To 21 April – nuclear news this week

Global COVIcooled.D-19 death toll passes three million as pandemic shows no sign of slowing down.

‘Relentless’ climate crisis intensified in 2020, says UN report.  Pandemic had no effect on emissions but made impacts of global heating even worse for millions of people, report says.

NUCLEAR: The news, (as usual, not covered much in the mainstream media) has been dominated by Japan’s decision to dump Fukushima waste-water into the Pacific Ocean.  That’s a process that will go on for decades. And, there’s no sign of the radioactive water ceasing to accumulate, as the melted cores of the damaged reactors have to be constantly cooled.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sSm2Ph855o

The most prominent nuclear news in mainstream media is the unrelenting push to depict nuclear as essential for fixing climate change. This deceptive claim is rarely questioned.  The current theatre of battle is Europe, watched with anxiety by the global nuclear lobby, as they seek tax breaks and subsidies.

Some bits of good news –    Sir David Attenborough supports new technology to enable true recycling of plastics.   Drought proof ”cooling houses” use salt water and cardboard to grow tons of healthy produce in the desert.

Net Zero Without Nuclear. Puerile publicity tactics of pro nuclear publicist “Think Atom”.

U.N. experts concerned at Japan’s decision to dump Fukushima nuclear waste-water into the Paific. Fukushima: How the ocean became a dumping ground for radioactive waste.

Iran and Israel – the situation shows the strong connection between nuclear power and nuclear weapons– small nuclear reactors with enriched uranium fuel.        A quick return to the Iran nuclear deal is needed to avoid a real nuclear crisis.

Investigative journalism – Plutonium programs in East Asia and Idaho will challenge the Biden administration.

Electricity customers pay excessive costs for nuclear power – Egypt, Turkey, UK, France, Russia.

With breathless enthusiasm, media applauds another nuclear lobby confidence trick – ”Earth 300”.    Can cryptocurrency be justified in a climate catastrophe?  Catastrophic sea level rise predicted.

American Physical Society – scientists discuss global threats -pandemics, cyberattacks, over-population, climate, nuclear annihilation…

IRAN. Progress in Iran nuclear talks but resolution still far away. Iran to enrich uranium to 60% after ‘wicked’ nuclear site attack,. Iran has named a suspect for the recent attack on its nuclear facility.

ISRAEL. A shadow war between Israel and Iran hangs ominously over nuclear talks in Vienna. Israel appears to confirm it carried out cyberattack on Iran nuclear facility.

JAPAN. The danger of Japan dumping Fukushima wastewater into the ocean. Fukushima nuclear wastewater ‘fundamentally different’ from normal plants: Chinese ministry. Fukushima: Japan announces it will dump contaminated water into sea. Japan scraps mascot promoting Fukushima wastewater dump. Regulator’s stop to restarting Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant a blow to nuclear company Tepco.

CHINA. China concerned about Japan dumping Fukushima nuclear waste water into the Pacific. China to Japan: If treated radioactive water from Fukushima is safe, ‘please drink it’.

SOUTH KOREA. South Korea aims to fight, at International Tribunal, Japan’s plan to empty Fukushima water into Paific Ocean. South Korea raises with USA its worries about Fukushima water to be dumped into the Pacific Ocean.

EUROPE. Nuclear comes out as far more expensive than any other energy option.

CZECH REPUBLIC Czechs exclude Rosatom from nuclear tender after dispute with Russia.

UK. 

• Scottish Greens’ manifesto includes pledge to force Westminster to remove nuclear subs from Faslane. 
• UK and Ireland Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) endorse Jonathon Porritt’s report on Net Zero Without Nuclear. Nuclear power combined with nuclear weapons – confronts Britain with an intractable problem.
•  What is the real reason behind UK design approval for China’s proposed nuclear reactor, supposedly for Bradwell? UK’s pursuit of risky investment in nuclear energy may result in no investment in affordable and effective technologies to combat climate change. 
•  Secrecy over new conditional coal mine licence applications for Cumbria – no public scrutiny.

IRELAND. Governments of Ireland and Northern Ireland are urged to move fast on renewable energy transition, and ignore calls for nuclear power.

CANADA. Trudeau government’s extraordinary push for small nuclear reactors – tax breaks, no environmental assessment … Bill Gates and 28 other billionaires pushing their small nuclear reactors, on the pretext that they’re ”clean”. Reforms needed at Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. In Ontario, opponents of nuclear waste disposal join forces .

USA.

•   Nuclear space craft very clearly is part of nuclear weapons programme. They don’t hide it anymore. Space travel is all about nuclear power and nuclear weapons in space. USA’s nuclear rocket plan, and the Nazi history behind it. 
•  Democrats reintroduce ban on US using nuclear weapons first. 
• USA’s Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin – a ”soldier’s soldier” and a useful purchaser for Raytheon’s military merchandise.
• US lawmakers introduce bill to stop Saudi Arabia from obtaining nuclear weapons.
•   New nuclear power may not be feasible in USA – former NRC chair says. Ratepayer advocate calls on New Jersey Supreme Court to reverse decision allowing subsidy to nuclear power. 
•  Governor Cuomo announces protections for safe closure of Indian Point Nuclear Power Facility. PNM Resources to replace its Palo Verde nuclear energy with 100% solar and battery. 
•  A new plan for disposing of nuclear waste at USA’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. 

•  US backs Japan’s Fukushima plans despite S Korea’s concerns. 
•   Sexual harrassment: reUSA’s National Nuclear Security Administration could improve prevention and response efforts in its nuclear security forces.

ISRAEL. Israel (itself having 80 nuclear weapons) will do ‘‘whatever it takes” to stop Iran getting a nuclear weapon.

FRANCE. Nuclear power will be a big issue in France’s 2022 presidential election. French MPs urge Macron to provide data about nuclear waste buried in Algeria. It’s a dead end: the French wish to include nuclear power as ”green” in the EU’s sustainable finance taxonomy.

SOUTH AFRICA. South Africa’s mismanagement of nuclear waste. South Africa’s history of ‘‘state capture” by the nuclear industry.

NEW ZEALAND. Growing opposition to Rocket Lab in New Zealand

AUSTRALIA.

AUSTRALIA. Persistent dishonest propaganda leading us to war against China. Australian Strategic Policy Institute sees nuclear submarines as a step towards the full nuclear chain. Australian-Chinese company Greenland Minerals to be thwarted in its bid for uranium and rare earth mining in Greenland. 

April 21, 2021 - Posted by Christina MacPherson | Uncategorized