Another anxious week in nuclear news

Some bits of good news – What went right this week: hope for the climate, plus more positive news. Nature has priority’: Rewilding map showcases nature-led restoration . Once Rocked by Nuclear Disaster, Fukushima Is Now a Renewables Hub. Solar Panels That Make Electricity at Night are Finally Here – And They’re Cheap and Don’t Need Batteries.

CORONAVIRUS. Global COVID-19 cases pass grave milestone as highly contagious BA.2 subvariant surges around the world.

CLIMATE. Pole to Pole with Paul Beckwith – I highly recommend this Radio Ecoshock interview with this top climate communicator

NUCLEAR. What can I say ? Are we on the brink of nuclear war? Can we have any confidence in our leaders to make sensible decisions? It is exhausting to rummage through the media spin in the search for accurate information.

Caitlin Johnstone sheds a critical gaze on media reporting on Ukraine, and asks why Julian Assange is criminalised for revealing military atrocities. Glenn Greenwald: The Censorship Campaign Against Western Criticism of NATO’s Ukraine Policy Is Extreme. How Much Are We Prepared To Sacrifice To Help The US Win A Propaganda War Against Putin?

NATO gloats over second, bloodier phase of Ukraine war

NATO’s military buildup on eastern flank to lengthen, broaden war — Anti-bellum

The US-Australia-UK pact seems determined to pursue great power competition at the risk of real conflict.

UKRAINE. Russian soldiers received ‘shocking amount’ of nuclear exposure at Chernobyl site – some may have less than a year to live. Carelessness of Russian soldiers around Chernobyl – shows danger of nuclear sites in wartime. Kyiv Independent news is anything but independent. It’s a mouthpiece for NATO-USA-Azov-nazi propaganda and unverified atrocity stories. Ukrainian blogger gets 15 years gaol for saying that Zelensky govt takes orders from other governments. Zelensky gives his vision of peace deal with Russia.

Zelensky adviser: Ukraine war can last till 2035, best option is for Russia to be broken

NATO’s shift to Asia-Pacific: Biden trip to Japan designed to rally Asia against Russia, China

USA.

Nonstop Corporate News on Ukraine Is Fueling Support for Unchecked US Militarism. Rep. Ilhan Omar: Accountability for Russia Means Abandoning US ‘Hypocrisy‘. Biden’s genocide comment raised concern . After Undermining International Criminal Court, US Now Wants It to Charge Russians, Dissent is dying in America – the backlash is vitriolic. Resilience: NATO offers grants to spy on, stifle dissent.
Extremely rare brain cancer appearing in people who attended a New Jersey school, close to former nuclear weapons fuel plant.
NuScale: Not new, not needed — Beyond Nuclear International . Oregon regulators have doubts about Natrium nuclear schedule for Kemmerer.
The average American tax-payer gave $900 to military contractors last year.
Hanford report reveals problem with nuclear waste solution. San Onofre’s not the only nuclear worry – there are “nuclear materials events” — lost or stolen radioactive material, radiation overexposures, leaks, and more. What should America do with its nuclear waste? Scientist fired after raising questions about safety at nuclear waste plant.
U.S. Jews Favor Return to Iran Deal.

CANADA. A call for World-class Cleanup at Chalk River Laboratories. Canada’s Federal Budget Funding for New Nuclear Reactors a ‘Climate Throwaway’ .

MIDDLE EAST. For the Middle East, the introduction of nuclear reactors poses dangers at every turn. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybdwXo14sQI

JAPAN. Japan severely breaches obligations under international law by persisting in discharge of nuclear-contaminated water into ocean . Japanese groups voice growing opposition, organize rallies over govt’s nuclear-contaminated water dumping plan decided one year before. Japan’s planned release of radioactive wastewater draws concern- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2RB7yw9ceE Protests in various locations demanding withdrawal of ocean discharge of treated water from TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Fukushima Thyroid Examination October 2021: 221 Surgically Confirmed as Thyroid Cancer Among 266 Cytology Suspected Cases

UK.

UK to get ‘‘special weapons”storage sites for USA nuclear weapons, – making a pre-emptive strike easier.
Nuclear power stations UK: the new and existing sites at threat of flooding from 2030 amid rising sea levels.
Dr Richard Dixon: Scottish and UK governments are on a collision course over nuclear energy and oil.
Touring exhibition celebrates 40 years on Wales county councils Nuclear Free Zones . Sizewell nuclear project: planning process drags on: thousands of objectors, yet tax-payer funding already promised!
Planning advises rejected Wylfa as unsuitable for nuclear development. No wonder Boris Johnson wants to ”cut red tape”.
UK’s energy strategy ”cowardly and incoherent” – solar and onshore wind are the practical options. Nuclear energy a useless distraction for UK – Green Party MP Caroline Lucas. Johnson’s ‘nuclear fantasy’ will not reduce rising fuel bills or rising temperatures- UK’s Nuclear Free Local Authorities.
No community in the UK has agreed to host a nuclear waste facility.
Nuclear Free Local Authorities deplore UK govt’s super-costly new nuclear energy strategy, and its rejection of energy conservation measures. Reclaim the Word “Clean” from the Nuclear Industry. Anti- Bradwell B campaigners slam Government’s boost for nuclear – ”never likely to see the light of day!”
Rolls Royce shares dive as JP Morgan warns that small nuclear reactors will not be profitable.
No country in the world has worked out what to do with its old dead, radioactive, nuclear submarines. No room at the dump: Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) fears Johnson’s nuclear ambitions will lead to need for second unwanted underground facility.

EUROPE. Able Archer: The NATO exercise that almost went nuclear. Nuclear and gas in EU taxonomy slammed as ‘greenwashing’. NATO’s incorporation of Finland, Sweden could pose nuclear threat to Europe — Anti-bellum. Europe aiming to stop importing gas, oil, coal from Russia, – but uranium for the nuclear industry – well, that’s OK.

RUSSIA. Fears sunken Russian warship Moskva was carrying nuclear weapons. Russia’s ‘broken arrow’: Fears that NUCLEAR MISSILES sank with Putin’s flagship Moskva.

NORTH KOREA. North Korea tests new weapon bolstering nuclear capability

FINLAND. Finland to buy as many as 2,000 drones, boost military ahead of joining NATO. Not all trade with Russia is stopped – Finland’s still getting nuclear power project built by Russia.

FRANCE. France working out how to save debt-laden nuclear company EDF. French presidential election – Macron and LePen have differing pro-nuclear policies – but in both cases, very costly.

CHINA. China’s view – After disrupting Europe, NATO aims to destabilize Asia, whole world: Chinese Foreign Ministry Chinese, Vietnamese FMs vow not to allow Ukraine-type tragedy in region

DENMARK. Denmark prepares nuclear emergency plan.

SOUTH AFRICA.. South African Anti-nuclear activist taking Energy Minister to court for firing him.

SPAIN. Spain outraged as massive US nuclear-powered submarine arrives in Gibraltar.

AUSTRALIA. Pine Gap’s role in China–US arms race makes Australia a target. Nuclear risks, the war in Ukraine, and Australia’s significant contribution to these dangers.