nuclear-news

The week in nuclear news

It has been a funny week in the news, funny not as in ha ha, but as in weird.  The news here prioritised the Olympics. Oh goody, my countrymen and women won lovely medals, for doing sporty things, very fast.- so, extensive coverage of all that. 

You wouldn’t know that the host city, Tokyo, is now daily getting close to 2000 new cases of coronavirus. You wouldn’t know that megafires are torching U.S. Western  States, and North Eastern Siberia. Briefly mentioned – huge floods inEurope and China.  Oh, and by the way, I think that the pandemic is still on, world wide, with the highly infectious delta variant.
The second biggest story, after the glorious Olympics, has been the success of the billionaire space playboys – Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos. The media can’t wait until Elon Musk and Bill Gates do their next thing – missile envy bringing great things for the world,(though we”re not quite sure what things)

Moral Intelligence or Nuclear War.

The world’s climate catastrophe – there is little time left to act.  All We Can Save”: As Climate Disasters Wreck Our Planet, Women Leaders Are Key to Solving the Crisis.  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) preparing assessments for COP26.

Climate change, extreme weather, is taking its toll on the nuclear industry. The nuclear industry determined to influence climate talks before COP26.

Racism and the misguided efforts to expand nuclear energy around the world,

After the lab-leak theory, US-Chinese relations head downhill.

Progressive lawmakers join across the world in a Global Alliance For A Green New Deal.

Huge carbon emissions of space tourism, Space tourism: environmental vandalism for the super-rich . Climate change report: Jeff Bezos & the new wild west show. Jeff Bezos and the corporate colonisation of the stars. Perils to austronauts’ health – high radiation and low gravity.

Emerging technologies and nuclear stability. Small Nuclear Power Plants No Use in Climate Crisis. Bill Gates’ fast nuclear reactor ”Natrium’‘ – not so safe and a nuclear weapons proliferation risk.

Why Scientists Plant Sunflowers After Nuclear Disasters.

Energy-guzzling Bitcoin must be allied to dangerous costly nuclear power.

 ARCTIC. Environmental degradation, illness, international tensions – small nuclear reactors had bad results in the Arctic.  

JAPAN. ”Nuclear Games” expose Japanese government’s spin about the Olympic Games. The fantasy of the Olympic Games as ”recovery” from nuclear disaster, and from Covid-19. Softball match in Fukushima was intended to showcase ”recovery from nuclear disaster”, but that has fallen flat. Fukushima effect: Now, South Korea to check food at Olympics for nuclear radiation. 

 Safety blunders fuel Japan’s mistrust of nuclear power. Using snakes to monitor Fukushima radiation, Radioactive cesium found in honey produced near Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. 

 New Analysis Shows Japan Would Accept U.S. No First Use of Nuclear Weapons Policy 

 Japanese govt’s new Basic Energy Plan will prioritise renewable energy. Japan’s cleaner energy vision marred by burden of nuclear power.

USA.  

• Trump insurgents came within seconds of capturing ‘nuclear football‘ on Jan. 6. Pentagon review: What happens if ‘nuclear football’ is lost?
• Democrat lawmakers call on President Biden to reduce the role of nuclear weapons in the upcoming Nuclear Posture Review.    Biden administration approves $25 Billion Pentagon budget increase, despite calls from House Democrats opposing this. 
• Pro nuclear U.S. lawmakers again introduce Bill to promote nuclear industry. 
•  Most Hanford nuclear site workers report exposure to toxic or radioactive chemicals.      
• Advanced’ Nuclear Reactors? Don’t Hold Your Breath. Small nuclear reactor project cut back to half size, due to financial worries. The impending cost of small nuclear reactors is a real worry, as Utah halves the number of reactors planned. 
• First Energy company to pay fine for bribing Ohio officials to bail out nuclear power stations. Judge rules distribution of compensation for investors who lost fortunes in multi billion-dollar nuclear reactor failure in South Carolina.
•  Wiscasset – just one of thousands of American communities stuck with stranded nuclear wastes.  
•  Problems of nuclear power in space.

PACIFIC ISLANDS. Maohi Lives Matter’: Tahiti protesters condemn French nuclear testing legacy . Emmanuel Macron in French Polynesia – not likely to satisfy campaigners resentful of France’s nuclear tests legacy.

EUROPE, Floods threaten nuclear power stations: call for endangered reactors to be shut down.

UK. China’s nuclear power firm could be blocked from UK projects. The Green Jobs Taskforce. Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior aims to help workers to transition to renewable energy work. Facebook blocks users from Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND)’s website. Villagers in England very apprehensive about government plans for a nuclear waste dump..

FRANCE. Macron dithers on nuclear power investment as issue divides France. Despite the rain, France’s nuclear reactors are still threatened by global heating.

CHINA. China threatens Japan with nuclear war over intervention in Taiwan,

Problems at China’s nuclear power plant at Taishan are serious enough to warrant shutdown, French co-owner warns. China to activate molten salt nuclear reactor, but it’s not clear if they have solved its safety problems.

CANADA. Risk of cracks in pressure tubes of Canada’s ageing nuclear reactors – how long can they keep operating safely? Canada’s small nuclear reactor project is looking like just a pipe-dream. Moltex Energy’s nuclear pyroprocessing project with plutonium would produce weapons grade material and encourage weapons proliferation. Investigation of uranium miners’health to be carried out by pro nuclear bodies. City Council in Calgary not happy about ”rushed” agreement to own stranded nuclear wastes in Maine.

GERMANY. Do Germany and the Netherlands want to say goodbye to US nuclear weapons? 

NORTH KOREA. The tally of North Korea’s nuclear weapons.

INDONESIA. Shoddy, shoddy, shoddy: How they built the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.

ARCTIC. Environmental degradation, illness, international tensions – small nuclear reactors had bad results in the Arctic.  

AUSTRALIA Opposition to nuclear waste transport through the port of Whyalla, South Australia. 

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July 27, 2021 Posted by Christina MacPherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Nuclear news – week to 19 July

Today, Dr Helen Caldicott speaks out forcefully on the omnicidal threat of nuclear war, on male aggression, and the need for women to take control in national governments.

On matters nuclear – not much is happening – news items this week, from UK, Canada, France and USA show that  nuclear development is stalling.    Meanwhile renewable energy is charging ahead globally – cheaper and faster. I am not able to keep up with solar, wind, developments etc.

CORONAVIRUS –  What’s happening in Canada and around the world.

CLIMATE.  Cascading Tipping Points & Permafrost. Germany the latest victim of extreme weather.

A bit of good news. Huge Supply of Water is Saved From Evaporation When Solar Panels Are  Built Over Canals 

AUSTRALIA

• ANSTO aims to speed up return to Australia of highly hazardous nuclear wastes. 
• Military exercises put the Great Barrier Reef in danger. US and Allies’ military machine – out of Afghanistan (where it’s needed)and into the Pacific – against its new enemy – The Great Barrier Reef.  
• Australia’s weapons lobby drumming up fear of nuclear attack by China, against all logic.
• Liberal-led committee raises concerns about Morrison government’s charity crackdown.
• Australian cities not prepared for the coming heatwaves- poor urban planning.

INTERNATIONAL.

With all its wisdom, the human race is killing itself.

As the world starts to panic over climate change, nuclear evangelists offer spurious solutions.

British court ruling heightens danger of Assange extradition to the US.

How Right-Wing Extremists Pose A Nuclear Threat.

The International Atomic Energy Agency is well aware of that danger we don’t discuss – NUCLEAR TERRORISM.

Automation in nuclear weapon systems: lessons from the man who saved the world.

The Catholic Worker Movement, and its anti-nuclear heroes in prison.

EUROPE. Expert opinion: why nuclear energy should not be included as sustainable in Europe’s green taxonomy financing.

USA. 

•  If you thought that space research had nothing to do with weapons – think again! Astronauts to Mars – a game of cancer-russian-roulette, especially dangerous to women.
• Most Hanford nuclear cleanup workers exposed to hazardous materials: Washington state report. 
•  USA’s Department of Energy brushes aside the community’s concerns about the so-called MARVELlous small nuclear reactor plan. USA keen to market nuclear reactors to Poland (and indeed – to anybody).
•  A worrying combination – nuclear + Bitcoin.   The unholy alliance – nuclear power and bitcoin?
• New book ”I Alone Can Fix It” -raises question that Trump could have been ready to launch a nuclear war. 
•   Significant downsizing of NuScale’s small nuclear reactor project for Idaho – (cost of project unknown). 
• Students from North Arizona researched and wrote about the effects of uranium mining, especially on indigenous people.

CANADA. Small Nuclear Reactors are all the hype. But here’s the reality.

FRANCE. French nuclear company EDF struggles with increasing debt and poor prospects for its nuclear fleet. A new problem for France’s nuclear company EDF threatens to further delay its plans for new model European Pressurised Reactor (EPR2). Costly dismantling of France’s Brennilis nuclear power plant continues, 35 years after shutdown.

PACIFIC ISLANDS. Nuclear-free Asia Pacific Report.

SPAIN. Spain’s nuclear regulator blocks permit for a uranium concentrate plant.

JAPAN. Japan’s government acknowledges that solar power will be cheaper than nuclear. Japanese government considers extending maximum nuclear reactor lifespan beyond 60 years. 

3rd-gen Nagasaki A-bomb survivor continuing decades-long work for nuclear free world

UK. UK government’s pointless pursuit ofnuclear power, as renewable energy proving to be cheaper and faster. UK government plan – residents on the hook in advance for costly Sizewell nuclear plan that will be useless to combat climate change. Green energy suppliers protest at UK government’s funding plan to promote nuclear power, with residents exposed to nuclear cost overruns. Nuclear colonialism.

ISRAEL. Israel determined to“maintain military superiority’‘, in preparation for a nuclear Iran.

GREENLAND. Greenland moves toward a stricter ban on uranium mining.

July 19, 2021 Posted by Christina MacPherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

To 12 July – nuclear news this week

No – there’s not really much happening in the nuclear sphere.  What is happening is the increasing pro nuke propaganda. It is so noticeable in my country, Australia. Not that it’s widespread (yet), but the pro-nuke spiel from the Murdochracy is so patently, silly, and ill-informed that it deserves mention for its absurdity. I hope to write more about this next time.

CLIMATE  Serious as the pandemic is, –  I’m thinking that in the total picture,  it does not compare with the weather extremes, the suffering, the forced refugees, that the world faces from global heating.

 When it happens in America, the media does sit up and take notice. It’s happening in California, with raging temperatures and raging wildfires. I know that this is terrible, and not funny, but still, I wonder if some climate change denialists might be having second thoughts , as they’re finding it hard to get oysters and other luxury shellfish –   seeing that these coastal marine organisms are being cooked now, before they can be harvested.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTZD5K6JBGk

CORONAVIRUS.  World Health Organisation sounds alarm as global deaths top 4 million, delta variant spreads to 100 countries.

 If They Chose, Biden and Putin Could Make the World Radically Safer,   Nuclear arms control hasn’t worked. We need a new approach.

Key witness in Julian Assange case admits to lies in indictment.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlLbAVSHeA8    U.S. government offers meaningless assurances on Julian Assange’s well-being, as it gets right to appeal on UK court ruling against his extradition. U.S. proposals about extradition of Julian Assange are designed to keep him in prison for life.

Rapid growth of global renewable energy: it’s the major energy source in Europe.

Mobile phones/cellphones – the health danger from electromagnetic radiation.

JAPAN. The 44 year process for demolishing TEPCO’s Fukushima No. 2 nuclear station, – with nowhere to put the radioactive trash. Japan’s nuclear regulator to order review of earthquake risks of Genkai nuclear plant. The danger of Japan’s increasing stockpile of plutonium.  Fukushima’s ”nuclear recovery Olympics’‘ has gone even more wrong, as spectators banned.

EUROPE. Both UK and European Commission want nuclear energy excluded from clean energy investments -”otherwise clean energy finances would not be credible”.

GERMANY, As Germany’s election approaches, political parties differ on the future of U.S. nuclear weapons based there,.

UK. 

• 
  As wind power becomes half the price of nuclear, nuclear power may not be an election winner. British households will pay for nuclear construction long before it supplies any electricity, under the govt’s new plan. Investors won’t back the nuclear ”white elephant’‘, neither should the UK taxpayers. UK residents face higher electricity bills, paying in advance, for the construction of new nuclear reactors.
•   Green party makes gains in East Suffolk Council by-election – area that includes planned Sizewell nuclear station.
• Nuclear fusion – a very unlikely development for Bradwell. 
•  The UK and Ireland Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) deplore the new secrecy on defence nuclear safety reports.

IRAN.Iran trying to enrich uranium metal that could help develop nuclear weapon, UN watchdog says.

FRANCE. “EDF’s Chinese dream seems well and truly over“- a minor nuclear incident becomes a major industrial disaster for the French nuclear firm. France’s government helps settle the debts of bankrupt nuclear company AREVA (which is now resuscitated as ORANO) France refuses to hand over maps of nuclear tests in Algeria.

TAIWAN. Taiwan Shuts Another Reactor as Part of Nuclear-Free Goal,.

USA. 

• William Perry and Jerry Brown address the unwisdom of spending $2 trillion on new nuclear weapons. U.S. Space Force opens new centre to facilitate war in space. Nuclear weapons testing has never really stopped. We just call underground testing ”subcritical”. 
• The nuclear rort in Georgia. Consumers may end up paying for billions of dollars in cost overruns on the Plant Vogtle nuclear expansion. In the USA State of Ohio, pro nuclear legislation is helped along by misinformation on renewable energy. 
•   U.S. nuclear lobby wants to sell advanced nuclear technology to China, on the spurious claims of ”safety” and ”advancing climate action”. 
• Nuclear injustice in New Mexico must end.
•  EPA Withdraws Disastrous Trump-Era Radioactive Roads Approval.

RUSSIA. Dialogue between Russia and USA must include subject of offensive weapons in outer space – says Russian Foreign Minister.

NORTH KOREA. North Korea Needs the Bomb to Protect Itself From America.

AUSTRALIA. South Australian law demands an Inquiry into the Federal government’s nuclear waste storage plan. Australian Members of Parliament from right and left parties call on US President Biden to drop charges against Julian Assange,

July 12, 2021 Posted by Christina MacPherson | Christina's notes | 1 Comment

To 6 July – nuclear news this week

Today I found an article which, although it’s about America, expressed a dilemma for the whole world.  Tom Engelhardt  of  Tom Dispatch discussed the 3 global horrors of  – the pandemic, climate change, and nuclear weapons. I recommend his article, lucidly explaining how vast sums of money now goes into nuclear weapons, and not into defeating the pandemic, nor saving the world from the slow apocalypse of global heating.

Coronavirus: What’s happening in Canada and around the world.Climate Change Disaster Isn’t a Future Threat — It’s Already Here.

Good news?  I’m sure there is some, but it’s hard to find.  News is, by  its nature, bad – because most people behave fairly reasonably –   and therefore, reasonable behaviour and normal life are not newsworthy.

Even this conservative journal recognises renewables as the only meaningful future energy source – nuclear is irrelevant.

The world is bequeathing to our descendants the costly nightmare of unsolved nuclear waste disposal,

Canada is a warning: more and more of the world will soon be too hot for humans.

The space tourism plans of Bezos, Musk and Branson are morally reprehensible.

JAPAN. Japan is not being transparent about the radioactive content in Fukushima wastewater. The hybrid boars of Fukushima. Fukushima: Radioactive boars create mutant hybrid species decade after nuclear disaster.

EUROPE. 5 European nations warn the European Commission that nuclear energy must be excluded from the EU’s green finance taxonomy.

MIDDLE EAST. Nuclear Reactor Security Risk: Middle East and Gulf Region.

GERMANY. Protest week beginning July 4 outside Ramstein Air Base, Germany.Germany’s success in phasing out nuclear energy, and remarkable uptake of solar. Germany joins 15 other nations to call for an end to nuclear testing ‘once and for all’.

CHINA. China’s handling of Taishan nuclear plant leak shows need for transparency. How Taishan almost became China’s Chernobyl.  

UK. United Kingdom will not finance any nuclear-energy related expenditures under its Green Financing Framework Dounreay nuclear waste clean-up– an enormous job, for just a temporary solution. Bradwell anti-nuclear campaigners may face fight against nuclear fusion plan. UK’s Ministry of Defence kept ‘devastating’ nuclear accident risks under wraps.

USA. 

•  The all-American story of the twin horrors climate change and nuclear weapons.
• Short time left to make a comment on this very dangerous costly USA Hypersonic plan.    Further developments for space warfare planning. NASA pretending that space radiation is sort of OK for women, but it’s not. Time for US nuclear strategy to embrace no first use. Need for a USA”no first use” of nuclear weapons policy – the concern of regional U.S. allies. 

CANADA. Five good reasons to support the City of Ottawa’s request for a regional assessment of radioactive waste disposal projects in the Ottawa Valley.  In extreme heat wave, forest fire threatens Sakatchewan uranium mine – another example of global heating hitting nuclear activities. Hundreds dead as record-breaking heat wave hits Canada and United States.

FRANCE. 

•   EDF launches the “EPR2” After the Flamanville and Finland fiascoes, what could go wrong? 
•  Under cover of the nation’s preoccupation with the pandemic, France changes the rules, to permit nuclear installations in urbanised areas. 
•  European Court of Justice condemns France for preventing anti-nuclear group from access to legal justice.

ALGERIA. Buried in the sand of Southern Algeria – the radioactive pollution from French nuclear tests.

IRAN. US must guarantee it will not leave nuclear deal again, says Iran. U.N. chief urges U.S. to remove Iran sanctions as agreed in 2015.

RUSSIA. Russia tests giant nuclear submarine equipped with secret weapons.

TAIWAN. Taiwan’s strategy to phaseout nuclear energy and move to renewables. Taiwan on its path toward denuclearization.

SEYCHELLES. Seychelles Votes to Ratify the Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons,.

AUSTRALIA. Maralinga nuclear bomb tests – British and Australian governments’ callous cruelty to First Nations people. 

July 6, 2021 Posted by Christina MacPherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

End of June, news on Nuclear, pandemic and climate

Pandemic.  Daily Update: What you need to know about the coronavirus around the world right now. World Coronavirus Dispatch: Three studies hint at where pandemic is headed.

Oh dear – I promised myself that I would not digress off into the pandemic discussion.  But – I’m finding it scary – to come across people who think that the pandemic is not real, or that vaccination is some plot to take over the world, or who’ve decided that they don’t need vaccination..  Dammit – vaccination is our best bet.……

Climate. As if anti-vacc isn’t enough to worry about, now we’ve got climate complacency – possibly more dangerous than climate denialism –   as global heating moves on inexorably.  Hundreds of millions of people worldwide at risk from rising sea levels.  Canada sets all-time record-high temperature as North America’s north-west cooks under ‘heat dome‘.

Nuclear. Well it’s the drums of war beating. The one thing that Wester conservatives and progressives agree on –  we’d better boost our nuclear weapons ready for a war on China. Meanwhile, the promotion of new small nuclear recators goes on. See below –  excellent article  by  Victor Gilinsky, Henry Sokolski, (highlighted in yellow) 

A bit of good news –  Park it! Why the world is greener.

INTERNATIONAL

Nuclear power is in the front line of climate change – and NOT in a good way. Ten reasons climate activists should not support nuclear. Rising sea levels might mean the end for many nuclear power stations. Increasing carbon emissions from uranium mining.

Increasing numbers of nuclear warheads globally.Nuclear fusion’s unlikely future, – too late for climate action.

Old cracked infrastructure – the Florida building collapse – a warning for old cracked nuclear reactors.

CANADA. Scientists say New Brunswick’s plutonium plan is undermining the global nuclear weapons non-proliferation regime. High school lobbyists ‘thrilled’ as Winnipeg unanimously supports ban on nuclear weapons, 

UK. 

• Britain facing a massive series of nuclear decommissioning. French corporation EDF will close down all 7 of its advanced gas-cooled reactor nuclear power stations in Britain within the next decade. 
•   French company EDF’s Plan A – Britain to legislate finance for Sizewell nuclear plant: there is no Plan B.
•  UK government’s fantasy of a nuclear fusion energy plant at Bradwell. 
•  The dangers of transporting nuclear weapons and other nuclear materials. 
•   New UK energy report – need for investment in wind and solar, no need for new nuclear.
•  Russophobia – British warship had no business being in the Black Sea near the Crimean coast.
•  We’re marching at the People’s Assembly demonstration because there’s an alternative to nuclear weapons. 
•   Magnox Silo Liquor “Crack Under Control.” note: it isn’t.

USA. 

•   Countering the “China Threat”–At What Price?   The Pentagon is upgrading its full-spectrum dominance, with China as the primary target.
• Justice demanded for the ‘Atomic Marines’ of America’s botched Bikini Atoll nuclear test. 
•  Duke Energy planning for a fleet of 80 year-old nuclear reactors.  Old cracked infrastructure – the Florida building collapse – a warning for old cracked nuclear reactors. Physicians raise doubts on environmental and safety risks of extending life of Wisconsin’s ageing nuclear plant.
• The U.S. Nuclear Weapons Program Left ‘a Horrible Legacy’ of Environmental Destruction and Death Across the Navajo Nation . 
•  Federal Licensing Board to consider. U.S. Democrats launch bill allowing existing nuclear plants tax credit. 
• Serious questions about government funding Bill Gates’ new confidence-trick, the NATRIUM nuclear reactor.
• California’s Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG and E) settles over nuclear plant’s environmental violations.  
•  Senator Markey urges the NRC to improve safety and security of nuclear decommissioning process.  
•  NASA wants to increase allowable radiation exposure for astronauts – women affected most.

RUSSIA. Russia,China Pledge to Not Use Nuclear Weapons First, Avoid Firing Missiles at Each Other . Russia unveils largest nuclear submarine built in 30 years.

SOUTH AFRICA. South Africa the only country to have dismantled its nuclear weapons capability,.

NEW ZEALAND. New Zealand Greens want to stop New Zealand’s participation inthe militarisation of space.CHINA. China’s Taishan nuclear reactor has 5 damaged fuel rods. EDF will try to minimise the radiological leak at thr Taishan nuclear plant – but the damage is done. China’s plans for a huge nuclear waste bunker.

INDIA. Yet another incident of stolen nuclear materials in India.

JAPAN. Alarm at Japan’s plan to restart Kansai’s ageing No.3 nuclear reactor. TEPCO begins process to scrap Fukushima No. 2 nuclear plant, Japan’s murky management of Fukushima nuclear wastewater.

FRANCE. Protests against France’s Tricastin nuclear station, Greenpeace activists face gaol..

IRAN. Sabotage attempt on Iran nuclear reactor. Iran refuses to give nuclear site images to IAEA. Iran says Nuclear Deal Salvageable But Will Not Negotiate Forever.

IRAQ. Iraq’s stability depends on Iran and the US re-entering the nuclear dealALGERIA. Long legacy of France’s nuclear tests in Algeria.  

AUSTRALIA. Australia’s collective voice should silence the ‘drums of war‘. Federal nuclear waste dump plan.  Nuclear waste Bill passed. This is what will happen next.  Australia’s failed nuclear front group bites the dust.

June 30, 2021 Posted by Christina MacPherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Nuclear news – week to 22 June

Pandemic.    COVID-19 Is Still Raging in Much of the World  South America Is Now Covid-19 Hot Spot, With Eight Times the World’s Death Rate.

Climate.Warming stripes show that climate change is here and now. Climate in a Fiery World.

NUCLEAR.  Not a lot is happening, probably  largely due to the pandemic.   There is, of course, the continued stream of articles in the mainstream media,extolling the virtues of new nuclear reactors –  most look like handouts from the industry, faithfully regurgitated by relatively ignorant journalists.  
A  leak at China’s showcase Taishan nuclear reactor has raised global concern for the industry. Radioactive leak at Chinese reactor could finish French nuclear exports.

A bit of good news – The pandemic has revived hope that a more sustainable world is possible.

INTERVIEW/ Daniel Ellsberg: Smart statesmen can make bad decisions leading to nuclear war. Biden and Putin agree: ‘Nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought’. Why can’t world leaders agree that a nuclear war should never be fought?  ICAN chief urges Biden and Putin to push for deep cuts in nuclear arsenals, encourage China to back away from arms race.

‘‘Advanced” nuclear reactor designs – the latest version of nuclear wishful thinking.

Earth is now trapping an ‘unprecedented’ amount of heat, NASA says.

Julian Assange and the Collapse of the Rule of Law.

JAPAN. The Fukushima nuclear disaster and the Tokyo Olympics.

EUROPE. NATO’s hostility to the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty is in conflict with its true goal – to become a non-nuclear alliance . NATO readies for a collective response to attacks in space.

UK. Fire at Hinkley Point C building site. We don’t need costly, slow, nuclear power: solar, wind, tidal and wave power can amply do the job. House-building plans thrown into doubt as doubts grow about Wylfa nuclear project.

USA. 

•  The real welfare cheats are weapons makers. U.S. Space Force wants to use directed-energy weapons for space superiority,.
•  The Pentagon’s Project, Pele Military micro-reactors – creates more problems than it solves.  
•  20 Years After Pentagon Papers, Ellsberg Reveals US weighed 1958 nuclear strike on China over Taiwan, 
•  Why Utah really does not need Bill Gates’ small nuclear reactors. 
•  Nuclear Regulatory Commission launches special investigation at Southern Georgia Vogtle 3 nuclear unit. 
• Tough when even a pro nuclear voice has to deplore the corruption in the nuclear industry. Countering a love letter to the nuclear industry .
• Renewable energy consumption grew in 2020 as fossil fuels and nuclear shrank.

CHINA. Is China covering up a nuclear leak? What actually happened at Taishan? French nuclear company and Chinese government once again have a problem with their much vaunted EPR nuclear reactor design. About the radiation leaks at Taishan nuclear power station. The public is always the last to know. Safety concerns on Taishan reactor, but China wants to be world’s nuclear leader by 2050.

RUSSIA. Collaboration between Russia and Europe finally cleans up the most dangerous nuclear ship in the Arctic..

FRANCE. Is the leak in a nuclear reactor in China due to a Framatome manufacturing defect ? Climate and weather hazards to France’s nuclear reactors in summer 2021.

IRAN. U.S. wants nuclear deal done before Iran’s new president takes power.

LIBYA. For the first time, drones autonomously attacked humans.

PAKISTAN. No need for nuclear arsenal once Kashmir issue is resolved: Pakistan PM.

AUSTRALIA. Nuclear waste storage facility legislation passes Senate. Racism on show in the Australian Senate. Premier Marshall must enforce South Australia’s legislation prohibiting nuclear waste dump. 

June 22, 2021 Posted by Christina MacPherson | Christina's notes | 2 Comments

This week’s nuclear news

Climate ‘tipping points’ could push us past the point-of-no-return after less than 2 degrees of warming.

Some bits of good news – G7: World leaders promise one billion Covid vaccine doses for poorer nations.

Elimination of the Cold War’s Nuclear Heritage: 20 years of international cooperation.

The G7 meeting of world leaders made some progress on action about the pandemic and climate change.  But they ignored that other global menace,nuclear weapons and the threat of nuclear war.  Well, not entirely –  as they managed to bring the world closer to war, with the focus on ”standing up to China”.

“IT’S VERY PROFITABLE to prepare for omnicide,” A People’s Guide to the War Industry -5: Portfolio of Conflicts. Growing support for the nuclear ban treaty in public opinion polls , voters and lawmakers in NATO’s 30 countries. Nuclear energy – Nuclear weapons – the inseparable link. Nuclear weapons numbers building up again. The world’s narrow escape from nuclear war.

We don’t need nuclear power to tackle climate change – Jonoathon Porritt. Nuclear energy – The solution to climate change?

Pacific Ocean was once a garbage dump for nuclear waste, now Japan’s doing it again.

Is Bill Gates ‘a nice man in a jumper’ or a power-hungry egotist?   

ANTARCTICA. Fears Antarctic glacier could melt faster as it speeds up and ice shelf ‘rips apart’.

INDONESIA. Euphoria about nuclear costs, especially about decommissioning – Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) warns Indonesia.

UK. UK spent more than £8000 every minute on nuclear weapons in 2020, NFLA report on UK plutonium policy amid new concerns over plutonium dumped in the Irish Sea. ‘Unsustainable, unmanageable, unacceptable and unsuitable’- both Bradwell B and Sizewell C projects   

FRANCE. France’s problem with nuclear wastes is becoming critical.

HUNGARY. Austria and other European countries concerned about safety aspects of Hungary’s nuclear power plant

ROMANIA. Romania’s dilemma – nuclear power or clean energy.

RUSSIA. Russia beefs up its sub-critical non-nuclear experiments at its top secret far remote Novaya Zemlya site.expansion. How many nuclear weapons does Russia have in 2021? Russia’s Approach to Nuclear Power in Outer Space.

INDIA. Explosion forced Indian Navy to return nuclear submarine to Russia? ‘EU aware of nuclear material proliferation incident in India:’

ISRAEL. Israel’s 1981 bombing of Iraq nuclear reactor may have fuelled Saddam’s nuclear ambitions. Israel’s outgoing top Mossad chief reveals that they caused recent attacks targeting Iran’s nuclear programme and murdering their scientists.

SOUTH  AFRICA. ‘Koeberg Nuclear Plant is like an old car that simply can’t be kept on the road’

PHILIPPINES. USA still has ban on major foodstuffs from Fukushima region. Why did Philippines lift their ban?

NEW ZEALAND. Harrowing stories reveal decades of fallout for nuclear test veterans .

AUSTRALIA. Australia’s incompetent leadership – continued subservience to American militarism. Dr Jim Green gives an update on the Australian government’s new strategy to get a nuclear waste dump at Kimba, South Australia. Change in Resource Minister Keith Pitt’s strategy: what’s next for his Kimba nuclear dump project?

June 14, 2021 Posted by Christina MacPherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Nuclear news – week ending 7 June

Coronavirus –  India records 100,636 new cases, tally hits 28,909,975

Climate crisis to shrink G7 economies twice as much as Covid-19, says research.
Chernobyl Guards Have Befriended Abandoned Dogs, Feeding Them and Bringing Medical Care,    I00-Year-Old Galápagos Giant Tortoise Found on Fernandina Island is Indeed Member of ‘Extinct’ Species, (but this is a ”good news – bad news’‘ story)

On the nuclear scene, while not a lot is actually happening, in nuclear weapons countries,  the determined nuclear weapons push continues, most politicians seem to have been well and truly bought by the industry.
With an eye to the November Climate Summit meeting in Glascow, the nuclear lobby revs up its push for small nuclear reactors, or indeed, any, nuclear reactors as the climate cure.

• The nuclear lobby’s desperate push to be included in COP26. Nuclear lobby spins its frenzied propaganda – with  flimsy arguments for new nuclear power.  Only renewables — and not nuclear power — can deliver truly low-carbon energy.
  ‘‘Fallout: The Hitoshima Cover-up and the Reporter Who Revealed It to the World”Ice sheets melting, ocean currents, and the risk of climate tipping points.
  The Rio de Janeiro International Uranium Film Festival 2021 has awarded two film-makers on nuclear disarmament issues.
• JAPAN. Fukushima waste water dumped in Pacific Ocean – a critical environmental issue threatening marine pollution.
• USA. 
  •  Biden Dangerously Accelerating the New Cold War with China. Pentagon’s creepy shift from nuclear deterrence to the use of nuclear weapons. President Biden’s budget backs new nuclear weapons, contradicting his policy while campaigning. Progressive Democrats slam Joe Biden’s about-face on nuclear weapons spending. 
  •  Exelon and NRG share prices fall as U.S. nuclear power firms to be hit by plunge in grid payments. 
  •  The transition to clean energy is held back by subsidies to the nuclear industry.
  •   Elevated cancer deaths in Monroe may be result of nuclear plant. 
  •  Production of new plutonium triggers at Savannah River Site to mean more radioactive trash for South Carolina
  • Assange’s Father on US Tour, includes Minneapolis/St. Paul.
  • UK. 
  • Launch of bigger Stop Sizewell C campaign in UK. 
  •   Lakes Against Nuclear Dump (LAND) call to Boris Johnson for a moratorium on the push for ”Delivery of a Geological Disposal Facility”. 
  •   Critique No 1 of BBC documentary Building Britain’s Biggest Nuclear Power Station. Critique No 2 of BBC documentary Building Britain’s Biggest Nuclear Power Station. Critique No 3 [a boys-with-toys view] -BBC documentary Building Britain’s Biggest Nuclear Power Station. 
  •  Old nuclear grinding to a halt in Britain. 
  •  Secret papers reveal the British spying on Scottish anti-nuclear activists, who were labelled as ”terrorists”.
  • PACIFIC ISLANDS. Pacific Islands forum wants answers on the effects of Japan’s Fukushima waste water to be dumped into the Pacific Ocean
  • .CHINA. China warns of ‘nuclear showdown’ with the United States. China again urges Japan to revoke decision to dump nuclear wastewater
  • GERMANY. Germany’s search for a nuclear waste solution.
  • CANADA, Debunking myths about the Chalk River Mound nuclear waste plan
  • .FRANCE. France’s government criminalises anti nuclear activists.
  • BELARUS. European Commission worried that Belarus will start the Astravets nuclear power plant without the recommended EU safety guidelines.
  • AUSTRALIA. Australia’s nuclear waste policy shambles. Australia’s Climate Change Authority now taken over by the nuclear lobby, and influenced by ”secret society” of nuclear promoters. 

June 7, 2021 Posted by Christina MacPherson | Christina's notes | 1 Comment

Nuclear News – week to 1st June

Covid 19 coronavirus: Around the world – situation update

Climate change behind global heat deaths

Nuclear.  The coronavirus, with its global effects on health, human suffering is also, of course, affecting the economy, and most (though not all) businesses. The ”commercial” nuclear industry is affected, but not the nuclear weapons industry. The nuclear-armed nations are revving up their weapons expenditure. The USA is the shiningly obscene example. Clearly the nuclear weapons industry has captured the American government, it hardly matters whether the administration is in Democratic or Republican hands.

Some bits of good news:  Chernobyl Guards Have Befriended Abandoned Dogs, Feeding Them and Bringing Medical Care. World’s Largest Wind Turbine Manufacturer Says All Its Blades Will Soon be Fully Recycled.

A People’s Guide to the War Industry .

The appalling mistreatment of Australian citizen, Julian Assange, – by USA, UK, and Australia. Targeted surveillance threatens human rights defenders.

“Unqualified” —who is allowed to talk about nuclear power ?

Report on the threat of nuclear terrorism.

New technology comes nowhere close to solving the problem of nuclear waste. Despite the Small Nuclear Reactor push from Bill Gates and the rest of the nuclear lobby, we already have the technologies to decarbonise our global economy.

 New research highlights need for international standards to safeguard against plutonium ”hot” particles.    

Ionising radiation the big danger to astronauts.

The time to divest from Bitcoin is now.

1st U.N. nuclear ban meeting may be postponed until after Non Proliferation Treaty review.

U.S. Energy Information reports uranium at lowest price since 2007.

  As electric vehicles take off, we’ll need to recycle their batteries. 

 USA. 

5 Republicans and 1 Democrat – the U.S. Senate nuclear caucus – Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Coalition – bribed by nuclear weapons companies to pour $1.7trillion into new and ‘modernised’ nukes. USA’s $634Billion nuclear weapons budget. For USA, health care is too costly, while weapons makers wildly profitable -as $634 Billion to go to nuclear arms.   Ain’t it lovely to see USA Democrats and Republicans in full agreement – on spending $squillions in unnecessary nuclear weapons, of course?.      Senator Markey and Rep. Blumenauer introduce Bill to cut $73 billion from USA’s bloated nuclear weapons budget. Costs of upgrading USA’s nuclear arsenal has jumped up by $140 billion in just 2 years 

 In 1958,U.S military had plans to use nuclear weapons against China, in a crisis over Taiwan. 

Biden’s Budget Proposal Funds Most of the World’s Dictators . 

Biden’s Budget Proposal Funds Most of the World’s Dictators . 

• US military running a massive undercover army and conducting warrantless surveillance of Americans. 
• Three U.S. Democrat Senators introduce Bill to prop up nuclear industry. 
•  Another former Westinghouse executive pleads guilty to lying in South Carolina nuclear power scandal. The sixth high-ranking FirstEnergy executive fired, in Ohio nuclear corruption scandal. 
•   Nuclear reactors in space, – enthusiasm by corporations and governments ignores the dangers.
•  In 1958,U.S military had plans to use nuclear weapons against China, in a crisis over Taiwan.
•  Biden’s Budget Proposal Funds Most of the World’s Dictators . 
•  US military running a massive undercover army and conducting warrantless surveillance of Americans. 
• Three U.S. Democrat Senators introduce Bill to prop up nuclear industry. 
•  Another former Westinghouse executive pleads guilty to lying in South Carolina nuclear power scandal. The sixth high-ranking FirstEnergy executive fired, in Ohio nuclear corruption scandal. 
•   Nuclear reactors in space, – enthusiasm by corporations and governments ignores the dangers.

CANADA. Canadian government in the grip of the nuclear lobby’s ”NICE” dishonest spin about small nuclear reactors. American experts warn Trudeau that Moltex small nuclear reactors are likely to prove a nightmare for Canada.

EUROPE. NATO’s U.S. nuclear weapons in Europe not safe. U.S. soldiers’ Flashcard Apps reveal secrets.

ASIA. Abdul Khan and the illegal and immoral world of nuclear proliferation.

IRAN. Iran agrees to extend IAEA nuclear monitoring deal for one month. UN nuclear watchdog chides Iran over uranium enrichment .

JAPAN. TEPCO’s history of covering up radioactive water risks. China says Japan ‘repeatedly betrayed public trust‘ in Fukushima response . Radioactive Fukushima soil stored in flood zones.

FRANCE. Corrosion in the fuel cladding at France’s Chooz and Civaux nuclear stations.

UK. 

•  The USA-UK nuclear cabal . E
• DF’s report on silo collapse at Hinkley Point C nuclear construction raises more questions than answers. 
•  UK’s Sizewell B nuclear complex continues to be offline for safety reasons. Further outages at UK’s Dungeness nuclear power plant: its future in doubt. 
•  Activists force shutdown of Israeli weapons factory in UK . 
•  Secrecy and connivance between UK’s coal and nuclear lobbies in Cumbria. 
• Nuclear test veterans: ‘My dad was treated like a guinea pig’. 
•  How decentralised energy will massively reduce grid costs.  

UKRAINE. Fission reactions have been spiking in an inaccessible Chernobyl chamber since 2016 – possibility of a runaway nuclear reaction.

RUSSIA. Russia’s plans for nuclear-powered spacecraft to Jupiter. Russia launches a mission to investigate te Komsomolets, Soviet nuclear submarine sunk 32 years ago .

AUSTRALIA. 
 Australia, the USA’s only ”best friend” in the Indo Pacific, to deploy more USA military equipment, heightening the threat against China.

June 1, 2021 Posted by Christina MacPherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

This week in nuclear news

Coronavirus. I can’t keep up with pandemic news – but it’s not going to go away –   for a long time.It’s still looking like vaccination as everyone’s best hope.

Climate. G7 environment ministers have agreed that they will deliver climate targets in line with limiting the rise in global temperatures to 1.5C.

All quiet on nuclear developments this week. One news item from the UK (Hinkley project delays)  clearly illustrates that very real, but rarely acknowledged connection between the coronavirus pandemic, and the fizzling out of activity in the ”peaceful” nuclear industry.But nothing stops the weapons makers and the Pentagon from pushing for more $billions for nuclear weapons. No doubt Russia, China then follow suit.

The effects of radioactive waste water released into the ocean.

Scaling back missile defense could prevent a nuclear attack .

A world based on 100% renewable energy by 2035 is technically and economically feasible.   Both Germany and Britain are decarbonising while nuclear production is greatly reducing.  We already have 95% of the technologies and know how to slash emissions, remove air pollution and provide energy security and jobs.

“Advanced” isn’t the answer — New reactors as an answer to climate change are an illusion.

Scientists turn a blind eye to the fraud that is the ITER nuclear fusion project.

Should Bill Gates be viewed as a man of character and a trusted adviser to world leaders?

Tesla’s Bitcoin about-face is a warning for cryptocurrencies that ignore climate change.  

Uranium Film Festival – Online for free from May 20 to May 30.

We already have 95% of the technologies and know how to slash emissions, remove air pollution and provide energy security and jobs.

JAPAN. Discharging Fukushima radioactive waste water to the ocean would violate Japan’s legal and environmental obligations. Nuclear emergency guidelines on thyroid radiation exposure under review in Japan . Flaws found in anti-terror measures at Fukushima No. 2 nuclear plant .

UK. 

•  Plans to raise cap on Trident nuclear warhead stockpile may breach United Nations treaty. Boris Johnson’s plan for more nuclear weapons in Scotland ‘breaks international law‘. How many nuclear weapons does Britain have? Non-Proliferation explained .
•   New study on children, wives and widows of UK nuclear test veterans. 
•   Rolls Royce plans fleets of small nuclear reactors. At approx £2billion per reactor (that’s approx $2.8billion) how much will each fleet cost? 
•  Anxieties on the impact of pandemic on the Hinkley Point C nuclear power project, -major delays could result.
•  “You can forget about the protection of an area of outstanding natural beauty because if Sizewell C nuclear goes ahead nowhere is safe” Suffolk County Council not happy with present plans for Sizewell nuclear power project. Sizewell nuclear project will harm Suffolk’s tourism industry. Conservative Suffolk MP Therese Coffey warns of “some large environmental impact changes”in the Sizewell C nuclear project. 

•  EDF’s Sizewell B nuclear station: steel components wearing out. EDf to close Hinkley Point B in Somerset and Hunterston B in Scotland early. 
•  Over 440 safety incidents have been recorded at Scotland’s nuclear bases over the last three years. 
• Weatherwatch: does nuclear power really keep the lights on? 
• Dalgety Bay – 20,000 tonnes of radioactive material from the area to screen, – clean-up begins at last.

EUROPE. Poor outlook for the nuclear industry in Europe.

GERMANY Despite Germany’s nuclear phaseout, the secure supply of electricity in Germany will remain guaranteed at the current high level for the foreseeable future.

USA. 

 Senator Bernie Sanders pushes resolution to stop $735 million in US military sales to Israel. Senator Bernie Sanders unveils Bill to force Pentagon to pass audit, citing “fraud” and “waste”. Pentagon hypes up the ”China threat’‘, in its deceptive propaganda to get more $billions from Congress. A trillion reasons to scrutinize the US plan for more than $1.5 trillion spend on nuclear weapons.  

United States considered nuclear strike on China over Taiwan in 1958, classified documents reveal   
 Biden must end sanctions against North Korea — and finally end the Korean War. 

U.S. tiptoes through sanctions minefield toward Iran nuclear deal .  

White House environmental justice advisers express opposition to nuclear .

Yet more delays in USA’s costly, troubled Vogtle nuclear project.  

 Renewable energy cheated in uneasy coalition with Exelon nuclear, in Illinois. 

 The dark legacy of a nuclear meltdown – The Santa Susana Field Laboratory.  

Early atomic bomb research – the ‘demon core’ that killed physicist Harry Daghlian .  

Changes to Waste Isolation Pilot Plant could hide plan to expand this nuclear waste facility.  Alabama hospital installs radiation-free spine imaging tool.

RUSSIA. Russia’s Arctic Council leadership now facing up to the problem of nuclear reactors dumped in the ocean.

UKRAINE. Chernobyl is showing signs of a possible new nuclear accident.

ISRAEL. Mossad co-operating with Saudi Arabia in devising military action against Iran? Israeli public opinion makes a US-Iran nuclear deal urgent .

IRAN. Talks in Austria with UK, France and Germany head towards nuclear agreement. Iran says IAEA access to nuclear sites images has ended.

NEW ZEALAND. Pacific Nuclear test veterans encouraged quest for apology will succeed  

CHINA. Japan slammed for not addressing nuclear wastewater dumping concerns. China building uneconomic closed fuel cycle nuclear breeder reactors – for plutonium for nuclear weapons?.

GREENLAND. French mining company Orano stops all uranium exploration in Greenland.

AUSTRALIA. New research on the complexity of particles from plutonium resulting from British atomic bomb tests at Maralinga. Plutonium ”hot particles” are not as stable as we assumed. 

May 24, 2021 Posted by Christina MacPherson | Christina's notes | 1 Comment

The week in nuclear news

NUCLEAR . Not much happening this week.  Intensified push for small nuclear reactors (SMRs) in Canada and UK.

CORONAVIRUS: Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): Weekly Epidemiological Update.  No easy fix for global vaccine shortage.

CLIMATE CHANGE. Third of global food production at risk from climate crisis.A bit of good news –  ‘The Manta’ Sailing Vessel is Designed to Feed on Plastic Waste for Power–While Cleaning Oceans.

Ionising radiation was scientifically proven to be bad for dogs. Does that mean it’s good for humans?

Nuclear industry survives on its false claim that it helps the fight against climate change.

How Bill Gates bankrolls the news agenda. Corruption in the pharmaceutical industry – the Bill Gates connection. Bill Gates with his  GAVI (the Global Alliance for Vaccine Initative) has the power of a member State in the WorldHealth Organisation.

Fusion: Ten Times More Expensive Than Nuclear Power.

NO, nuclear lobby, a nuclear reactor is NOT the only, nor the best, way to produce medical Technetium TC99.

Energy effuciency – the most ignored form of climate action – and the most effective.

If Bitcoin is virtual, why are there environmental concerns?

Avoiding an unintentional space war: Lessons from Cold War nuclear diplomacy. Master of Space: Corporate plans for the militarization & privatization of space. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJB8uHm3Nq8

ARCTIC. Radioactive gas seeping out in the Arctic, as permafrost thaws.

JAPAN. Safety and security issues at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power station. Restarting nuclear power in Japan. Will the old ”Nuclear Village” bribery factor trump safety concerns? Japanese government and TEPCO planning release of radioactive water, via a pipeline to the Pacific Ocean.

SOUTH KOREA. South Korean fishermen sue Japanese government over Fukushima nuclear plant water.

NORTH KOREA. How to deal with a nuclear-armed Kim Jong Un.

ISRAEL. Hamas Targets Israeli Oil And Nuclear Facilities With Rocket Attacks In April, Syrian missile landed near Dimona nuclear reactor, interception failed.

RUSSIA. Tallying up Russia’s nuclear weapons.

USA. 

•  Cyberattacks grind Hanford nuclear energy workers’ benefit program to a halt. 
•   Endangered sea turtles sucked into nuclear power plant pipes.
•   Biden administration promises progress on nuclear waste. US Nuclear is significantly overvalued. USA govt to delay removing plutonium nuclear waste from the decommissioned Hanford nuclear reservation. Opportunities for US-Russian collaboration on the safe disposal of nuclear waste.

CANADA. Canadian government hand in glove with the nuclear lobby for a ”NICE” nuclear future. Scepticism in Canada, about the government’s push for small nuclear reactors. Saugeen First Nation do not want Canada’s nuclear waste. Nuclear Waste Management Organization says the project will not be built without their consent. Small nuclear reactors – a way to get indigenous people to then accept nuclear waste?

INDIA. India is operating the world’s most dangerous, fastest-growing, nuclear weapons and missile programs in the world.

UKRAINE. Nuclear fission reactions are happening at Chernobyl again. Human intervention may be required at Chernobyl as radiation levels spike. Chernobyl nuclear tomb will eventually collapse. Sellafield, too, will need £132 billion, at least, to decommission.

UK . 

• Glascow City Council calls on UK Government to scrap plans to replace nuclear arsenal. The possession of nuclear weapons is not about war. It’s all about power, status and money.
•  Rolls-Royce rocked by a £4 billion loss . Rolls Royce desperate for investors for its £2bn Small Nuclear Reactors. 
•  UK’s Magnox nuclear reprocessing plant to close, leaving world’s largest stockpile of separated civil plutonium. UK’s radioactive pollution at Dalgety Bay to be cleaned up after 31 years.     
•   Nuclear fusion is an energy mirage, and these are the reasons why. 
• Dungeness nuclear power station could be shut down earlier than planned.  .

IRELAND. Sellafield’s plutonium waste has continued to circulate in the Irish Sea.

FRANCE. Will the French government break troubled nuclear company EDF up into 3 companies?

SOUTH AFRICA. The corruption surrounding the South African government’s push for nuclear power

ALGERIA. Sixty years on, Algerian desert region still struggles with effects of French nuclear tests.  

May 17, 2021 Posted by Christina MacPherson | Christina's notes | 2 Comments

Nuclear News – to 3 May

Nuclear issues seem to be on the back burner, in Australia, and pretty much everywhere else. South East Asia is the exception, with countries worrying about Japan’s plan to release the Fukushima nuclear waste water into the Pacific Ocean.    Still, I’ve found far too much nuclear news this week, for what is supposed to be a short newsletter.  Perhaps that’s an indication that anxieties about the nuclear industry are simmering away,below the surface, and behind the media trivia.

At least the pandemic is getting the media attention that is so desperately required.    The world is in the midst of its worst coronavirus crisis so far.
The one great lesson of the pandemic is surely that global issues should trump national greediness, and call for global cooperation..   Tackling climate change too requires global policies.

A bit of good news –  Countries step up to supply oxygen and medicine to India. Pakistanis express solidarity with India over its COVID crisis, pledges supplies and medical aid.

ICAN addresses Mount Isa City Council after nuclear appeal pledge .

UK in secret talks with Australia and others, about mining rare earths.  

INTERNATIONAL

We must continue to expose and refute the lies of nuclear industry.

Paul Beckwith on the failure of universities to address real world problems https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-orLuh7lj0

The huge carbon footprint and massive energy use of online activities and of Bitcoin.

For climate action, renewables clearly beat nuclear power.

Chernobyl disaster and the U.N. response – a global matter.

Nuclear fallout from the Cold War might be killing our bees.

Growing aggressive behaviour by nuclear proponents – is nuclear facing obsolescence?

INDIA. In India’s pandemic nightmare, India and Pakistan need to invest in health, not nuclear weapons.

JAPAN. Thyroid cancer increased 20-fold in Fukushima children. Radioactive leakage from nuclear waste containers near Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Even with water release to the Pacific, Fukushima nuclear plant needs more storage tanks.

Governor of Fukui Prefecture to approve restart of aging nuclear reactors, but local community is opposed.

SOUTH KOREA. South Korean fishermen protest against the dumping of Fukushima wastewater into the Pacific Ocean.

USA. 

• When USA attacks a foreign state, the media calls it ”Defense”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYRoXCdkmAY    Like Trump, Biden administration to ramp up nuclear bomb-making. Mobile nuclear reactors? Scathing report slams ‘disturbing’ military program.   Sen. Angus King: Cybersecurity a major concern in U.S. nuclear command-and-control system.
•  Following Biden climate summit, USA govt keen to promote amd export Small Nuclear Reactors, Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) for space rockets has everything to do with the military, and funding for weapons makers. The purpose of USA space research is clearly military – they don’t even pretend any more. Elon Musk’s expensive and dangerous space delusion. 
• Poor prospects for small nuclear reactors (SMRs) as a cure for climate change. No future for new nuclear. Subsidies for New Jersey’s nuclear power stations. Do the New Jersey nuclear power plants really need a handout? 
• Feds: Underground nuclear waste tank at Hanford Nuclear Reservation may be leaking. Texas legislators must reject proposal to lower human health and safety measures at nuclear waste dump. 
•  Whistleblower can’t sue U.S.Dept of Labor, because it has ‘sovereign immunity’.

MARSHALL ISLANDS. The US Should Apologize to the Marshall Islands for Nuclear Tests.

UKRAINE. University of Sheffield researchers do detailed study of radioactive materials inside the wrecked Chernobyl nuclear reactor. On 35th anniversary of Chornobyl disaster, Ukraine opens new nuclear waste site. Chernobyl nuclear disaster: ‘Three-day evacuation lasted 35 years’. Corrosive corruption continues in Ukraine’s nuclear industry.

RUSSIA. Soviet Documents Reveal Cover-Ups At Chernobyl Nuclear Plant Before 1986 Disaster.

UZBEKISTAN. Does Uzbekistan really need a nuclear power plant?

EUROPE. France and Russia portray nuclear hydrogen as ”green’‘- arousing anger of several European nations. The dangers of extending the operating lives of old nuclear reactors.

FINLAND. Delays, increased costs and geopolitical uncertainties throw doubt on construction of nuclear power station in Finland.

CZECH REPUBLIC. Czech Republic’s nuclear plan hangs on hope for European Commission to call nuclear ”green”.

UK

•  Extinction Rebellion climate activists block Faslane nuclear base. Most Scots feel unsafe about having nuclear weapons base on the Clyde. Bangor City Council supports the U.N. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, as do over 400 other jurisdictions. 
• The health effects of Chernobyl nuclear disaster as far away as Scotland. 35 years after Chernobyl disaster, nuclear power industry is struggling and is not part of climate change solution. 
• UK’s £41 billion nuclear submarine project beset by delays, safety problems, cost overruns.   
• UK anti-nuclear groups plan to stand candidates for elections, opposing Bradwell new nuclear station.    China’s big stake in UK’s new nuclear projects.   UK govt wants sovereign wealth funds to invest in nuclear power, -calling it ”green”, but there are doubts that nuclear projects will go ahead. Many hurdles to jump before Bradwell nuclear station starts construction. Meanwhile renewables race ahead. Sizewell C nuclear plant could kill 500m fish. 
• Top Trump Cronies: Nuclear Waste and the UK’s First Deep Coal Mine in 30 years. 
• Nuclear safeguards changed, new regulations to fit in with Brexit. 
• Call for debate and scrutiny of proposed nuclear fusion power plant.

PACIFIC ISLANDS. ‘If it’s safe, dump it in Tokyo’ – Pacific Islanders don’t want Fukushima waste water. France tested 41 nuclear weapons in the Pacific, and grossly underestimated the radioactive fallout.

SOUTH AFRICA. Cabinet appoints critic as member of nuclear regulator board.

CANADA. Canadian government rejects Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty, but majority of Canadians support it.

IRAN. Iran’s foreign minister criticises influence of Revolutionary Guards and speaks of nuclear deal in leaked audio.

SWITZERLAND. City of Geneva calls for the closure of French nuclear station in Bugey.

RUSSIA. Not to be forgotten – the 1957 nuclear explosion in Mayak centre, Russia, that continues to poison the region.

FRANCE. High level of radioactivity near France’s uranium processing factory.

NEW ZEALAND. New Zealand nuclear veterans want apology and compensation from the government.

MALAYSIA. Malaysia needs to speak out on Japan releasing nuclear waste into the sea .

AUSTRALIA. Australian government plan for a nuclear waste dump tears apart the small rural community of Kimba. ‘‘Low Level” radioactive trash to be removed to USA from posh Sydney suburb, while govt plans to send Higher Level nuclear waste to Kimba, rural South Australia

May 3, 2021 Posted by Christina MacPherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

This week in nuclear news

Forgive me for being so remiss – I’ve neglected to cover Prince Philip’s funeral. He deserves remembering for some good work that he did for the environment.

NUCLEAR.  Heightened anxiety about keeping, repairing the Iran nuclear agreement, and a suspicious accident at Iran’s nuclear enrichment site.   Continued pressure from the nuclear lobby to get Europe to decide that nuclear power is “clean and green”.

CORONAVIRUS .  The news is not good. A”shocking imbalance” in the distribution of coronavirus vaccines between rich and poor countries. Covid cases, deaths surging around the world as variants spread, vaccination lags.

CLIMATE. Radio Ecoshock covers the issue of Future Cities: Hot and Flooded.

A bit of good news – COVID-19 success story for Rwanda is a wake-up call for wealthy West.

Investigative journalism – “Fair” exposes in detail how corporate media uses “Tropes” to win intelligent people over to USA militarism. 

Two years since Julian Assange was seized from the Ecuadorian Embassy.

Let’s get rid of nuclear weapons before they ruin us.   Artificial Intelligence and the risk of catalytic nuclear war.

U.S. – China co-operation on cyber security.

Nuclear power – a way to stop other, faster, and cheaper, climate solutions. Despite the influence of Bill Gates, experts find that nuclear power is the wrong climate solution.

Japanese engineering firm EPC joins with NuScale in small modular reactor investment.

Racism, inequities move to the center of the climate debate.

Rapid global increase in energy consumption.

IRAN. Accident at Iran’s Natanz nuclear station. Iran calls Natanz nuclear enrichment site blackout ‘nuclear terrorism’. Iran nuclear talks to continue next week after breakthrough. It’s getting too late for an effective missile deal with Iran. Iran frees South Korean ship as more nuclear talks planned in Vienna.

GREENLAND. Opposition to uranium and rare earths mining – party wins Greenland election

EUROPE. Greenpeace warns European Commission on nuclear energy classification. Dodgy European Taxonomy report was favourable to nuclear power – but it’s far from a done deal. Nuclear nation France exerted pressure on European Commission. Climate taxonomy deal threatened by possible inclusion of nuclear as ”virtuous”.

FRANCE. France fully nationalises debt-laden EDF nuclear company, – EDF can now focus on renewable energy. New defects found in France’s Flamanville nuclear project. Doubts that it will start-up on time, – or indeed ever!.

CANADA. Canada’s tax-payer funded small nuclear reactors unlikely to succeed. Pickering Nuclear plant at risk of ‘Fukushima-type accident.

NORTH KOREA. North Korea’s new tactical nuclear weapons means new dangers, new U.S. strategy needed.

SOUTH KOREA. Climate change probably increasing this problem – nuclear reactors halted because of jellyfish-like sea salps.

JAPAN. Crookedness, fraud, in 10 years of Fukushima nuclear clean-up. Japanese government and Tepco must pay monthly compensation to 3550 Fukushima residents displaced due to continued radioactivity. Japan’s Prime Minister getting ready to release Fukushima waste water into the Pacific ocean? Japan poised to release Fukushima nuclear cooling water into the sea. 4,000 Fukushima waste bags contain unidentified radioactive materials.

Japanese government continues Japan’s ”Nuclear Village” generous grants to keep ageing nuclear reactors going. Niigata governor wants Japan’s Nuclear Regulator to reassess Tepco, following security lapses. Japan halts restart of nuclear plant over poor anti-terror measures. Japan has the ability to become both coal-free and nuclear-free.

USA.

• Pentagon and tax cheats already cost taxpayers far more than Biden’s job plan. Biden’s Announcement That Trump Got Military Spending Just Right Is Dead Wrong . Scientists urge Biden administration to reduce spending on nuclear weapons.
• Ohio’s Electric Power Association happy to see the end of customer-funded nuclear subsidies.
• Records falsified at Turkey Point nuclear power station.
• An American village made dependent on the nuclear industry. Perry schools’ crisis if the nuclear power station shuts down.
• Nuclear waste director: Proposed New Mexico nuclear waste storage facility is illegal, Texas lawmakers want to ban dangerous radioactive waste.
• Explanation of a nonsense tweet from U.S. Strategic Command.

UK. UK losing credibility with its new, ambiguous, nuclear weapons policy. Sleekit’ increase in Trident nuclear warheads on the Clyde.

Britain needs to rethink – whether it really needs new nuclear power, in view of tensions with the supplier, China. Chinese-French nuclear power station planned for Bradwell UK – issues raised that might prevent its construction. Uncertain future for EDF’s Dungeness nuclear power station. It may have to shut down early.

POLAND. In a positive move, Polish utilities remove their investment from nuclear power development.

RUSSIA. Russia planning to test a ‘doomsday’ nuclear-powered torpedo in the Arctic. Putin amassing, testing, huge military arsenal in the Arctic.

CHINA. Bitcoin mining to consume more electricity than whole of Australia by 2024. Like the other nuclear powers, China wants to put a dirty great radioactive waste dump on indigenous land.

ALGERIA. French Prime Minister visiting Algeria. The question of radioactive dust from nuclear tests will be on the agenda.

SOUTHEAST ASIA. Southeast Asia can leapfrog uncompetitive nuclear energy, and go straight to renewables.

AUSTRALIA. There’s a long and devastating history behind the proposal for a nuclear waste dump in South Australia. Who Says There Is No Kimba Dump Opposition? Australia’s part in continuing nuclear havoc in Pacific islands – legacy of atomic bomb tests.

April 12, 2021 Posted by Christina MacPherson | Christina's notes | 2 Comments

Nuclear news – week to 22 March

Not a lot of remarkable news on nuclear this week . The nuclear lobby is doubling down on its media propaganda, touting nuclear as the solution to climatev change. Also it is determinedly promoting the Tokyo Olympics – the so-called ‘recovery Olympics’, despite the fact that international visitors are banned.

Coronavirus.  Incidence of new cases globally continues to rise, but death numbers are falling. Problems in distribution of vaccines.

Climate.   Developments in global heating are covered each week in Radio Ecoshock, which is a jump ahead of most news media. This week, it’s been about the predicted high temperatures in the world’s cities. Also, it’s a warm\ning that climate tipping points are coming sooner than expected.

A bit of good news.  March 20 was the U.N.’s International Day of Happiness.  For the fourth year in a row, Finland has been named the happiest country in the world, with Iceland coming in second, followed by Denmark, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

Investigative journalism –  Advanced nuclear reactors : Assessing the Safety, Security, and Environmental Impacts of Non-Light-Water Nuclear Reactors.  New science report: advanced nuclear reactors no safer than conventional nuclear plants.  The economics of nuclear power plants are not favorable to future investments.

Nuclear power has become irrelevant — like it or not.   Why the Fukushima disaster signalled the end of Big Nuclear.

New research to determine plutonium pollution and its sources.

Don’t believe hydrogen and nuclear hype – they can’t get us to net zero carbon by 2050

Review of Michael Shellenberger’s book on ”Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All”.

JAPAN.  The nuclear lobby holds too much sway over governments, particularly in Japan.  Serious security lapse at a Japanese nuclear plant.    Japanese regulator decides against restarting Kashiwazaki-Kariwa No. 7 nuclear reactor.

New type of large and highly radioactive particles found in Japan.  Fukushima disaster 10 years on: How long will it take to clean up the nuclear waste?

UK. 

• How the British government reacted to the Fukushima catastrophe – with propaganda promoting the nuclear industry.
• Boris Johnson joins Britain up to a perilous, uncontrollable, nuclear weapons race.  UK should build foreign policy on aid, conflict resolution, not on reversing nuclear disarmament.  UN expresses concern over UK’s move to increase nuclear weapons arsenal.  UK govt – cutting costs on troops as it expands nuclear missile numbers
• New report on human and environmental impact of Hinkley Point C nuclear project. Hinkley Point C nuclear power station ‘could suck up 182 million fish a year’ from Severn Estuary.   Dilemma over plan to dump Himkley radioactive mud off Cardiff coast.  Hinkley Point nuclear reactors with cracks are allowed to resume limited operations.

USA.

• Production of plutonium must cease, for the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty to work.  Plutonium used at Japanese reactor will be glassed, stored at Savannah River Site.
• With ”regulatory capture” of USA’s Nuclear Regulatory Commission, California’s got nuclear fuel buried 108 feet from the sea  .
• Duane Arnold nuclear reactor, same type as Fukushima Daiichi, vulnerable to extreme weather.
• Georgia’s  Vogtle nuclear station likely to yet again miss a deadline.
• Report alleges elevated cancer deaths in Monroe may be result of nuclear plant.
• Sudden death of defendant in Ohio nuclear corruption case.
• Deb Haaland -new U.S. Secretary for Interior, – first Native American in a U.S. presidential cabinet.

RUSSIA.  Russia planning to dispose of highly dangerous nuclear reactor cores of submarines at bottom of Kara Sea.

IRAN.  United Nations nuclear watchdog says it’s possible to return to the Iran nuclear deal.

FRANCE.  France must restructure debt-laden EDF (Electricite de France) and reform nuclear sector by October.  Flamanville nuclear reactor: 3 new welds do not meet safety requirements.

PACIFIC ISLANDS.  Outcry in Tahiti over nuclear fallout study.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. Unitede Arab Emirates $32 billion Barakah nuclear plant poses environmental, safety, and security problems.

AUSTRALIA.  Minerals Council of Australia trying to influence European Commission, to push for fossil fuels and nuclear.

March 22, 2021 Posted by Christina MacPherson | Christina's notes | 2 Comments