nuclear-news

A brief wrap on the week’s nuclear news

Mercifully brief this week, as I have had the flu

A bit of good news –  Fiji joined over 86 states to adopt a treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons and take the first step back from the knife edge of Armageddon.  Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama eloquently set out the reasons for the treaty, and the need to heal the wounds of the dark legacy of nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific. The best explanation i”ve yet read, on the value of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

Let us move towards a world without nuclear weapons. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons Members agree a plan of action in response to renewed threats of nuclear weapons use. A nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought .

After lying for months, the media are preparing the public for Ukraine’s military collapse. Glenn Diesen: As propaganda about a Ukrainian ‘victory’ retreats, is a split emerging in the West? Western Officials Admit Ukraine Is Crawling With CIA Personnel.

European Pressurised Water Reactors (EPRs) – a nuclear economic fiasco in Finland, France, UK and China.

The United States-the Pacific bully.

Welcome to the ‘Pandemicene‘..

World facing real risk of ‘multiple famines‘ this year, UN chief warns.

UKRAINE. West’s Ukraine fantasy will spell doom for the Ukrainian nation.A despicable Ukrainian PSYOP in Bucha. No Western ”boots on the ground” in Ukraine? Just commandoes and CIA agents. As world leaders promote nuclear power as SAFE, a dangerous situation develops at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant _- Zaporizhzia in Ukraine ! Panic as Russian missiles pass CRITICALLY close to nuclear power plant, as Putin’s ‘grave health worsens’.

UK.Blasting for nuke waste dump will devastate marine life. Radiation Free Lakeland joins local Haverigg Protest against the GDF (Nuclear Dump). Nuclear Free Local Authorities support Cumbria’s new group opposing Nuclear Waste Dump. The UK is searching the sea for a nuclear dump site with huge risks to marine life. Nuclear Free Local Authorities support Cumbria’s new group opposing Nuclear Waste Dump. Rolls Royce wants fast-track approval of its small nuclear reactors, even though they are barely developed yet.

EUROPE. Dispute among Members of European Parliament over move to classify nuclear energy as ”green”.

FRANCE. Nuclear power turning out to be counter-productive for Europe as a means to cut Russian power supplies – France’s massive decine in nuclear output.

SPAIN. Thousands March in Madrid for Peace and “NATO NO”.

JAPAN. Japan to Give Plutonium from Spent Fuel to France, – (but the high level wastes must be returned to Japan) 120 High School Students Connect Voices for Nuclear Abolition Video Produced by Masaharu Fukuyama Released. Contesting Fukushima.

RUSSIA. Russia’s justifications for invasion are not persuasive — IPPNW peace and health blog. Russia to send Belarus nuclear-capable missiles within months, as G7 leaders gather in Germany,

PHILIPPINES. Reactivating Nuclear Power Plant Near Volcano a Bad Idea, Geologists Say.

USA. What happened at Santa Susana?

ISRAEL. Israel Expands Operations Against Iranian Nuclear, Military Assets.

FIJI. Fiji adopts nuclear weapons ban treaty

IRAN. Talks to restart on Iran nuclear deal

CHINA.  China accuses the US and UK of hypocrisy on press freedom for calling out Beijing’s crackdowns while putting Australian Wikileaks founder Julian Assange on trial for espionage.

AUSTRALIA. Greg Barns: Julian Assange and the Albanese Government – Enough is enough! A new era as Australia joins historic UN nuclear ban meeting. A big win for Yeelirrie.

June 27, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 2 Comments

TODAY: Fed up with the biased and inaccurate coverage of the Ukraine war.

The picture above does not do justice to the multitude of news media, social media, blah blah that continue to parrot out very emotional and inaccurate coverage of the war. Yes the Russian invasion of Ukraine is illegal and wrong. Yes civilians have suffered and died. Yes, some Russian and other nationals on the Russian side have committed atrocities.

But we are supposed to believe in massive atrocities by the Russian side, and squeaky clean good behaviour from the Ukrainian side?

Suddenly neo-Nazi elements in Ukraine have become golden heroes.

The world’s great new pin-up Zelensky, is acclaimed, even if he is of the opinion that glorious mass Ukrainian martydoms are a better idea for Ukraine than a negotiated settlement with Russia that might give Russia some concessions.

Today I read Nicolas Cinquini ‘s report on the much publicised atrocities in Bucha. Then there’s Joe Lauria’s story in Consortium News.  https://consortiumnews.com/2022/04/04/questions-abound-about-bucha-massacre/. Then there’s Colonel Richard Black writing for the The International Schiller Institute –

‘‘my hunch is that the Ukrainians killed off these people after they moved in, and after they looked around, and said, “OK, who was friendly towards the Russian troops while the Russians were here? We’re going to execute them.””

And there are others. But of course these writers must be Russian spies, provocateurs, propagandists, mustn’t they? We must ignore them, shut them up.

Really? I don’t buy that opinion.

June 24, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

To survive, the human species must heed the voices of small nations, and of babes and sucklings

We really don’t have time for the antics of the big tough men that run the world – on corporate greed, vying with each other for power and importance. They’ve brought us global heating, planetary and even space pollution, and their next trick is nuclear war.

They don’t seem to ”get it” that if you blow the other lot to smithereens, it doesn’t actually help your lot at all.

I recall that the King of Siam as played by Yul Brynner way back, reflected that ‘‘Unless some day somebody trusts somebody – there’ll be nothing left on Earth excepting fishes”

The King of Siam was an optimist – as human stupidity and greed are already bringing about the end of the fishes.

BUT – the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is right now being discussed and worked on by representatives of over 100 governments. 122 governments are in favour of it, 86 have signed up to it, and 65 have ratified it. It is wisely designed, allowing even nuclear state to join, with reasonable steps.

But no. The big boys of the weapons corporations and the military run the show, so of course, they spurn this Treaty, and the opinions of the little nations. After all, the little nations are expendable, like all the ordinary little folk that are going to be obliterated by weather extremes, and by a nuclear weapon, however ”successfully” that weapon might be used.

Today, as Fiji joins the Treaty, we hear a wise and sensible opinion on the way forward. We need to learn from those ”unimportant” little nations, from indigenous peoples, from ”ignorant” children and young people – because we sure ain’t getting any wisdom from the world ”leaders”

June 24, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

The week in nuclear news

A bit of good news –  this  week Vienna, Austria, is hosting the First Meeting of States Parties, UN member states that have agreed to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Over 100 governments will participate. The great majority of the world’s representatives — 122 countries — voted their approval of the TPNW in 2017, and 62 have since ratified it. The treaty has entered into force, and only the tiny minority of nuclear-armed governments and their military allies continue to reject it. In the midst of all the doom and gloom news, we need to remember that thousands of people in many nations are working for a better world.

Otherwise – the week has been a perfect storm of awful news. The coronavirus pandemic has not gone away – far from it!  Global heating is striking – the poles are melting at a fast rate, floods in India and Bangladesh, extreme heat in Europe, wildfires in Germany, Greece, Spain and New Jersey. USA.   USA and UK determined to punish Julian Assange forever –   let that be a warning to any journalist who exposes USA military atrocities !

Assange Is Doing His Most Important Work Yet. The UK’s Decision to Extradite Assange Shows Why The US/UK’s Freedom Lectures Are a Farce.

The deteriorating nuclear order. The Nuclear Weapons Treaty Ban in the Footsteps of 1982’s Million-Person March.

Nuclear-armed nations spent $82.4bn on weapons in 2021. From all continents: mercenaries from 55 nations serving in Ukrainian army.

Pope Francis again says that the West provoked or failed to prevent Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Rosatom Exemption: How Russia’s State-Run Nuclear Giant Has Escaped Sanctions.

Bank group accused of exploiting loopholes and ‘greenwashing’ in climate pledge.

UKRAINE. The US-led bloc is unwilling to fight Russia directly and treats Ukraine as a proxy, Dutch PM admits. Ukraine vows to reclaim Crimea with US weapons. Ukraine killing civilians in ‘unprecedented’ shelling on Donetsk ignored by Western media and politicians. Profit in a time of war? The madness of more reactors (from Westinghouse) in Ukraine.

EUROPE. Anger that European Parliament may consider ”greenwashing” nuclear and gas. Two European Parliamentary committees oppose inclusion of nuclear power and gas as environmentally sustainable.

HUNGARY. Hungarian Greens: nuclear energy ‘severely pollutes the environment.

FRANCE. France’s nuclear output lowers, as climate change affects cooling water systems of reactors. A storm of unexpected problems swirls around France’s beleaguered nuclear fleet.

ANTARCTICA. Antarctic “doomsday glacier” melting at faster rate than in past 5,500 years.

UK. 

• Predictable monstrosity: UK approves Assange extradition. 
• An imminent radiological threat – UK’s planned Hinkley and Sizewell nuclear reactors – same design as flawed EPR reactor in China. 
• Fear the fallout of UK government’s unwise Regulated Asset Base funding for new nuclear reactors. Stop Sizewell C group questions UK government’s reasons for designating the project under the Regulated Asset Base model – and its secrecy about the plan. UK government’s outrageous secrecy on the costs to consumers of the Regulated Asset Base model for funding new nuclear reactors – Stop Sizewell C Group. UK government’s new financing plan for %20 tax-payer funded Sizewell C nuclear project will increase costs and delays, – is aimed to cut China out. 
• The nuclear industry ramps up its lobbying of Scottish Members of Parliament. 
• Hinkley Point C nuclear supply engineers go on strike. 
• Concern over cracks in EPR nuclear reactors in France- questions on similar reactors in Finland, UK,China.
• Many of UK’s coastal buildings may soon need to be abandoned due to sea level rise, – and what about the nuclear reactors?. 
• Sellafield, Britain’s most dangerous building, in the decades-long process of getting its nuclear waste cleaned up. 
• The Guardian’s direct collusion with media censorship by secret services exposed.

JAPAN. Japan gov’t to skip 1st U.N. nuclear ban meeting next week. 

Court rules Japanese government not responsible for Fukushima nuclear disaster damage.  Plaintiffs slam Supreme Court ruling.    Commentary] Class Action Lawsuit over Nuclear Power Plant Accident: One Dissenting Opinion What are the Key Points of the Supreme Court Decision?    Evacuated Fukushima villagers return home, but not without worries.    Radioactivity in fish and shellfish samples from the west coast of Canada after Fukushima (2011-18).    

Apprehension in Japan, about the idea of getting nuclear-powered submarines.

KAZAKHSTAN. Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as New Instrument in Nuclear Disarmament Process. Kazakhstan FM calls for elimination of all nuclear weapons by 2045.

USA. 

• What I Know About Human Life as a Nuclear Downwinder. 
• When the secretaries of Defense and State said publicly the U.S. wants Ukraine to win and weaken Russia, Biden said tone it down. 
• US squanders $80,000 every minute on nuclear weapons. ‘Revolting’: Senate Panel Adds Another $45 Billion to Biden’s Military Budget. 
• In the Middle East Biden walks in Trump’s footsteps and will repeat his failure. New Mexico, work for peace and well-being, not nuclear weapons. 
• Could the Orca Autonomous Submarine Forever Change Nuclear War? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7F67dQkgbo&t=192s 
• Biden Proposes Changes to Help Rescue California Nuclear Plant. Georgia Vogtle cooperatives move to freeze nuclear costs at $8.1B. 

CANADA.The world’s nuclear powers need to come to the table to try and change the course of history.  

AUSTRALIA. Can Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese save Julian Assange? 

June 20, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 1 Comment

The power of the global nuclear lobby makes a joke of the sanctions against Russia, and controls the European Union on climate policy.

France, the nuclear industry’s poster boy, and self-appointed leader of the European Union is deeply involved with Russia’s state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom in expanding the global industry. France is gungho for sanctions against Russian gas and oil, – but nuclear trade is fine.

Joe Biden very keen for sanctions against Russian trade, but the nuclear lobby quickly fixed him, when it came to nuclear – so Russia’s Rosatom was excluded from sanctions.

Russia exports uranium to Europe and USA – so that’s fine.

When it comes to calling nuclear power clean and green and sustainable, Russia, along with the global industry lobbyists, exerted strong pressure in various ways to make sure that the European Commission toes the line.

June 16, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 1 Comment

Nuclear news – week to 15 June

Some bits of good news    Two key  committees of the European Parliament strike down EU plans to label nuclear and gas as green investment .   – G7 countries to stop funding fossil fuel development overseas. Canada Introduced Sweeping Gun Law Reforms.

The unpalatable truth in Ukraine.

  Geo-political readings on the Russia / Ukraine conflict 8.6.22 —. Global nuclear arsenal could grow for the first time in decades, think-tank SIPRI warns.

Non-carbon emissions could ‘bump’ global temperatures above 1.5C within seven years, research warns.

Human-made heatwaves are getting hotter

Climate action is going in the right direction, but what now? What is a realistic aim? ‘‘Climatenomics” – new book -climate crisis is the REAL economic worry.      Carbon dioxide levels are now 50% higher than during the pre-industrial era. World can make massive energy savings, reduce emissions through energy conservation measures. International Energy Agency stresses that energy efficiency must be at the forefront of energy and climate policies. 

Mother Nature: Economic growth is sending her bankrupt.

UKRAINE. Ukraine’s high casualty rate could bring war to tipping point, Ukraine bars IAEA nuclear regulator from visiting Russian-occupied power plant ! Ukraine slams planned IAEA mission to Russian-occupied nuclear plant. 

New film shows the anguish and destruction of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kxUOKqSxNs&t=29s Ukrainian nationalists’ massacre of 100,000 Poles approaching 80th anniversary.     Pentagon divulges number of US-funded biolabs in Ukraine. 

FINLAND. NATO Membership May Spell the End of Finland and Sweden as Social Democracies.

FRANCE. Fresh blow for EDF with probe into practices at Tricastin nuclear plant. EDF delays the scheduled maintenance shutdowns of 7 French nuclear reactors.

JAPAN. EDITORIAL: Vienna meeting on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons -best chance for Japan to lead the way. Japanese youths at Vienna Nuclear Ban Treaty meeting, call for abolition of nuclear weapons. Japan court: Nuclear plant’s tsunami safeguards inadequate.

  Aging Fukui nuclear unit to restart in Aug., 2 months early.  

  6.3 billion yen in damages to local governments due to the Fukushima nuclear accident has not been paid. 7 prefectures in the Tokyo metropolitan area The scope of compensation was decided at TEPCO’s initiative.   Areas reopening after Fukushima nuclear disaster need sustained gov’t support.

USA. ELON MUSK IS NOT A RENEGADE OUTSIDER – HE’S A MASSIVE PENTAGON CONTRACTOR.   American senator calls for creation of Pacific NATO.

CANADA. Canada’s nuclear waste liabilities total billions of dollars: is a landfill site near the Ottawa River the best way to extinguish them?

UK. Julian Assange’s wife Stella Moris reveals how they raise children together while he is in jail waiting an extradition decision. Another episode in the unlawful spying and harassment of Julian Assange and his legal team, by the UK and USA governments. 

 Nuclear test veterans demand recognition at first meeting with Prime Minister.

Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) join the call for UK to join the nuclear ban Treaty Summit. Nuclear Free Local Authorities oppose Nuclear Waste Authorities’ seismic testing in the Irish Sea. Seismic blasting in Irish Sea for nuclear waste dump will be devastating to marine life. 

CHINA. China Says It Does Not Want To See Another North Korean Nuclear Test .

GERMANY. Germany rules out nuclear power as an option during the energy crisis.

IRAN. Iran removes nuclear watchdog’s cameras after criticism.

INDIA. Ukraine war – good chance for France to sell nuclear reactors to India, replacing deal with Russia.

POLAND. Experts doubt Polish government’s plans to have nuclear by 2033.

AUSTRALIA. Julian Assange is still in jail, but the new Australian government has the power to act to help him. Assange: Albanese must act where the Coalition failed.

Australia’s Energy Minister rejects nuclear power push

June 15, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 1 Comment

TODAY. France’s nuclear industry – the world leader, is just as corrupt as the rest of them

Today we learn that French prosecutors are investigating alleged cover-ups of incidents at the Tricastin nuclear power station. Oh dear – France – the poster child for the global nuclear industry!

What a surprise – NOT!

Articles at  https://nuclearinformation.wordpress.com/?s=corruption will cure the reader of any lingering beliefs that the nuclear industry world-wide might be decent and honest. The necessary secrecy in operations so dangerous as nuclear activities makes it so much easier, indeed, inevitable for the entire industry to be crooked – which it is.

June 11, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 1 Comment

TODAY. Nuclear weasel words: doncha love this one – ”Challenge”?

It’s looking as if hatred between Ukrainians and Russians is now a more important priority than the safety of Europe !

”Challenge” is one of the nuclear industry’s favourite topical weasel words. ”Challenge” is the one they use when they mean – at the very least – ”Problem”. But it also covers ”disastrous nuclear situation” and ”impossible obstacle” and ”omigawd we don’t want people to understand how bad this is”.

The nuclear industry prefers not to mention such matters, but, when it has to – they are ”Challenges” – e.g, the IAEA – Radioactive Waste: Meeting the Challenge. Sounds so much better that – ”This is so God-awful we don’t know what to do with it.” (Indigenous groups in Canada are today using the word more authentically).

Today, the IAEA Director General talks of ”challenging conditions” in Ukraine’s nuclear reactors. ”Challenging” is an understatement. Now there’s a worrying spat between the IAEA and Ukraine government – Ukraine’s nuclear power plant operator is accusing Rafael Mariano Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, of “lying” . That’s because Grossi wants to send experts to check on the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear complex – the biggest in Europe, but now under the control of the Russians.

It’s looking as if hatred between Ukrainians and Russians is now a more important priority than the safety of Europe !

June 9, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 1 Comment

Nuclear news this week

Some bits of good news –  European Cities Are Turning Rooftops Into Community and Sustainability Hubs: ‘A revolution in urban planning’  Dr. Jane Goodall on climate change, planting trees, and nurturing hope

 The need for a negotiated settlement to end the Ukraine war – Western allies discuss this.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85JcUZe7kk0

Weapons designed to mass murder civilians, terrorize the world, and enable impunity for war crimes can no longer be relied on to “prevent war.”

Washington: NATO chief meets with Biden, Blinken, Austin, Sullivan to prolong Ukraine war .

Erdogan: Turkey will be in the forefront of the space war.

Turkish drones in Ukraine as model: Japan, U.S. to produce drones for use against China, Russia .

Small nuclear reactors may produce more, and more toxic, wastes than large ones do – new research. Nuclear waste from small modular reactors.

Current policies will bring ‘catastrophic’ climate breakdown, warn former UN leaders. 30 years on from Rio Earth Summit not that much has been achieved.

Time to Start Reducing Consumption! — harben post — Barbara Crane Navarro

There’s a scream building up in young people.

UKRAINE.   U.S. Army: Ukraine is laboratory for new warfighting doctrine.

EUROPE. Members of European Parliament and experts condemn plan to label nuclear as ”green”.

BELGIUM. Belgian government pressed to pay for lifetime extension of nuclear reactors Doel 4 and Tihange 3.

JAPAN. Japan Court Bars Hokkaido Nuclear Reactors From Operating . Another earthquake could topple Fukushima nuclear reactor. Current and former residents of Tamura City, plaintiffs in case against TEPCO may appeal about low compensation.

SOUTH KOREA. Policymakers endorse massive injection of state money for SMR development

RUSSIA. Russian-Norwegian nuclear safety commission ceases work over war in Ukraine. New documentary shows Soviet disinformation over the true horror of the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown.Siberia’s tundra could soon disappear, scientists warn.

UK. UK government urged to end its obsession with nuclear power.    Following U.S., Britain to supply Ukraine with multiple rocket launchers .

USA.

NATO, Pentagon chiefs push armaments spending shakedown. DHS ‘concerned’ over Nazis returning to US after fighting in Ukraine. Why isn’t the media?                       

The Next Crapshot Reactor Explosion Will Dwarf the Next Psychotic School Shooting.  

As Elon Musk’s SpaceX Grows, So Do Complaints From Environmentalists, Indigenous Groups and Brownsville Residents.    Small nuclear reactors produce ’35x more waste’ than big plants. Thin-walled nuclear waste containers – not really very secure.

SWEDEN. NATO candidate Sweden to provide Ukraine with anti-ship, anti-tank missiles.

ISRAEL. Iran: No one can remain silent on Zionist regime’s clandestine nuclear program.

SPAIN. Spain and Portugal stand out from the European Union, in slashing energy bills because of their high renewable energy use.

AUSTRALIA. The National Radioactive Waste Management Act is racist and the Act must be amended or repealed and replaced. Indigenous owners call on the Labor government to scrap the nuclear waste dump plan. South Australia nuclear waste storage facility legal battle continues.

Despite the evidence that nuclear power is failing, and small nuclear reactors don’t exist, Australia’s right-wing politicians cling to their dream.

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

Nuclear news as May ends – the problems keep getting worse 

Some bits of good news –  INDIGENOUS INSIGHTS ON HEALING LAND AND SKY.       Cuban Farmers Fight Land Degradation with Sustainable Management.

It’s a worrying thought that everyone might just get ”Ukraine fatigue” and let this cruel war grind on.  In the meantime, the global nuclear industry is suffering all sorts of upsets, while Elon Musk and the rest of the space war enthusiasts are carrying on, as if there were no problems at all.   Hard to single out the most significant nuclear failure, but I think that it would have to be France, where the financial and safety problems just keep getting worse.  

INTERNATIONAL.

What to do about humanity entering “a spiral of self-destruction” – a UN Summit now on in Indonesia.   The U.N. “Sustainable Development Goals”- just ”greenwashing” – claim experts.   Why nuclear power can’t solve climate crisis – in fact makes it worse- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7rG7-P7E5M&t=306s

When Henry Kissinger gives advice on ending the Ukraine conflict, the West should listen.     Ukraine, Taiwan: Biden trip designed to recruit S. Korea, Japan into global anti-Russia/China bloc. They’re Just Outright Telling Us That Peace In Ukraine Is Not An Option.

 Book Review: ”Atoms and Ashes’‘ – A Timely History of Nuclear Catastrophes.

Asianization of NATO: China, Russia react to Biden visit   War for Taiwan, nuclear war for Japan: Biden pushes two-front campaign against China, Russia.       Like the rest of Europe’s few remaining non-members, Ireland being prepped for NATO .         Expanding NATO – it’s a $quillion bonanza for the U.S. weapons industries!!     Why environmentalists are pushing back against nuclear energy .

Nuclear is already well past its sell-by date.    After the meltdown.

Billionaires from USA and Denmark have inordinate influence on public opinion about molten salt nuclear reactors’.     Caitlin Johnson, rogue journalist, on corporate control of the media.

“Don’t work for climate wreckers:” UN chief warns young people off fossil fuels.

Curbing other climate pollutants, not just CO2, gives Earth a chance.

Experts call on governments to start including animal welfare in sustainable development governance.

UKRAINE. For the first time in history, nuclear sites have been caught up in the middle of warfare. Ukrainian negotiator rules out deal with Russia.

USA. 

• Col. Richard Black — U.S. Leading World to Nuclear War. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcp0TYx_eUI Biden’s nuclear comments send shock waves through Northeast Asia . Twenty-Two House Republicans Demand Accountability on Biden’s $40b War Spending. Are Americans Prepared To Fight A Nuclear War Over Taiwan?
• South Carolina Woefully Underprepared for Nuclear Disaster .
• Palisades atomic reactor’s shutdown for good, leaving high risk radioactive wastes. Michigan’s dead old nuke is Diablo’s early warning. California makes misguided plea for feds to keep state’s last nuclear power plant alive.
• USA Energy Department nuclear waste backlog goes as far back as WWII.
• Where the toxic nuclear industry and global heating collide – the disastrous wildfires in America.
• U.S – UK quarrel over purchases of nuclear submarine equipment.
• ”Commercial” nuclear power in space? – it’s all about weapons and war.
• Elon Musk’s satellites for the war in Ukraine.

CANADA. Canada can achieve 100% zero-emission electricity by 2035 – with renewable energy, storage. energy efficiency , and interprovincial transmission

UK. 

• Pressure Mounts on British Home Secretary Patel Over Assange Decision.
• A fossil fuel front group –  The Global Warming Policy Foundation.
• Pretense in UK that Wylfa and other new nuclear stations are affordable – investors are staying away in droves. Chinese involvement is entrenched in Britain’s nuclear power plans.   Boris Johnson promised ”1 nuclear reactor a year for 8 years” – one by 2040 if he’s lucky! 
• Nuclear safety warning threatens to derail Boris Johnson’s energy revolution. Security issues at UK’s civil nuclear facilities have reached highest level in 14 years. 
• Another university infiltrated by the nuclear industry – University of Derby and Rolls Royce.

JAPAN. Japan ratchets up rhetoric against Russia, China re air patrols, Ukraine . Japan’s new ‘green economy’ bond may fund nuclear projects.   

Fukushima.  A 5.5 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Area Near the Fukushima Disaster Site. Fukushima reactor sitting on shaky base raises quake concerns. 

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, work to remove contaminated pipes suspended again due to detection of high radiation dose at level of “death by exposure for several hours. Debris in sediment, bottom of Fukushima Unit 1 Neutron radiation detected at high levels. Hiroshima man’s anime sheds light on Fukushima nuclear project. 

Cancer Patients Seek Damages from Fukushima Nuclear Plant. Plaintiff diagnosed with thyroid cancer after the Fukushima nuclear accident: “I have suffered without telling anyone. Lawsuit by evacuees from nuclear power plant accident: Supreme Court to rule on June 17 for the first time on the government’s responsibility. 

Japan’s plan to release toxic water into sea irresponsible.

MARSHALL ISLANDS. Nuclear tragedy in the Marshall Islands.

SOUTH KOREA. South Korea to keep import ban on Japan seafood due to Fukushima concern.

FRANCE. A warning from France, about nuclear delusions of grandeurl France’s Nuclear Industry Slides Into Crisis. Global heating is affecting France’s nuclear reactors, as water temperatures rise in the rivers. EDF Nuclear Failures Undermine Europe’s Push to Exit Russian Gas.

RUSSIA. Putin Ready For “Serious Negotiations” With Zelensky, But Says Western Arms ‘Destabilizing’ Situation/ Energy sanctions on Russia – Russia’s nuclear supply chain should be sanctioned, too.

EUROPE. Nuclear dependence. Europe remains economically dependent on Russia as long as it has nuclear energy. Where will Europe store its radioactive waste?

CROATIA. Mounting opposition from Bosnia, to Croatia’s nuclear waste dump plan.

AFRICA. Climate Summit failed to support African communities on the front lines of the climate crisis.

ISRAEL. No Iran nuclear deal ‘worse’ than even a bad one: Israel sources.

IRELAND. Ireland’s Environment Minister Eamon Ryan rules out nuclear power as option in transition from fossil fuel dependence

PHILIPPINES. Philippines’ Marcos in nuclear plant revival talks with S.Korea.

INDIA. France is offering 6 new nuclear reactors to India, even though India’s nukes are not within the IAEA safety regulatory framework. Russia’s Outsized Role in India’s Nuclear Power Program.

FINLAND. Fennovoima withdraws from its new nuclear reactor application.

PACIFIC ISLANDS. Vulnerable island ecology threatened as developed countries dump waste, conduct nuclear test in Pacific.

AUSTRALIA. Julian Assange’s family says Australia’s election result brings renewed hope for WikiLeaks founder’s release. Labor urged to act to prevent Julian Assange extradition. Australia’s new Prime Minister backs the UN Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty.

May 30, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Where the toxic nuclear industry and global heating collide – the disastrous wildfires in America.

Yes, the video above goes back to 2015. Ancient history? If only!

We just don’t get to learn from the mainstream mdia, about this radioactive danger,

Terry Southard brought this information to our notice:

New Mexico is just on fire. 400 thousand acres burned. So much nuclear waste and fallout there from bomb building and testing I would not be surprised if everyone has cancer in 10 years. Nuke bombs exploded under rivers in nm project gas buggy. Uranium waste catastrophes. Nuclear waste dumps in in many places. Largest plutonium core operation in the world at Los Alamos, by Santa fe. Wipp

These explosions were caused by parts of the decommisioned, highly radioactive pieces of the San onofre reactor, biried in Nevada. They later dug them up, after the explosions and, moved them to utah.

Steppenwolf just stick yur head into the sand pretend that all is grand and everything will be ok

This will start happening at white mesa nuke waste operation, by blanding, utah. There will wildfires at dark canyon, white mesa, and bears ears. There was a truck fire of nuke waste at energy fuels other site by saltlake city. The white mesa, energy fuel operation is trucking in nuke waste, from all over the world.

This shows the wildfires still going on in New mexico

https://data.thespectrum.com/fires/

May 29, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 1 Comment

The hypocrisy of Europe pretending that nuclear power is the ”solution” for not depending on Russian gas.

With breath-taking blindness or stupidity (or both) European ”experts” are saying that Europe can become ”emergy independent” and no longer rely on Russia’s gas and oil, – by turning to nuclear power.

What a load of rubbish! They must know full well that Russia dominates the global nuclear industry.

By turning to nuclear power, European countries will become even more dependent – on Russia and Kazakhstan for uranium, on Russia for nuclear technology and expertise.

That is blatant hypocrisy. But it’s not the only bit of hypocrisy.

The other bit is that nuclear power:

(a) in its full fuel cycle – from uranium mining through to toxic waste disposal, emits lots of carbon and increases global heating.

(b) even if it worked against global heating, nuclear power takes so very long to set up, that it would come into operation much too late to be any use.

May 29, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 1 Comment

The week in nuclear news

A bit of good news.  Australia – the leper of world climate politics, – is a leper no more. Beyond all expectations, we turfed out the corrupt and anti-environment Morrison Liberal Coalition government. The driving forces in this election were the Greens, and the very climate conscious ”teal” independents.  It seems that intelligent Liberals who care about the environment defected to the ”teals”, while intelligent Labor people who care strongly about the environment defected to the Greens. Either way –   Australia at long last will have a government that might work for the cause of a clean planet, and for addressing global heating, and climate justice.

Pandemic–  WHO chief: The COVID pandemic is ‘most certainly not over’

Climate – New IPCC Report: Addressing Climate Change Is Now About Damage Control 

Extraditing Julian Assange would be a gift to secretive, oppressive regimes.

War in Ukraine is getting complicated, and America isn’t ready 

Ukraine War Has No End in Sight.    Ukraine Contact Group: war used to expand global NATO.

NATO doubles members since 1999, completes sweep of Nordic nations . IT IS FOOLISH FOR FINLAND AND SWEDEN TO JOIN NATO.      Up to 100 U.S. nuclear weapons surround Russia’s border.       Disinformation’ Label Serves to Marginalize Crucial Ukraine Facts.

Switzerland: NATO swallowing Europe’s few remaining former neutrals .

Nuclear Bomb Blast Map Shows What Would Happen if One Detonated Near You.

New book – does nuclear power have a future?. Tritium isn’t harmless.

The Arctic Council (AC) and NATO aims conflict with no climate change mitigation.

 COP26: No countries have delivered on promise to improve climate plans. 1.2 billion people threatened by escalating heat due to climate change. Climate change: The global climate crisis is also a health crisis

UKRAINE. Chernobyl nuclear fears as forest near Exclusion Zone in FLAMES – emergency triggered      Ukraine controlled by US and UK – Russia. Injured troops to be evacuated from Azovstal – Moscow. Nuclear lobby happily predicts a bright and beautiful future for new nuclear reactors in Ukraine.

EUROPE. Borrell: EU defense chiefs to approve another half billion Euros to arm Ukraine — Anti-bellum. Russia’s grip on Europe’s nuclear power industry – this is being ignored. EU lawmakers move to block green investment label for gas and nuclear.

Unusually high temperatures to hit western Europe this week.Nuclear Fusion Is Already Facing a Fuel Crisis.

EU hits fast forward on renewables, including “massive deployment” of solar .

GERMANY. Germany to reject EU green investment label for nuclear power. Germany will vote against EU plans to label nuclear power as a green investment,.

FRANCE. France’s Nuclear Safety authority struggles with the problems related to corrosion in 12 reactors.     France’s nuclear corrosion problem will need a ”large scale” plan, and ”several years” to fix. 3 unplanned shutdowns of French nuclear reactors due to corrosion concerns, in the Framatome-designed piping.       EDF shares fall after new profit warning due to nuclear outages.    Nuclear: seven questions about the industrial disaster that threatens EDF.    France’s woes with nuclear power plants mean more energy uncertainty for Europe.

SWEDEN. Sweden’s Green Party demands nuclear weapons ban.

INDIA. Extreme heat hitting India.

PAKISTAN. Climate change makes record-breaking heatwaves in northwest India and Pakistan 100 times more likely.

RUSSIA. Five reasons that Russia’s nuclear exports will continue, despite sanctions and the Ukraine invasion. But for how long?

USA.

• $40 Billion More for the Ukraine War. invading Russia . 
•  Nuclear agency plans five new plutonium buildings at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Seismic Concerns at Los Angeles Nuclear Laboratory and Expanded Plutonium Pit Production.
•   U.S. extends application deadline for nuclear power rescue program. Environmentalists oppose possibility of extending the life of Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. Entergy shuts down Palisades nuclear station ahead of time. Say No to Nuclear Power.
•  Back to square one for $28B nuclear management contract. 
• The U.S. energy secretary says it is critical to find a solution for storing the nation’s spent nuclear fuel. US Government Secret Files:
•   Human Experiments With Plutonium Side Effects.
• Don’t hold your breath waiting for NuScam‘s small nuclear reactors to be profitable.
• Americans Divided on Nuclear Energy.
•  Global heating brings megadrought and water shortages to over half of the USA.

CANADA. Opposition mounts against 25-year licence extension request from New Brunswick nuclear plant with no long-term waste disposal plan.

JAPAN. Magnitude 6.0 quake shakes Japan’s east and northeast. Japan OKs plan to release Fukushima nuclear plant wastewater. Nuclear expert reaffirms harm of dumping nuclear-contaminated water into ocean, calls on Japan to stop pressuring opposition voices.  Japan’s nuclear water disposal plan irresponsible.

SOUTH KOREA. New South Korean President plans to reverse the nuclear phaseout policy.       S. Korea denies report of alleged approval of Japan’s Fukushima water release plan.     Korea to keep close tabs on Japan’s Fukushima water discharge plan.

UK.

• Greens oppose Nato membership for Scotland and ‘evil’ nuclear weapons.
• Sellafield Update 2022. Strong community protest against planned Sizewell C nuclear plant for Suffolk. Beaches near Sellafield contaminated with radioactive particles.
• UK Ministers taking the public for fools, as they tout grandiose and delusional nuclear power schemes. Hinkley Point C – costs soar, delays again. UK govt’s big bet on nuclear is backfiring. Costs of Hinkley Point C nuclear station predicted to balloon out. £3 billion more, 1 year longer: EDF Energy announces latest price hike and further delay at Hinkley Point C.
• Organisation seeks assurance British nuclear will not rely on Russian uranium.
• Cost of shutting down UK’s old nuclear reactors is doubling and then some.
• UK Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee sets out the grim facts on costs of decommissioning nuclear reactors.
• UK Public Accounts Committee warns on need to double-check on safety of aging nuclear reactors.
• Webinar 25 May. Nuclear Free Local Authorities join with local governments to support UN Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
• Leaked emails expose UK Home Secretary Priti Patel’s connection to MI6-style ‘research and influence operations AND to extraditing Julian Assange. UK Home Secretary PRITI PATEL WAS PART OF CIA-LINKED LOBBY GROUP WITH HUSBAND OF ASSANGE JUDGE.

SOUTH AFRICA. Peter Becker, sacked from South Africa’s National Nuclear Regulator Board, won’t go down without a fight.  From Russia with very expensive love – Karyn Maughan on South Africa’s bombed nuclear deal .

NEW ZEALAND. “We must wean ourselves off fossil fuels:” New Zealand launches “landmark” climate plan .

TURKEY. Turkish nuclear plant threatened by Russian sanctions.

MYANMAR. Invading Russia U.S., allies may be planning Ukraine proxy war model for Myanmar — Anti-bellum 

AUSTRALIA. Will Anthony Albanese and Labor have the guts to free Julian Assange? Australians have voted for bolder climate action and integrity in politics. 

May 23, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 2 Comments

TODAY. The nuclear industry’s FANTASTIC optimism in Ukraine

Doesn’t it warm the cockles of your heart, in this time of war, global heating, pandemic, to find an industry that’s full of optimism! And in Ukraine of all places!

Yes, it’s the ?wonderful NUCLEAR INDUSTRY!

And here was I, reading that Ukraine’s existing nuclear reactors are injeopardy, and the IAEA is worried, and that Chernobyl area is still radioactive, and that the concrete dome above the shattered reactor is costing $millions, and will need to be replaced at intervals over the next millennia.

It does sound absurd – but here’s what the ever-joyful World Nuclear News says:

 ‘construction work on two new Westinghouse AP1000 units at the Khmelnitsky nuclear power plant “will begin as soon as the war is over”. (The Americans must be glad that it will be an American company – but wait!… the Americans want the war to go on indefinitely)

 “we are looking at new sites’ –  the Chyhyryn site in the Cherkasy region…… there are good conditions, the population is positive….. they would also create a garden city out of Orbita….”

May 17, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 1 Comment