Chernobyl anniversary – nuclear news this week

Today is the 35th anniversary of the meltdown at the Chernobyl nuclear power station. The Chernobyl story continues .

Coronavirus. Globally there were about 854,000 new cases in the past 24 hours and over a third of those were from India –hellish second wave ‘tsunami’ ripping India apart.

Climate. Poorer nations are most disadvantaged by climate change, but are not getting much help from rich countries. The failure of the White House summit to produce a breakthrough on climate finance throws the spotlight on the G7 meeting in Cornwall in June, to be hosted by Boris Johnson.

A bit of good news –‘The Year Earth Changed’: Uplifting Wildlife Documentary With David Attenborough Heralds Earth Day.

Getting the facts straight about Chernobyl, nuclear disasters, and ionising radiation.

Artificial Intelligence is already a serious problem in military systems.

Insider threats targeting nuclear plants have always been a concern. A stressful pandemic exacerbates those existing risks.

Even nuclear executives must be embarrassed at the pro nuke propaganda aimed at young women.

JAPAN. Decision on Fukushima waste water should be in consultation with international agencies, not just a decision by Japan alone. Legal and other problems for Japan, with growing opposition to its plan for dumping Fukushima waste-water in the ocean. Fukushima waste water plan won’t win public confidence, no matter how hard Japan tries. Japan’s government bans shipments of black rockfish from Fukushima, due to high levels of radioactive cesium.

ASIA. Sri Lanka expels ship carrying nuclear material for China.

USA.

Is the US nuclear community prepared for the extreme weather climate change is bringing? Small nuclear reactors cannot meet the critical climate need – now, or ever. At climate summit, Biden includes support for the nuclear industry.
Rising threat of nuclear war is barely noticed.: Corporate media likes it that way.
70 years later, ionising radiation from nuclear bomb tests still found in U.S. honey.
Huge disruption for Northern New Mexico with electricity plans for Los Alamos plutonium cores production. Not necessary to increase USA’s nuclear arsenal – China’s goal is defence – a stronger-second strike arsenal.

Britain’s unlikely-to-succeed bet on Rolls Royce small nuclear reactors. ”Advanced” nuclear reactors not necessarily better: NuScale’s ”small” nuclear reactors not really small.
UK govt has a ”contingency plan”, in case Scotland becomes independent, and wants removal of nuclear weapons bases
Two Somerset Councils call for a public inquiry into EDF’s plans to dump Hinkley Point C construction’s radioactive mud into the Bristol Channel.
Scots financial firms invested £7bn in nuclear weapons.

UKRAINE. New research on papillary thyroid cancer confirms the accepted science on the harmful effects of ionising radiation. . Remarkable new photos inside the Chernobyl nuclear power station.

INDIA. France’s EDF imposes conditions on India, re massive nuclear station planned for Jaitapur. EDF will be “Neither investor in the project nor responsible for construction”.

SOUTH KOREA. S.Korean students shave heads in protest over Japan’s nuclear waste water plan.

IRAN. Iran Nuclear Deal Talks Advance as U.S. Offers Sanctions Relief .NEW ZEALAND. Nuclear test veterans seek audience with prime minister over family health problems.

AUSTRALIA. Scott Morrison’s plan for Australia to fund small nuclear reactors and other very dubious technologies that purport to combat global heating. Scott Morrison’s climate summit speech was littered with downright dodgy claims. Australian govt keeps mum about Japan’s plan to dump nuclear waste-water into the Pacific (no surprise – it originated from Australian uranium)