Nuclear and climate news this week

Global problems intertwine. Global heating contributes to epidemics of infectious diseases, by promoting the spread of disease vectors, like mosquitoes. There is no established link between covid-19 and climate change. However, the way we are altering the planet will make the spread of some diseases more likely. National responses to the coronavirus pandemic bring the opportunity to tackle climate change. To get a perspective – the climate crisis is a greater catastrophe than Coronavirus.

The current story of Captain Brett Crozier, captain of the nuclear aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, illustrates the moral poverty of the secretive nuclear culture, and the moral poverty of USA’s nuclear commander-in-chief, Donald Trump. The ship, with nearly 5000 crew, had a number of cases of coronavirus. The captain wrote to the Navy, begging to have the sailors evacuated, a plea which was rejected. Later, the sailors were evacuated, but the captain was fired. President Trump explained that what Crozier did “was terrible” .

But that’s just one nuclear ship – what about the world’s nuclear ships and nuclear submarines? How safe are they, with warship crews now falling victim to COVID-19 ?

Some bits of good news – Another Roundup of Positive Updates on the COVID Outbreaks From Around the World. Earth’s Ozone Layer Continues to Repair Itself. (Also – if you can persevere with the video “Sam and the Plant Next Door”- it’s quite uplifting. )

Despite propaganda from nuclear/coal front group, Breakthrough Institute, NOW IS the time to talk about climate change. The Climate Crisis Will Be Just as Shockingly Abrupt as the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Put people and health before nukes. New hypersonic weaponry complicates Nuclear Arms Control Regime. Noam Chomsky on the urgent need to eradicate nuclear weapons.

Covid 19 and government responses are affecting nuclear construction world-wide. The nuclear industry and the impact of coronavirus. A creeping catastrophe: the world’s nuclear reactors are getting dangerously old.

JAPAN. Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant’s deadly hazard – highly radioactive sandbags.-TEPCO plans to take 30 years to release Fukushima nuke plant water into sea or air . Countries may use coronavirus crisis to rein in climate commitments: Japan a case in point. Protective gear shortage hits Fukushima workers. Coronavirus question mark still hangs over Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

UK. Doctors warn on coronavirus danger for Australian citizen, Julian Assange, imprisoned without conviction, in a coronavirus incubator. Expert opinion recommends furloughing Britain’s Trident nuclear weapons. EDF’s hypocrisy –Hinkley C nuclear construction continued, despite pandemic, as “essential” work. Sizewell C nuclear project: community has lost faith in the integrity of EDF. UK ‘s new nuclear projects further delayed. Sam and the Plant Next Door – growing up by the nuclear power plant. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMhYngrEgZU

USA.

Sailors on nuclear aircraft carrier cheer their captain who put their health above his career. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayaLwHW-244.
Trump’s stringent sanctions on Iran could result in a dangerous backlash. The Kings Bay Plowshares 7 in gaol for 2 years, awaiting sentence for their protest action against nuclear weapons.
214 airmen tested positive for COVID-19: but USA still ready to wage nuclear war.
Nuclear Regulatory Commissions plans for lengthy lifetimes for U.S. nuclear power plants.
Indian Point communities oppose Holtec’s bid to take over nuclear station.
PANDEMIC. The pandemic is being used by Trump administration to help polluting industries. Workers at Limerick nuclear station in fear of getting coronavirus. Limerick nuclear station worker tests positive for coronavirus. Pennsylvania Senators concerned about coronavirus response plan at Limerick nuclear plant. Pilgrim Nuclear Plant transfer to go on despite coronavirus concerns. Cook nuclear station employees prepared to camp at the plant. Cordova Exelon nuclear plant has worker with confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. Nuclear plant contractor at Susquehanna Steam Electric Station nuclear power plant in Salem tests positive for virus.
EFFECTS OF PANDEMIC Worker fatigue is a worry at U.S. nuclear stations, as NRC allows longer shifts. Nuclear Regulatory Commission pulls back inspectors, because of Covid 19. Problems of New England nuclear reactors most are offline. Action on pandemic means that Hanford nuclear waste clean-up is stalled.
Anxieties over proposal to allow some nuclear waste to be disposed in landfills. Danger in transporting spent nuclear fuel to New Mexico.
Radiation poses major obstacle to future deep-space astronauts bound for Mars.
Different federal laws complicate legal case about radiation exposure and teenager’s brain cancer.

UKRAINE. Wildfires in Ukraine: authorities say that those near Chernobyl are now extinguished. Firefighters battle forest blazes near Chernobyl nuclear site. Radiation spike as forest fire hits Chernobyl nuclear zone .

RUSSIA. Russia’s response to coronavirus risk for nuclear stations – isolate the nuclear workforce. The Russian point of view on nuclear arms control.

CANADA. Canada’s Nuclear Waste Management Organization to spend millions on propaganda.

CHINA. Nuclear power plant shut down by host of tiny shrimp clogging filters.

BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA. Bosnia and Herzegovina oppose Croatia’s nuclear waste plan.

SWEDEN. Sweden’s Vattenfall AB’s 44-year-old Ringhals-1 shut down, as energy prices fall.

GERMANY. Germany averages more than 50% renewables over March quarter.