Wind and rooftop solar could meet most of EU electricity needs. Renewables – onshore wind from Europe– enough to power the world.

IRAN. Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif visits G-7 Summit. Iran working productively with France, to save nuclear deal,

RUSSIA.

• As Trump trashed nuclear weapons treaty, Putin promises ‘symmetrical response’ to US missile test.
• Safety concerns about floating nuclear reactors, and Rosatom admits that electricity from small floating nuclear reactors is more expensive.
• Russia tells Nuclear Watchdog:Radiation From Blast Is ‘None of Your Business’. Nuclear monitoring stations went mysteriously quiet after Russian missile facility explosion. “ZATO” Russia’s many closed cities, – some the sites of nuclear accidents.

UK. Brexit proving a problem for the nuclear industry – shortage of welders for Hinkley Point C project.  Cumbria councillors worried at “regulated asset base” plan for residents to pay in advance for new nuclear build. Dismay at safety risks of restarting Hunterston Nuclear Reactor 4.  UK Office of Nuclear Regulation seems to have increased the number of cracks permitted in Hunterston nuclear reactor. Rolls-Royce in talks to sell French nuclear business to Framatome.

SOUTH KOREA. South Korea to increase radiation testing of Japanese food.  South Korea might make own food arrangements for Fukushima Olympic events.  South Korea demands answers over Fukushima radioactive water eventual sea dumping.

NORTH KOREA.  Kim Jong-un oversaw test of ‘super large multiple rocket launcher.    Toxic leak from North Korea’s nuclear programme.

UKRAINE. Bitcoin Hackers Charged As Nuclear Power Plant Security Compromised.

SOUTH AFRICA. South Africa scraps Russian nuclear plant plans.

CHINA. China dominates worldwide solar and wind energy generation.

August 26, 2019 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes