nuclear-news

to 6 December – nuclear news

Some bits of good news :  Greece says its entire electrical grid ran on 100% renewables for the first time.  Efforts to Save Endangered Blue Butterfly Quadruples its Population–but Also Saves a Lupine from extinction.
Coronavirus. 

(COVID-19): Weekly Epidemiological Update.

Climate.  Nature needs $384 billion a year, and other climate change stories you need to read this week. 
Climate techno-fixes keep planet on ‘palliative care’.

Nuclear. I’ve been a bit obsessed with Australia this week. The probable nuclearisation of my country could proceed so fast, –  with the enthusiasm of Australian war-mongers, to embrace our role in American plans for a war on China, enthusiasm of American firms to sell nuclear-capable aircraft to us, and News Corpse and the noisy minority extreme Right touting for small nuclear reactors.

Japan is the country often forgotten in the Anglophone media. Our website www.nuclear-news.net keeps news on Japan up to date, because our amazing contributor, dunrenard, provides thorough information translated from the Japanese originals.

AUSTRALIA.

•   Australian PM Anthony Albanese urges US government to end pursuit of Julian Assange. Julian Assange and Albanese’s Intervention. 
•   Albo nukes nuclear energy idea. MP Ted O’Brien’s “grassroots” survey linked to a firm that promotes NuScam’s small nuclear reactors. South Australian Premier and Opposition leader enthuse about nuclear military submarines, and nuclear power, except for the costs. 
•  U.S. weapons firm Northrop Grumman  no doubt salivating as Australia looks to buy its nuclear-capable B-21 stealth bomber. Australia a”pot of gold” for America’s military section to wage war in space.
•   Mining lobby tricks government with its big taxpayer fairytale.

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CLIMATE. Climate change brings risk of flooding to the multi billion pound nuclear project Sizewell C.

ECONOMICS. 

• UK government desperate for investors in its Sizewell C nuclear project, as it pays out the Chinese company previously involved. Sizewll C nuclear white elephant could cost up to £43 billion.  Eco-Unfriendly White Elephant? Stop Sizewell C’s Alison Downes vs. EDF’s Prof Michael Fitzpatrick https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXouiZv_DRU    
•  Marketing. Emmanuel Macron picks a bad time to promote France’s nuclear nuclear technology in a marketing tour to USA. Macron pushes a “renaissance” while French nuclear flops. 

ENERGY. Warning of power cuts for France, as nuclear reactors are working at half capacity. Potential for ‘worrying’ Hinkley Point C delay highlights need for renewables. Europe, weaning off fossil fuels from Russia, but still dependent on Russia for nuclear fuel.

ENVIRONMENT. UK govt goes ahead, with Sizewell nuclear project, despite strong objections on environmental grounds, especially about water use.

LEGAL. Pursuing Assange in a US court could cause even more embarrassment than the WikiLeaks’ publications. European General Court refuses Austria’s appeal against the Commission’s decision to support 2 nuclear reactors for Hungary.

Japan. A book titled “Fukushima Daiichi NPP Accident Nakadori Litigation” (published by Sakuhinsha, Inc.) The compensation standards for voluntary evacuees from the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident will finally be reviewed on May 5, and there are concerns about whether the standards will be commensurate with the actual situation.

MEDIA. NATO Narratives and Corporate Media Are Leading to ‘Doorstep of Doom’

NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY. Ukraine’s nuclear plants 

face uncertain future . 

USA trying to use Philippines as a guinea pig for its unviable small nuclear reactors – and for military purposes. No legitimate reason to support the 

controversial nuclear technology planned for New Brunswick. Talking

 football pitches but not in Qatar.

OPPOSITION TO NUCLEAR. No place for nuclear in NY’s clean energy future.    140,000 signatures of “opposition” to extension of operation period and reconstruction of nuclear power plants Submitted to the government “Reduction of dependence is the voice of the people”.

POLITICS. 

• Britain may be scaling back its nuclear plans.. UK Funding subsidy to French firm EDF, for the £26bn Hinkley Point C nuclear plant even if it does not start operating until 2036. UK’s £26bn Hinkley Point C nuclear station now faces 11 year delay. 
• UK government to take 50% stake in the French development of Sizewell C nuclear station.
• Small modular reactor plans to be blocked by the Scottish government. 
• ‘A form of self-destruction’: Japan weighs up plan to expand nuclear power. Japan’s Ministry’s action plan drops nuclear policies set after 3/11.  Japanese  plaintiffs against Onagawa  NPP claim that the wide-area evacuation plan is ineffective.
• Iran increasing its nuclear power. 
• The complicated politics of nuclear power.

POLITICS INTERNATIONAL and DIPLOMACY. 

• UK Taxpayers to hand China millions of pounds to quit Sizewell nuclear plant.
•  Vladimir Putin open to talks on Ukraine if West accepts Moscow’s demands. 
• NATO Exists To Solve The Problems Created By NATO’s Existence. NATO Expands but Original Anti-Russia Mission Is Static 73 Years On. U.S. to use “all tools” to evict Russia from Abkhazia, S. Ossetia, thus paving way for Georgia’s NATO membership 
• Why a new convention to protect nuclear installations in war is a bad idea.

SAFETY. 

• ‘Guinea Pig Nation’– Lax rules for new reactors deliberately endanger communities. 
• War and Nuclear Power: Stakes Are High for People, Environment, and Industry. Situation at Ukrainian nuclear plants worrying as shelling and power cuts threaten containment. UN votes to press countries to stop terrorists from getting nuclear weapons.   IAEA hoping to get a protection zone at the Zaporizhzia nuclear power plant.     
• ‘A form of self-destruction’: Japan weighs up plan to expand nuclear power. Concrete melted off ‘pedestal’ for damaged reactor in Fukushima.  Evacuation of Iitate Village’s Nagadori District, Fukushima Prefecture, to be lifted in May.
• Workers at hazardous nuclear waste site test positive for drugs.

SECRETS and LIES. Stolen cryptocurrency has fuelled North Korea’s nuclear program. Could it collapse amid market turmoil? UK government may be covering up the extent of its involvement in the arrest and incarceration of Julian Assange.

SPINBUSTER. China keeps aggressively surrounding itself with US bases. Expert panel full of proponents of nuclear power plants to discuss direction on March 28th, extending operation period and developing next-generation models, rushing to conclusion on “Prime Minister’s directive.

WASTES. Nuclear Free Local Authorities call for Community Partnerships to include critics of the UK undersea Geological Disposal Facility plan. Misleading claims about the supposed recycling of nuclear wastes.

WAR and CONFLICT. Explosion at Nuclear Airbase Just 150 Miles From Moscow Opens Stunning New Phase of War https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFug2Wf3DcU       Britain’s bunkers offer little chance of survival after a nuclear attack. Imperialist wars—and what could be done about them — IPPNW peace and health blog.

WEAPONS and WEAPONS SALES. 

• Broken promises: how nuclear armed states are failing on their commitments to disarm. 
• Secrecy on USA’s new nuclear stealth bomber, and of course, secrecy on its cost to taxpayers. 
• Thousands rally in Rome against arming Ukraine. Weapons company Raytheon continues to be the winner in the Ukraine war, with new $1.2 billion surface-to-air missile contract . Blinken: NATO nations have provided $40 billion in weapons to Ukraine, more on way. 
• Kim Jong Un wants North Korea to be a nuclear superpower – the real risk is a regional arms race. 
• ‘Deliberate ambiguity’: Israel’s nuclear weapons are greatest threat to Middle East.

WORLD CRISES. The Guardian view on biodiversity collapse: the crisis humanity can no longer ignore.

December 6, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment