nuclear-news

The nuclear issue is less covered, and could be seen as less important than those two present world crises.

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But here’s the problem. The global nuclear lobby is quietly organising, and the impending Biden-Harris administration in America is giving that lobby new impetus. It has been easier for the anti-nuclear and clean energy movement to oppose the policies of that bullying sociopath Donald Trump. It will be harder to oppose Biden and Kamala, who, like Barack Obama, are supporters of, and beholden to, the nuclear industry.

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I have found all the news quite overwhelming this week. While I acknowledge the urgency and importance of coronavirus and climate, I think that, from now on, I might need to confine my news to  nuclear issues, (which is where this newsletter started).  The nuclear threat is going on, as it were, under the radar. Politicians and communities are being sucked in by clever pro nuclear propaganda and financial incentives, all this helped along by slick and uncritical media coverage.

Some bits of good news   Grass Restoration Project is a Virginia Success, Planting 600 Acres That Grow to Become 9,000.Growing food together is growing soul food, too.

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The beginning of the end for nuclear weapons?

Some problems that will handicap the development of Small Nuclear Reactors.

As with every week, the Google headlines about nuclear power mostly lead to articles that promote it.

JAPAN.  The accumulating radioactive water is another Fukushima disaster crisis.  The next generation of LDP leaders embrace both carbon neutrality and the elimination of nuclear energy.   Due to shutdowns, Japan has only one nuclear reactor working.  Japanese nuclear regulator’s website hit by possible cyberattack.  In desperate search of disposal sites for its nuclear waste, Japan offers poisonous grants to two small villages.

USA.

Climate.    Biden – Harris win is a win for the climate.  U.S. Senate election results – a disappointment for climate action, but with a couple of bright spots.  United States under Donald Trump formally exits Paris Agreement on climate change.

Nuclear. The most frightening prospect – Trump remaining still in control of nuclear weaponry.  Biden could take swift action on nuclear weapons policy and arms control agreements.   U.S. Navy to spend $billions on two Columbia-class nuclear missile submarines. Sudden resignation of head of USA’s National Nuclear Security Administration. U.S. Nuclear Bomb Overseer Quits After Clash With Energy Chief.   America’s Kings Bay peace activists to be sentenced Nov. 12 and 13.  Cuban missile crisis -a reminder that nuclear war could so easily still happen.  A USA Senator reflects on the anniversary of the Cuban missile crisis.

• Nuclear lobby is happy with the Biden-Harris election result.
• Bill Gates and ORANO (formerly the bankrupt AREVA) aim to start nuclear shipping, despite its history of failures.   Bill Gates has another go at getting taxpayer funding, for  another nuclear venture (ships this time).
• Explaining the diseconomics problems for the NuScale small nuclear reactors plan in Utah.  Several U.S. utilities back out of deal to build Small Nuclear Reactors.
• Exelon may be about to split off its unprofitable nuclear generation business.  Ohio Nuclear-Plant Owner’s Bankruptcy Plan Upheld by Appeals Court.
• New Los Alamos spin-off aims to put nuclear reactors in space.
• Texas governor wants Trump to oppose nuclear waste dump plan.

UK. 

• Britain to nationalize its nuclear weapons industry. Exploring the reasons why Britain is to ‘re-nationalise’ its nuclear weapons.  UK govt’s spin to Scotland, promoting nuclear submarines – but the Scots are nae sae daft.   Shares in nuclear weapons company Serco crash, As UK govt nationalises the industry.
• UK’s ‘small nuclear reactors’ – the real agenda is the funding of nuclear weapons.   Small and large new nuclear reactors in Britain’s so-called ‘green industrial revolution‘
•   Nuclear now costs twice the price of renewables and the gap is growing.
•  Sizewell C – Britain walking into a trap that benefits only the nuclear industry. Boris Johnson at a critical point on the decision about Sizewell C nuclear construction.   Before the UK’s govt White Paper, approval to be given for Sizewell nuclear development.  No guarantee that Britain’s £20 billion Sizewell nuclear project will actually go ahead.    Warning to UK government on Sizewell nuclear power project –is it value for money? Fears of local community about drugs and sexual exploitation in the 10 year Sizewell C nuclear build.
• A new nuclear power plant at Sizewell is the wrong choice for a zero carbon Britain. Climate Policy – Scotland. Welsh families in the shadow of Wylfa nuclear station are slowly being pushed out.
•  Climate Change – Hubris or Nemesis for Nuclear Power.

 

RUSSIA. Putin orders Russian government to try to meet Paris climate goals.

CANADA. Canada’s Bruce County Council postpones voting on nuclear waste bunker plan.

SOUTH  AFRICA.  Covid-19 divides and weakens the nuclear sector in South Africa.

UKRAINE.  Chernobyl’s bumblebees still affected by radiation.

GERMANY. Nuclear wastes from Sellafield UK to arrive in Germany.  Nuclear Technology Germany Association says Small Nuclear Reactors (SMRs) will always be more expensive than large ones.

POLAND.  Poland’s nuclear energy plans not likely to be supported by the European Commission.

FINLAND.  84% of Finland’s population support signing up to the U.N. Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty.

BELARUS.  Anxieties, memories of Chernobyl, as Belarus launches new nuclear power station.  Belarus opens nuclear plant opposed by neighboring Lithuania.

Philippines.  Nuclear power – simply unaffordable for the Philippines.

TURKEY.  Russian company with powerful connections withdrawa from Turkish nuclear plant operation.

EUROPE.  Europe still without a final disposal solution for its most dangerous nuclear waste.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO. The tragic nuclear history of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

AUSTRALIA. Jo Biden’s win leaves Scott Morrison looking pretty silly on climate policy. Biden as president would pursue climate ‘cheaters’, such as Morrison’s Australia.