nuclear-news

Nuclear news – week to 4 January

As Omicron rips around the world, attention turns to medical science. In this ever-changing story, conspiracy theories are rife, and trust in science is shaken. Trust in science is diminished, too, in climate change. By and large, media and governments seem content with a ”business as usual” policy.

And now, the European Union is about to declare that nuclear power has miraculously become ”clean”, ”green” and ”sustainable” – worthy of tax-payer funding – this is a real blow to the credibility of science.

Why a U.S.-Russia War Would Inevitably Be a Globe-Annihilating Nuclear War.

Will the European Commission buy into the lie that nuclear power is clean and green? Angry response in Europe to the draft European Commission plans to accept nuclear power ”climate-friendly” – eligible for tax-payer financial help.

Land and water ecosystems ‘stressed to a critical point’ .

Nuclear Twilight – the ”limited” nuclear war.

Germany, France, Britain, U.S. discuss Ukraine crisis, Iran nuclear talks.

The murky world of financing Small Nuclear Reactors (SMRs).

Increased compensation for those damaged by nuclear accident – OECD.

Threat of nuclear war: Not a thing of the past. UN Nuclear Ban Treaty conference postponed again because of Covid-19.

Radioactive radiation could damage biological tissue also via a previously unnoticed mechanism.

More fusion folly — Beyond Nuclear International

World urgently needs a Paris-style agreement for biodiversity .

COP 27 – the risk of the climate summit becoming a stalemate.

Our Oceans Are Not Sewers.

UKRAINE. A Ukrainian invasion could go nuclear: 15 reactors would be in a war zone. Ukraine aims to produce enough uranium for nuclear energy needs.

GERMANY.   

• German Greens fight plan to funnel billions of euros into the nuclear industry via deceptive taxonomy ”sustainable” label. Q&A: Why is Germany phasing-out nuclear power and why now?   Nuclear power in the EU taxonomy and Germany’s position. (Extract)    A technology that leaves behind hazardous wastes ”cannot be sustainable”.
• Germany’s Brokdorf nuclear station closes, so activists end their 35 year vigil against it. Germany shuts down half of its remaining nuclear plants. Germany will pull the plug on three of its last six nuclear power stations. 
• In Germany, coal-produced electricity has dropped, along with nuclear, while renewable-provided electricity continues to increase.

EUROPE. Dismantling of nuclear reactor will be expensive, but provide jobs for several decades. Germany aiming for far-reaching methods to reduce carbon emissions across all sectors. European Commission drafts plan to label gas and nuclear investments as ”green”. EU Commission’s draft taxonomy plan – ”a licence to greenwash”.

JAPAN. Growing radioactive waste crisis at Fukushima nuclear power plant. Despite widespread opposition, Japan plans to dump water from Fukushima plant into the Pacific Ocean. Japan’s plan for dumping nuclear waste-water into the sea. Protesters call for abolition of nuclear weapons. Naoto Matsumura Guardian Of Fukushima in TokyoPop March 2022. Japan to implement compensation rules for losses by Fukushima rumors.

 

USA. 

•  Biden’s First Year Foreign Policy Record May Be Worse than Trump’s .
•  Pentagon retains aircraft carrier, strike group in Mediterranean to confront Russia. 
•  NuScale’s Small Nuclear Reactors (SMRs) to go public with the dodgy Special Purpose Acquisition Company System . Japan to help build Bill Gates’ high-tech Natrium nuclear reactor in Wyoming. 
•  Wastes.  Harry Reid’s legacy – a staunch opponent of Yucca nuclear waste disposal site. USA reclassifies nuclear waste, with new interpretation, making it easier to move to storage. State of New Mexico demands federal investigation into Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) and federal nuclear programs. Vermont nuclear decommissioning committee drafting advisory opinion on nuclear waste policy. Yucca Mountain remains in debate over nuclear waste storage.

UK.

•  UK govt delays final decision on Sizewell nuclear project. Britain’s National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) advises government against new nuclear power projects. Risky for UK to plan for small and advanced nuclear reactors.   
• Britain under pressure to follow Joe Biden’s plan to honour nuclear test veterans.
• Scottish MP slams UK plans to increase nuclear arsenal.    Consider the potential risks of having nuclear submarines at Devonport Dockyard .
• Plutonium found on a beach near Sellafield. 
•   Strong local Council opposition to Hartlepool plan for hosting Britain’s nuclear waste dump .     Hard to swallow the manipulations going on in nuclear waste decisions on UK’s Geological Disposal Facility  
• Why nuclear power is a bad way to balance renewable energy .   UK’s fossil fuel use at an all-time low , as renewables generate 67% of Britain’s electricity.     
•   What it’s like to live in an energy efficient ‘power home’ I haven’t had to put my heating on in December  .

FRANCE. 

France to lead the European Council – a worrying situation as Macron cosies up to polluting corporations, especially nuclear. Massive leak of tritium at France’s Tricastin nuclear power plant. Nuclear authorities dismiss a massive tritium leak from nuclear reactor as unimportant. But should they?  France’s oldest nuclear power plant, shut in 1985, still highly radioactive. 

 With 15 nuclear reactors shut down, France faces risk of power cuts. France’s electricity consumers face curbs as EDF struggles with problems and shutdowns. Long and difficult dismantling of EDF’s graphite technology nuclear reactors to continue.

CHINA. China hits back at ‘double standards’ amid US tech war, Washington’s nuclear weapon concerns.

SWEDEN. Rare stoppage in Sweden’s Forsmark nuclear power station.

KAZAKHSTAN. Kazakhstan may build nuclear power plant to provide electricity for energy-guzzling Bitcoin mining. Bitcoin miners in Kazakhstan will rely on government building new nuclear power plant.

INDIA. India  Launches Nuclear Submarine With ‘Vertical Launch System’. India, Pakistan exchange list of nuclear power installations.

FINLAND. FINLAND. Finland’s underground nuclear waste facility in construction, seeks operating licence.

IRAN. Iran launches rocket into space as nuclear talks continue. Will 2022 Bring A Revived Iran Nuclear Deal — Or A Hard-Line Plan B?SOUTH KOREA. South Korea presidential contender vows to seek nuclear-powered submarines, months after Australia’s Aukus deal. 

AUSTRALIA. Australia’s nuclear-free collective efforts and achievements in 2021. The Australian government’s Kimba nuclear waste decision rides roughshod over Australia’s obligations under international law.

January 3, 2022 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes