The week in nuclear news

The pandemic and the development of the vaccine have dominated the news this week. Also, the impending USA electoral college vote is holding media attention, along with the potentially violent movement to overthrow Joe Biden’s election win.

The U.N. Climate Change Action Summit drew attention both to the scale ofthe action needed, and to the efforts being made by different nations .

On the broad news, nuclear issues are in the background. For me, life has been busy, too. So this week’s notes are mercifully short.

Dr Helen Caldicott on the nuclear lessons of the past – time to take note of them.

Greenhouse gas emissions transforming the Arctic into ‘an entirely different climate’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOV9QB4c4BA

Google headline news on “Nuclear” – articles are strongly pro nuclear, and for “Small Modular Reactors”, even more so.

Small Nuclear Reactors (SMRs) if they work, will arrive too late to make a difference to global heating.

Uranium Film Festival 2020 – a huge success under difficult circumstances.

Microwave Radiation ‘Most Plausible’ Cause Of Diplomats’ Ailments.

USA.

Biden’s opportunity to make much needed changes on nuclear weapons policy. House Armed Service Committee calls for new National Defense Strategy, including “no first use” nuclear policy. Denouncing the immorality of nuclear weapons also means to jail for some.
Nuclear powered electric vehicles? not existing, and not likely.
Opponents of the Ohio bailout of nuclear industry want more than just a freeze on this law.
Trying to test for cracks in nuclear waste containers that have to last for over a million years.

UK.

Significant problems for UK’s Trident nuclear deterrent , if U.S. Congress refuses to fund a next-generation warhead. The new way to hide the money splurged on nuclear weapons – via Small Nuclear Reactors.
Nuclear developers keenly await UK government support for new reactors large and small. Sizewell C nuclear power station, thrown into doubt as China ponders pulling out of £20bn project. Beware the nuclear road to nowhere.
British government’s “perpetual” lack of knowledge about £130bn clean-up of 17 old nuclear sites..

CANADA. Canada’s Coalition for Responsible Energy Development is sceptical about Small Nuclear Reactors. Federal funding for new nuclear reactors is a serious mistake that blocks swift ation on climate. With Small Nuclear Reactors (SMRs) Canada is back in the nuclear weapons business. Growing political opposition in Canada to Small Nuclear Reactors.

EUROPE. European Commission excludes nuclear power from the EU’s proposed green finance taxonomy,

FRANCE. France and European Union have not yet agreed on nuclear reform– Four organisations join in legal action aimed at stopping the Flamanville nuclear power project. Botches and crisis in France’s nuclear energy system.

JAPAN. Japanese govt trying to entice people by money grants, to come and live in Fukushima . For the first time ever, a Japanese court rules against a government approval on nuclear safety. Nuclear power industry stunned by Osaka District Court ruling canceling central government approval for reactor restarts. For safety the 40 year limit on nuclear reactor’s life should be kept. Japan’s power companies consider opening up Aomari nuclear waste site to other utilities.

IRAN. Iran hastens nuclear legislation in response to the assassination of its nuclear scientist. Iran’s President Rouhani ready to restore the nuclear deal. Iran clearly wants to maintain the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Iran Awards Military Medal To Nuclear Scientist Assassinated Last Month,

RUSSIA. Russian Ambassador to U.S. Sees Hope for Nuclear Arms Treaty Extension. Thieves steal equipment from Russia’s nuclear war ‘doomsday’ plane..

UKRAINE –Shutdown of 3 uranium mines in midst of dispute could lead to ecological disaster in Ukraine.

MARSHALL ISLANDS. The continuing tragedy and nuclear abomination of U.S. tests on the Marshall Islands.

AUSTRALIA. Far from “broad community consent”– nuclear waste dump plan for Kimba South Australia..