2023 December 22 « nuclear-news

The Spread of Radiation Internal Contamination thru Fresh Produce in Japan.

contaminated foods 15 june 2016

[Photo] Green: vegetables, Brown: mushrooms, Navy blue: seafood.

FROM THE ARCHIVES – June 15, 2016

Here is the map of Japan, which indicates the spread of radiation contamination studied with fresh produce.

Everyone should be careful and aware that radiation contaminated food is being distributed anywhere in Japan, not only in Fukushima Prefecture.

To know the exact measure, becquerels level in each food to be consumed is becoming vital so as to not be harmed internally, knowing that radiation exposure internally is much more harmful than external exposure : at least 100 times more harmful.

Professional insight is there important. In Japan today professional insight is only presently given by White Food company, whose main concern is now to sell food that is not radioactive contaminated. (If only once proven wrong White Food would lose its credibility, which is the foundation of their company.)

Why is this happening ◾️? Because radioactive contamination in distributed foods is harder to be known, to be detected than the geographical distribution of hotspots in Japan which can be easily detected and are now well listed.

As an example, although it is not well known, the best shiitake mushrooms are mostly produced in Fukushima prefecture, and from there distributed all over Japan, some even exported abroad.

Map of mushrooms only. Type details.

Recently, information about contaminated foods is become more available, than just after the accident. Nevertheless radioactive contamination is ongoing and well present in food everywhere as it shows on the map above.

Data Sources:

Radioactivity inspection map per category & destination list links

Seafood: http://news.whitefood.co.jp/tag/map_fish/

Meat: http://news.whitefood.co.jp/tag/map_meat/

Mushroom: http://news.whitefood.co.jp/tag/map_mush/

Beans: http://news.whitefood.co.jp/tag/map_bean/

Fruit: http://news.whitefood.co.jp/tag/map_fruit/

Vegetables: http://news.whitefood.co.jp/tag/map_vegi/

Rice, grain: http://news.whitefood.co.jp/tag/map_rice/

Water, tea: http://news.whitefood.co.jp/tag/map_drink/

Radioactivity inspection map of food (2015) information source
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
2014 monthly test results

http://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/kinkyu/0000045281.html

2015 monthly test results

http://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/kinkyu/0000084439.html

Article Sources:
http://saigaijyouhou.com/blog-entry-10727.html
http://sharetube.jp/article/2958/
https://news.whitefood.co.jp/news/foodmap/

Special credits to Kitagawa Takashi for the informations

Translated by D’un Renard from Japanese.

December 22, 2023 Posted by dunrenard | Fukushima 2016 | Food contamination, Fukushima Daiichi, radiation | Leave a comment

A tribute to Herve Courtois

Those loyal viewers who have been with nuclear-news.net for so many years will appreciate the work of d’un renard – yes, Herve Courtois , who like the beautiful little animals that he admires, has consistently and brilliantly been a hunter.

But Herve’s hunting has been – for the facts , – for the truth.

Lately, he has been uncovering the truly dreadful facts about the genocide in Gaza - a matter that no serious news communication can ignore, and a matter also perilously close to nuclear war.

But for the past 13 years, d’un renard’s hunt has been to find out, expose, and communicate the facts of the Fukishima nuclear meltdown and its ever-continuing aftermath.

A tireless contributor with articles and pictures to this site, Herve has played a huge role in keeping the public informed on Fukushima, via this site and also on Facebook and Twitter.

Herve is ill now, and out of action for the time being.

But I think he’ll be back. Having a break from his intensive day and night work is essential to his recovery. We thank Herve for his huge contribution, and wish him well – in this new effort for Herve - which is getting some rest.

p.s I know that there should be an acute accent over that final “e”. But I still don’t know how to do it

December 22, 2023 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Assange Appeal Hearing Set for February

Julian Assange’s wife Stella Assange confirmed that the hearing will take place at the Royal Courts of Justice in the middle of February.

By Joe Lauria / Consortium News, https://scheerpost.com/2023/12/19/assange-appeal-hearing-set-for-february/

Imprisoned publisher Julian Assange will face two High Court judges over two days on Feb. 20-21, 2024 in London in what will likely be his last appeal against being extradited to the United States to face charges of violating the Espionage Act.

Assange’s wife Stella Assange confirmed that the hearing will take place at the Royal Courts of Justice. Assange had had an earlier request to appeal rejected by High Court Judge Jonathan Swift on June 6.

Assange then filed an application to appeal that decision and the dates have now been set. Assange is seeking to challenge both the home secretary’s decision to extradite him as well as to cross appeal the decision by the lower court judge, Vanessa Baraitser.

Baraitser had ruled in January 2021 to release Assange from Belmarsh Prison and deny the U.S. request for extradition based on Assange’s mental health, his propensity to commit suicide and conditions of U.S. prisons. On every point of law, however, Baraitser sided with the United States.

The U.S. appealed her decision, issuing “diplomatic assurances” that Assange would not be mistreated in prison. The High Court, after a two-day hearing in March 2022, accepted those “assurances” and rejected Assange’s appeal.

His application to the U.K. Supreme Court to hear the case was then denied. Assange then applied for a new appeal of Baraitser’s legal decisions and the home secretary’s extradition order.

Swift rejected Assange’s 150-page argument in a three-page rejection. The appeal of that decision will now take place two months from now.

If convicted under the World War I-era Espionage Act, the WikiLeaks publisher and journalist is facing up to 175 years in a U.S. dungeon for publishing classified material revealing crimes by the U.S. state, including war crimes.

Assange was also charged with conspiracy to commit computer intrusion, though the indictment agains him does not accuse him of stealing U.S. documents or even of helping his source, Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, to do so.

December 22, 2023 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Legal, UK | Leave a comment

US Trying to Water Down New Cease-Fire Resolution at UN Security Council

“support for Israel’s indiscriminate bombing of Gaza is losing him respect all over the world.” – Mary Robinson

“The U.S. is increasingly isolated, with allies like Australia, Canada, India, Japan, and Poland switching their votes in the UN General Assembly to support an immediate humanitarian cease-fire,” said Robinson. “The U.S. cannot afford to be further isolated by vetoing this resolution.”

“The U.S. cannot afford to be further isolated by vetoing this resolution,” said one human rights advocate.

SCHEERPOST, By Jake Johnson / Common Dreams, 19 Dec 23

The United Nations Security Council on Monday delayed an expected vote on a new Gaza cease-fire resolution as the U.S. worked to weaken the measure’s language, objecting to the proposed call for an “urgent and sustainable cessation of hostilities.”

Unnamed diplomats toldThe Associated Press that the wording will likely be changed to call for a “suspension” of hostilities or some other watered down phrasing amenable to the U.S., which used its veto power to tank a Security Council cease-fire resolution less than two weeks ago.

The veto drew international condemnation, and calls for a cease-fire have grown in the days since. In an overwhelming 153-10 vote on December 12, the U.N. General Assembly approved a resolution demanding an “immediate humanitarian cease-fire,” with the U.S. and Israel among the small number of opponents. Unlike those passed by the Security Council, General Assembly resolutions are nonbinding.

The 15-member Security Council is expected to vote on the new, potentially watered down cease-fire resolution as early as Tuesday morning.

Mary Robinson, chair of The Elders and former president of Ireland, said in a statement ahead of the vote that U.S. President Joe Biden’s “support for Israel’s indiscriminate bombing of Gaza is losing him respect all over the world.”

“But even if passed, such resolutions are not enough,” she continued. “UNSCR 2712, agreed last month, is not being fully implemented. It calls for the protection of civilians, the release of all hostages, and immediate humanitarian access. Only a cease-fire will allow for these calls to be met.”…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….more https://scheerpost.com/2023/12/19/us-trying-to-water-down-new-cease-fire-resolution-at-un-security-council/

December 22, 2023 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics international, USA | 1 Comment

CSIRO says wind and solar much cheaper than nuclear, even with added integration costs

The big mover – and one that is significant in the context of the Australian debate on the energy transition, and the federal Coalition’s insistence that nuclear is the answer to most questions – is the cost of nuclear and small modular reactors.

Giles Parkinson 21 December 2023 ReNewEconomy

The CSIRO has published the latest edition of its important GenCost report, and responded to critics by dialling in near term integration costs for wind, solar and storage. But the result is just the same – renewables are clearly Australia’s cheapest energy option, and the story for nuclear just got a whole ot worse.

The annual GenCost report, prepared in collaboration with the Australian Energy Market Operator since 2018, is an important guide to where Australia’s energy transition is at and where it should be heading, but over the past has become the target of attack from conservative naysayers and the pro-nuclear lobby.

CSIRO has defended its methodology, but to satisfy the critics has added in pre-2030 integration costs – including the new transmission lines being built to connect new generation – and finds that the story is much the same.

“While this change leads to higher cost estimates, variable renewables (wind and solar) were still found to have the lowest cost range of any new-build technology,” the CSIRO says, noting that this includes all integration costs up to and including 90 per cent renewables.

In the past year, cost of solar and offshore wind has fallen, the cost of battery storage has remained steady, but the cost of other technologies such as onshore wind and pumped hydro has increased.

The CSIRO has been attacked by the pro-nuclear lobby, including conservative media and right wing think tanks, for what the lobby claims are inflated cost estimates, but the CSIRO says recent events have backed its numbers. In fact, they make clear that nuclear SMR costs are worse than thought.

CSIRO economist Paul Graham points to the collapse of a major deal this year involving the most advanced SMR projects in the US, the NucScale projects in Utah, which were withdrawn because of soaring costs.

Graham says it is significant because, as NuScale was listed and had to abide by strict regulatory disclosure rules, it had to be “honest” about the anticipated costs of SMRs.

And these were nearly double what was previously thought. In fact they ended up at the equivalent of $A31,000/MW, according to NuScale filings, and much higher than the $A19,000/MW estimated by the CSIRO in its previous report, and for which it was accused of inflating.

“The UAMPS (Utah utility) estimate implies nuclear SMR has been hit by a 70 per cent cost increase which is much larger than the average 20% observed in other technologies,” the CSIRO writes.

“The cancellation of this project is significant because it was the only SMR project in the US that had received design certification from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission which is an essential step before construction can commence.” Graham says that all other claims on nuclear SMR costs are just marketing and sales talk.

The reality, however, is that talk of nuclear SMRs as a solution for Australia’s energy transition and near term emissions targets are a distraction, given that the SMR technology is simply not available, and unlikely to be so for two decades.

The CSIRO report says some interesting things about the costs of wind and solar, technologies which are available and which do work. It says the costs of these technologies will continue to fall in coming years after the various price shocks that have affected the technologies over the last couple of years.

By including the costs of transmission and storage that is underway now and committed out to 2030 adds 40 to 60 per cent to the 2023 cost of deploying high shares of wind and solar, although that also ignores the technologies cost falls that will occur over time……………………………………………………………………………………….more https://reneweconomy.com.au/csiro-says-wind-and-solar-much-cheaper-than-nuclear-even-with-added-integration-costs/

December 22, 2023 Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA, business and costs, renewable | Leave a comment

Chicago Tribune readers deserve truth, reality on Russo Ukraine war

Walt Zlotow, West Suburban Peace Coalition, Glen Ellyn IL 20 Dec 23

During the near two years of the Russo Ukraine war, the Chicago Tribune has published dozens of editorials and op-eds supporting US involvement with endless billions in weaponry to achieve a Ukrainian victory. Alas, not a single one offering a contrary view.

But none compares with the dissembling and outright fantasy of Trudy Rubin’s op-ed ‘Why Ukraine can beat Russia and why that matters to America’

Rubin, a Philadelphia Inquirer columnist and editorial board member, offers not one word in her 700 word plea for continued US support for Ukraine that comports with reality on the ground in Eastern Ukraine or America’s true national interests the there.

Rubin’s primary claim is that if only Republicans will pass President Biden’s $61 billion weapons package, Ukraine can win and Russia will lose. She omits the reality that with hundreds of thousands dead and wounded, Ukraine is running out of soldiers. Hundreds of thousands of potential soldiers have fled a war they see neither need nor chance of winning. Ukraine recruiting officials were recently all fired for massive bribe taking by draft dodgers.

Rubin pulls out every trope of disaster the Biden administration offers for continued squandering of American treasure simply spilling Ukrainian blood in an impossible quest. She demands no negotiations because Ukraine can win without negotiations and avoid loss of 20% of its territory. She omits that the 20% contains the Russian speaking Ukrainians the Kyiv government has been slaughtering for 8 years to wipe out Russian culture there.

She claims anything short of total victory means “Goodbye, U.S. global leadership. Onward, more military and political challenges to democracies — including ours.” Rubin could not find a credible US historian or political scientist who would support that or any allegation she offers on the war.

Rubin claims funneling endless billions in weapons is “an economic bargain”. She fails to mention that the first $113 billion in weapons has been largely destroyed simply getting hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians killed while losing a fifth of their land and a shattered economy.

Rubin’s most hyperbolic charge is that “Republicans are now fast walking the U.S. toward the greatest (self-inflicted) military debacle of the post-World War II era.” How did she miss Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen among others?

The Trib is free to promote weaponizing Ukraine with hundreds of billions in borrowed US treasure till the last Ukrainian soldier is dead. That is a delusional and self-destructive ideological philosophy. For a newspaper of the Chicago Tribune’s history and reputation, it is not responsible journalism.

December 22, 2023 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

I Can’t Sleep

Peace and Planet News, by Paul Biggar | Fall 2023 Edition 20 Dec 23

I can’t sleep. I’m lying in bed every night, and images of Gaza are running through my head……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Is this what Israel is? The tech outpost, the U.S. ally, the beacon of democracy in the Middle East? A country that kills journalists [30] and writers in surgical strikes [31]. That forces doctors away from ICU babies, leaving them to die and rot in their incubators [32]. Whose snipers shoot children and grannies in the head [33]………………………………………………………………………………………………………

When you read about the Holocaust and the Nazis, you like to imagine you’d be the good guy. You’d fight the Nazis, you’d free the concentration camps. But apparently I wouldn’t. Apparently I would have just sat there paralyzed, incapable of doing anything about the genocide I see every day. Unable to think of any way to help. All I can do is retweet and protest and write a stupid blog post. I feel so stupid.

I wasn’t ready to see that my friends are Brownshirts [34]. That they actively cheer on the genocide [35]. The anger, the desire – the need even – for retribution against innocent civilians. I wasn’t ready for my friends being camp guards, party officials, propagandists.

The propaganda is real, and organized [36], and obvious [37]. Posting about antisemitism in universities to cover indiscriminate bombing of civilians — have you no shame? Repeating Israeli claims which have no proof, and no credibility [38]. Keeping the discussion anywhere except on Palestinians being murdered in Gaza. Denying the number of dead because the numbers are reported by Hamas [39].

Of course, everyone is Hamas now. The child ripped in two by an MK-84 [40] is Hamas. The woman screaming for her sister, digging at the rubble – she’s Hamas. The orphaned 9-year-old, now the sole parent of her 4-year-old brother. Both are Hamas……………………………………………………………

My investors keep posting. How unsafe the kids feel at Harvard [42]. Railing against “From the river to the sea” as they conveniently omit “Palestine will be free” [43]. Cancelling Tiktok for teaching the kids history instead of U.S. and Israeli propaganda [44].

Anything to keep your eyes off the rubble that Gaza has become [45]. The trail of tears to an empty desert, bombed and shot as they go [46]. Anything to avoid their own culpability in this genocide. They are Hess. They post Israeli flags on twitter as Israel drops bombs on Gaza. They protest a ceasefire. THEY PROTEST A FUCKING CEASEFIRE.

I don’t know what to do, but I know these are not my people. Who can work with people whitewashing genocide? Are we supposed to pretend it’s business as usual as we send our friends’ intros, frolic at conferences, discuss monetization strategy?………………………………………………………………

Oct. 7 was an atrocity, and so was every day since then. 20,000 Palestinians have been killed by indiscriminate, deliberate Israeli bombs……………………………………………….

Actions

Pro-Israeli investors have created a culture of fear in tech where supporters of Palestinian freedom feel unable to raise their voices. I have spoken to many people in tech who are afraid that if they speak up, they’ll be unable to raise their next round, and lose 5-10 years of work on their venture, for their families and for their employees.

We must break the silence around the genocide in Gaza. I know this is a big ask. I know there are significant risks involved, and that’s not your fault. But all the same, we cannot continue to be complicit in this genocide.

Above all, name it. Say publicly what you see happening, and say that what Israel and the United States are doing is wrong.

Feel silenced? Say that!
Just like most in tech made Black Lives Matter statements in 2020, come out and say #FreePalestine. Put a banner on your website.

Secondly, don’t make money for investors who whitewash genocide, namely partners at Boldstart, DCVC, Harrison Metal, Redpoint, Bessemer, Sequoia, or First Round.

Tech workers: Don’t work for companies who take funding from these firms. If you already work there, contact management and the founders, ask difficult questions in all-hands, anonymously if you need to. Threaten to get a new job – actually do get a new job.
Founders: Don’t take money from these firms. If you already have, contact your partner to register your discomfort, and ask them to divest. Prevent them from investing in later rounds.

Attend a protest. Find your local (US) Jewish Voice For Peace or international protest.
Call your representative and senator
Follow Palestinian journalists and sources to follow what’s happening in Gaza through their eyes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Finally, please share this post or my post on Twitter, Mastodon, Threads, Bluesky, Linkedin.

Notes……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. https://peaceandplanetnews.org/i-cant-sleep/

December 22, 2023 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Religion and ethics, USA | Leave a comment

Cost update blasts nuclear out of energy mix

Canberra Times, By Marion Rae, December 21 2023

A surge in the cost of small nuclear reactors has forced the national science agency to change its calculations for Australia.

The latest modelling of all energy sources, released by CSIRO on Thursday, includes data from a recently scrapped project in the United States that was showcasing nuclear small modular reactors (SMRs) as a way to fight climate change.

The draft GenCost 2023-24 report, out for consultation over summer, shows that while inflation pressures are easing there has been a recalculation on SMRs that puts them out of reach.

Real data on a high-profile six-reactor power plant in the United States has confirmed that the contentious technology costs more than any energy consumer wants to pay.

Project costs for the Utah project were estimated at $18,200 per kilowatt, but the company has since disclosed a whopping capital cost of $31,100/kW, prompting its cancellation in November.

In contrast, under existing policies the cost of new offshore wind in Australia in 2023 would be $5545/kW (fixed) and $6856/kW (floating), while rooftop solar panels are calculated at a modest $1505/kW………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

A small but vocal group of industry backers have been calling for nuclear SMRs for some years, citing the emerging low-emission technology as being suitable for Australia’s vast and geologically stable landmass.

The coalition recently pledged to reopen the nuclear debate in Australia, where laws ban any research or use of nuclear energy despite the country having the world’s largest uranium reserves.

Regulators estimate it would be around 15 years to first production from a decision to build nuclear SMR in Australia, given the scale of legislative change required.

But even if a decision to pursue a nuclear SMR project in Australia were taken today, with political backing for new laws, it is “very unlikely” a project would be up and running as quickly as 2038, CSIRO said.

Further, CSIRO warned nuclear electricity costs put forward by proponents may be for technology that is not appropriate for Australia, or calculated from Russian and Chinese government-backed projects that don’t operate commercially. https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8467236/cost-update-blasts-nuclear-out-of-energy-mix/

December 22, 2023 Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA, business and costs | Leave a comment