nuclear-news

TODAY. New heights of folly as UK government releases its Civil Nuclear Roadmap.

When Rishi Sunak rose to the political throne in Britain, I thought: ”Well, of the stupid Tories, at least he’s probably less stupid than the rest of them”.

Well, now I wonder. With an election due by early 2025, surely Sunak and co. are not planning upon political suicide?

So I can only conclude that Sunak is as thick as a brick.

He’s launched the  Civil Nuclear Roadmap for UK to increase nuclear generation by up to four times to 24GW by 2050. The Prime Minister said: “Nuclear is the perfect antidote to the energy challenges facing Britain – it’s green, cheaper in the long term and will ensure the UK’s energy security for the long-term.” “This is the right long-term decision and is the next step in our commitment to nuclear power”

The UK intends to build up to eight new reactors, and will invest up to £300 million into producing the HALEU fuel required for new high-tech reactors, and which currently is only commercially produced in Russia.

And there’ll be a fleet of “small modular reactors” to be .built across Britain.

Sounds great, don’t it?

BUT:

Large nuclear reactors.  The cost of Hinkley Point C has spiralled to £33bn, a 30 per cent increase from 2015 when it forecast the cost at £25-£26bn.    Sizewell C has not yet received a final investment decision.

Six reactors on three sites have been shut down since 2021 and will be need  expensive dismantlement 

Most of the UK’s 9 functioning nuclear reactors are nearing the end of their operating lives, although 2 of them Heysham 1 and Hartlepool are to be extended.

Small Nuclear Reactors. Regulation and planning  rules will be loosened . A   developer-led approach will replace previous rules.     Rather than ministers specifying sites, developers will be asked to identify locations for small nuclear reactors . 

Nuclear plants will be ruled out in line with “population density” and “proximity to military activities” . But apart from those considerations, “All other criteria willbe discretionary, including size, flood risk, proximity to civil airports,  the natural beauty, ecological importance or cultural heritage of the site. ” 

Divorced from reality?  Does Rishi Sunak not know what happened to the USA’s one and only small nuclear reactor project –   the rapid decline and fall of the NuScale enterprise?

The mainstream media faithfully touts Rishi Sunak’s nuclear plans.  But investors and the general public are not that gullible. 

I think it more likely that the Nuclear Roadmap will prove the antidote to a Tory government for 2025

January 13, 2024 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Aw gee! Did ya know that Australia is partnering USA in making multiple strikes on Yemen?

Yeah. It’s happened already. And many thanks to the American media (CNN) for letting me know. Not that it was discussed in the Australian Parliament or anything like that. But don’t worry. Our Defence Minister Richard Marles has it all in hand. I believe that he’s going to make an announcement to the Australian public soon. So no need to worry. The Labor government has everything in had, just as the Liberal government under John Howard did, in 2003, when we joined USA to bomb Iraq, without consulting Parliament.

Not a peep out of our Prime Minister yet. I wonder if the Australian media will bother to cover it?

January 13, 2024 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

TODAY. Who can be believed?

Government pressure, whether strong or subtle, makes the “mainstream” media toe the “correct ” line, especially when it comes to Israel, Ukraine, or the nuclear industry.

As for “social media” with its various founts of information - well – it is way open for lies, distortions, exaggerations. And it’s getting worse. Take Elon Musk’s “X”. Twitter used to monitor tweets for lies and hate speech. Musk has sacked 80 per cent of its trust and safety team.

There’s no proper fact-checking for social media, nor for the thousands of “alternative” media sites.

And every information site is subject to bias, whether that be by obviously biased information, or by simply omitting the facts that might give the other side of the story.

So – how to work this out?

Well, I don’t know, really. But I can try.

Here are some suggested steps:

1 Does it make sense to you? . A current example: when Israel says that not so many have died in Gaza, and that they are “avoiding civilian casualties” - you can ponder on the blanket bombing of cities, and on whether Israel’s statement is likely to be true.

2. Language. Is the language especially inflammatory ? The repetition of highly emotive words – e.g “atrocity” should cause you to wonder. Or is it bland, vague and not clear? – that’s an equal sign that it might not be trustworthy.

3. The source – the media outlet or journalist. For example -a Russian outlet – Rt.com or Sputnik. You can expect their information to be biased – pro Russian. The Chinese news - South China Morning Post – likewise – pro Chinese. But the tricky thing is - these outlets can still provide factual information. The thing is – to be aware of their bias.

I myself post items on nuclear-news.net. Nuclear-news.net is clearly biased in its opposition to the nuclear industry. At least you know what the bias is.

4. Be aware of corporate media. At least they do fact-checking, and that is a good thing. But it is becoming increasingly obvious that if a news medium wants to keep its access to government information, and its sponsors, it has to be mindful of government policy and mind its “p”s and “q”s.

5. Be aware of “think tanks” and other so-called “not-for profit” advisors, who tell you what is “safe” to read, and what isn’t. 

A champion of these is NewsGuard, which purports to protect us from misinformation by rating websites on a scale of 0 to 100 on whether they provide “false or egregiously misleading content.”

It turns out that NewsGuard works closely with corporate advertisers and marketing data-brokers, “intelligence and national security officials,” “reputation management providers” and “government agencies.”

There is a growing trend for organisations to word their media message in consistent and repetitive phrases that back up the corporate and government agenda. I have previously written about the Atlas Network , which specialises in exactly this- its main function is to provide the “suitable” wording to the organisations.

6. Finally – make your choices, and be ready to change your mind. You can find outlets, and individual journalists who seem to make sense, and to take trouble to get accurate facts. Some are clearly biased, but admit this. Some are very persuasive, but you might find out later that they are dodgy in some way - e.g sensationalist, or paid to push a particular opinion.

I guess that approaching everything with a healthy scepticism is the way to go.

January 11, 2024 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 3 Comments

Nuclear news for the first week of 2024

Some bits of good news .   Wild and Wonderful Saiga is No Longer Endangered with a Million Roaming Now in Central Asia.    10 Things that Give us HOPE for 2024.

TOP STORIES. How Long Can Israel Defy the World?  

Rokkasho redux: Japan’s never-ending nuclear reprocessing saga.  

Bill Introduced in US Congress Calls for US to Drop Charges Against Julian Assange.

From the archives: Japan’s nuclear companies bribed local governments: consumers eventually pay.

Climate. What a farce! Another veteran of the oil and gas industry to lead the next round of COP 29 climate talks.

Nuclear. I try to stay off the topics of Israel and Ukrainian wars – but that’s tricky, as we teeter on the nuclear brink.  Japan’s  earthquake disaster lingers, – their nuclear reactors are OK, but it’s early days.

Noel’s notes: Japan’s earthquake: The world must not be conned by the irrational optimism of the nuclear lobby. The subtle ways that the nuclear lobby manipulates corporate media: example KISHA CLUBS OF JAPAN.

AUSTRALIA. Nuke policy quietly nuked: Australia to fund US nuclear weapon delivery program.  Funding the imperium: Australia subsidises U.S. nuclear submarines. 

US officials monitored pro-Assange protests in Australia for ‘anti-US sentiment’, documents reveal.  Legendary Australian journalist John Pilger dies, aged 84. Uranium ship sneaks into ‘nuclear free’ Fremantle port, sparking concern by wharfies over safety.

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ECONOMICS. EDF using Pontins Brean Sands has ‘big determinantal impact’ on local economy, tourism firm fears. COP28’s Nuclear Energy Promise Is Still a Long Way Off. Nuclear Fuel: Russian Cutoff Would Upend Global Market.

EMPLOYMENT. Mass layoffs at small nuclear reactor companies. Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLAs) call upon nuke cops chief to issue statement on ‘toxic’ Sellafield allegations.  

ENERGY. ‘Renewable surge powers all UK homes in 2023’.  More than half of eligible schools enlist in new solar scheme in Ireland. Nuclear weapons test treaty fears sink plans for major wind farm.  UK Nuclear Output Slumps to 42-Year Low . Swedish nuclear outage extended by 3 weeks . Germany’s coal power production drops to lowest level in 60 years in2023 after nuclear exit.

ENVIRONMENT. NRC still concerned with Air Force’s monitoring of thorium contamination at Kirtland.  A ‘natural alternative’ plan for protecting fish from Hinkley nuclear station’s cooling system.    Hinkley Point C proposes new wetland reserve to protect fish from cooling system.

HEALTH. Prolonged impact of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Accident on health and society.

MEDIA. Burial review – deep dive into underworld of nuclear power and its toxic legacy. https://youtu.be/fw4Fp7e-9PM?si=SaQXhz1FobT2K3yb 

BBC Panorama to feature RAF Lakenheath nuclear weapons saga- BBC Two on Thursday, January 18.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZcg409HYIc 

All CNN Gaza Coverage Seen by Bureau Monitored by Israeli Defense Force Before Publication.

PERSONAL STORIES. A Visit to Belmarsh Prison, Where Julian Assange Awaits His Final Appeal Against Extradition to the US.

POLITICS. Kim Jong Un announces launch of new spy satellites, nuclear resolutions for 2024.

POLITICS INTERNATIONAL and DIPLOMACY. 

• The real reason why the USA pushed for the world to “triple nuclear power” at COP 28.  
• Iran Says Prospect for Talks Over Nuclear Deal ‘Still Exists’.
•  India, Pakistan exchange list of nuclear installations under 1988 bilateral pact. 
• “The coming US-Saudi nuclear deal: Keep it honest,” The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists. “Improving Saudi-Israeli Ties Shouldn’t Breed Nuclear Bombs,” The Hill,  
• European Parliament resolution of 12 December 2023 on small modular reactor.

SAFETY.  Japan earthquake casts cloud over push to restart nuclear plants. Japan earthquake raises concerns over restarting country’s nuclear plants. We care about Japan’s disaster situation and are concerned about nuclear safety. Operational Ban Lifted on Major Japan Nuclear Plant. 

Nuclear concerns as a magnitude-7.6 earthquake hits north central Japan, prompting tsunami warnings. How Japanese earthquake has chilling echoes of 2011 tsunami disaster that killed at least 20,000 and caused nuclear meltdown.  In Quake-Scarred Japan, 2011 Fukushima Disaster Still Looms Large. Following earthquake, Japan’s nuclear reactors escaped serious problems – THIS TIME.  “Forbidden news”- Water Containing Radioactive Materials Spills Over atKashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant .    Japan Earthquake: Water Levels Rose At Shika Nuclear Plant After Monday’s Tsunami, Says Report.  Systems to supply power to nuclear plant in Ishikawa partially unusable. Radioactive water spills over after quakes hit Japan. 

•  Fears after warning of ‘rotting’ nuclear infrastructure on Clyde. 
• Nuclear disasters–in–waiting, 
•  IAEA says its inspectors are denied access to parts of Ukraine nuclear plant .. 
• Incident: Hackers use LinkedIn to target UK nuclear waste firm. 
• Volcanic hazard to planned Natrium fast nuclear reactor – even the NRC admits.  
• Diablo Canyon nuclear plant must be shut down.

SECRETS and LIES.  More nuclear corruption?

SPINBUSTER. Another Voice: Nuclear (yet again).

TECHNOLOGY. DOE docs: Carbon removal proposal bets on rare nuclear reactors.

WASTES. Nuclear waste site a potential danger to all who live here. Nuclear waste could threaten rare spot where endangered mussel thrives, experts say.  UK’s Nuclear Waste Service (NWS) to grant £millions to the 3 Community Partnerships, to seek a site for nuclear waste dump.  Challenging questions concerning UK’s Geological Disposal Facility (GDF)Test of Public Support.

WEAPONS and WEAPONS SALES. US Foreign Policy Is a Scam Built on Corruption. Once Again, Biden Bypasses Congress to Approve Arms Sale to Israel. Ukraine war – NATO provides a new bonanza for Raytheon and MBDA Germany weapons companies. American weapons company Lockheed Martin scores again with sale of more F-35s to South Korea.   “Civil nuclear power” has always been a cover story for wasting public money on nuclear weapons. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgQ1PtkZvGU

January 8, 2024 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 1 Comment

TODAY. Japan’s earthquake: The world must not be conned by the irrational optimism of the nuclear lobby

Dr Pangloss would be in his element. In today’s world, Pangloss would surely be paid a fortune, one that would minimise the fat salaries of Nuclear Publicist Raphael Grossi, and his cronies.

The earthquake in Japan is a timely case in point.

It demonstrates the safety of nuclear technology.

Or does it?

We get the comforting headlines in the corporate media. - “nuclear power plants largely undamaged following quake” “No Irregularities Identified At West Coast Nuclear Power Plants, Says Regulator”

Grossi’s been remarkably quiet about all this. Being the devious slimy propagandist that he is, Grossi knows that the full story may not be so comforting. He really needs a Dr Pangloss to tutor him on this one.

At first, the news of a radioactive spill at  at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power station was unavailable – labelled “Forbidden”. And no wonder, as this, the world’s biggest NPP, has a chequered safety history, and is about to be restarted! It has 7 reactors, and is situated all too close to the earthquake fault line.

But then, the nuclear lobby rallied – and added  ” No Damage or Leak” to the headline, and made it public.

So – the timing of the earthquake was unfortunate for its owner – Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), (especially as TEPCO is still afflicted with the legal and other effects of its Fukushima nuclear catastrophe).

But hey – the nuclear lobby to the rescue! Never mind that the earthquake made radioactive water from Kashiwazaki-Kariwa’s fuel pools spill over.

They will push ahead with restarting this globally iconic nuclear plant – regardless of its recent problem, and regardless of its problematic history:

• Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear powerplant out of action for many months due to 74 instances of defective welding.  
• Security lapses at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata. 
• Safety and security issues at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power station. 
• A number of cases of unauthorized access have occurred at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant. 
• Japan’s nuclear regulator bans Tepco from restarting Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant due to safety flaws. 
• 60 holes at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuke plant found unfilled in violation of building code. TEPCO again!! 
• Danger of radioactive groundwater leak at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant
• Trouble with nuclear fuel rods in Japan’s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant. 

So we wait to see what Grossi, Pangloss, and the rest of of the nuclear cabal come up with, to justify the restart of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa.

January 4, 2024 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

  Nuclear News 1st January 2024

 Good news?  Yes, it’s hard to find.  But it’s out there. So many millions of people working towards a clean and peaceful planet, working with compassion for the victims of war, of injustice, and of extreme weather. Impossible to name the many agencies – from the numerous United Nations ones, (UNICEF, UNHCR, UNESCO ……..), and ICAN, Red Cross , Red Crescent, MSF, Greenpeace, FOE …. … many more… Millions give their time voluntarily.

It’s a pity that the nature of news is to tell us the bad things, to glorify the global phalanx that promotes war and the nuclear industry, and to focus on the sociopaths who dominate politics and corporations.  But the good movements and the good workers are there,  carrying our hopes for 2024

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My resolution for 2024 – to make this newsletter shorter – (from  next time), more to the point – and leave out Israel, Gaza, Ukraine as much as possible.

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TOP STORIES

Nuclear expert Mycle Schneider on the COP 28 pledge to triple nuclear energy production:‘Trumpism enters energy policy’.

Shuttering the Nuclear Weapons Sites: There’s Gold in Those Warheads but the Scrap Metal is Radioactive. 

Why AI is a disaster for the climate. 

The failed Nuscale project lets Utah down — again.

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From the archives. The spread of radiation- internal contamination through fresh produce in Japan

Climate. Amazon drought: ‘We’ve never seen anything like this’. The faith leaders fighting for the climate: ‘we have a moral obligation’. Sea level rise: ‘We can’t afford to wait’: a Cornish town faces climate threat head on.

Noel’s notes.  The rise of the  Übermensch  – the tech gods.  Are we ignoring GAZA – the new Auschwitz, as the world ignored Nazi camps from 1933-39? . Nuclear Industry’s New Year Resolution – “Let’s get sloppier about safety”.

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CIVIL LIBERTIES. With the Persecution of Julian Assange Biden Is Overseeing the Silent Death of the First Amendment

CLIMATE. COP28’s Unrealistic Tripling of Nuclear Power.

ECONOMICS. 

• European nuclear Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) may be unworkable – analysts. 
• UK guarantees for minimum price for nuclear-produced electricity – an expensive disaster.  
• CSIRO says wind and solar much cheaper than nuclear, even with added integration costs.
• Regulators approve deal for ratepayers to pay for Georgia Power’s new nuclear reactors.  
• Meet the Companies Profiting From Israel’s War on Gaza. 
• China’s Low-Cost Nuclear Offer Faces Scrutiny in Kazakhstan.

ENERGY. Talen Energy Is Building Data Centers That Run on Nuclear Power. Now, It Needs to Find Buyers.

ENVIRONMENT. 

• Oceans. US Promotion of Banned Fukushima Seafood Contradicts Biden’s Cancer Initiatives. 
• How green is the UK Government’s nuclear energy strategy? 
• Inside the Pentagon’s Painfully Slow Effort to Clean Up Decades of PFAS Contamination.
• Effect of U.S. nuclear weapons tests on the otters of Alaska. 
• Water: State papers: Plans for nuclear power plant on shores of Lough Neagh shelved over drinking water concerns.

ETHICS and RELIGION. Catholic activists arrested for anti-nuclear protest outside UN. ‘We will coup whoever we want!’: the unbearable hubris of Musk and the billionaire tech bros.

HEALTH. Buried secrets, plutonium poisoned bodies.  Radiation heroes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP0NU65SKAo&t=1s Documents show toxins in Air Force nuclear missile capsules.

HISTORY. The Long History Of Zionist Proposals To Ethnically Cleanse The Gaza Strip.

LEGAL.  Day X Marks the Calendar: Julian Assange’s ‘Final’ Appeal.   Assange Appeal Hearing Set for February. Constitutional Violations: Julian Assange, Privacy and the CIA.  Judge Rules Assange Visitors May Sue CIA For Allegedly Violating Privacy.  

 Former chair of Ohio utility regulator surrenders in $60 million bribery scheme linked to energy bill.  

Tokyo High Court holds Japan government not liable for Fukushima nuclear disaster.  Tokyo court holds only the utility responsible to compensate Fukushima evacuees, and reduces damages.

MEDIA. What? Ukraine Is Not Winning the War? The Narrative Turns. Now What?  Meta’s Broken Promises -Systemic Censorship of Palestine Content on Instagram and Facebook.  New Book: Energy Revolutions -Profiteering versus Democracy .

POLITICS.  The Biden Administration Is Quietly Shifting Its Strategy in Ukraine.  Biden has the power to rein in the nuclear presidency. He should use it. U.S. Nuclear Sector Set for Major Transformation.  

Sunak to scale back nuclear target in latest UK net zero climbdown   Time to shelve Hinkley Point C? UK’s Nuclear Minister has so far failed to meet East Suffolk communities who have concerns about Sizewell C nuclear project . NFLA Policy Briefing 283: Nuclear Free Local Authorities submission to the Parliamentary Environmental Audit Committee inquiry into the ‘The Potential Role of Proposed Small Modular Reactors’   

France’s Council of State opinion on a Bill relating to governance of nuclear safety in relaunching the nuclear sector .   Spain Confirms 2035 Nuclear Phase Out Deadline.

POLITICS INTERNATIONAL and DIPLOMACY.  Geopolitics has already doomed the second nuclear renaissance. Sweden, France strengthen cooperation on nuclear. Why Egypt’s new nuclear plant is a long-term win for Russia.  US eyes reports Iran has accelerated uranium enrichment.

SAFETY.  

• DRUGS IN THE NUCLEAR SPHERE: UNVEILING A TROUBLING NEXUS. 
• Documents Reveal Hidden Problems at Russia’s Nuclear Powerhouse. 
• GMB union says urgent action needed to tackle safety concerns at Sellafield. EDF to extend nuclear outages in 2024, 2025 on corrosion issue. 
• Incidents: A nuclear-powered ship in Murmansk started to burn: only few locals got to know about the serious incident.  Mystery fire breaks out on Russia’s only nuclear-powered icebreaker vessel as it was docked at Arctic port. 
• Japan allows world’s biggest nuclear plant to restart. Japan Lifts Operational Ban on Fukushima Nuclear Plant Owners. 
• South Carolina nuclear plant’s cracked pipes get downgraded warning from officials.   Low-Flying Helicopters Will Monitor Any Nuclear Threat In Las Vegas This Weekend. 
• Cyber-hackers target UK nuclear waste company Radioactive Waste Management.  Nuclear attack on Northern Ireland viewed as ‘possibility’ after 9/11.

SECRETS and LIES Atlas Network strategies: how fossil fuel is using “think” tanks to delay action.   .  ‘Cover-up’ hearing Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission for late January 2024. Price Waterhouse Cooper’s (PWC’s) $8m nuclear submarine payday revealed. More serious governance failures in Defence contracting. 

TECHNOLOGY. SMR – Spending Money Recklessly – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL7kwLMANK0  Microsoft is training an AI to help get nuclear reactors approved.

URANIUM. Iran undoes slowdown in enrichment of uranium to near weapons-grade -IAEA

WASTES.  Cold War nuclear waste is prioritized at Carlsbad-area repository. How much is there?  Site for Canada’s underground nuclear waste repository to be selected next year.

WAR and CONFLICT. US Trying to Water Down New Cease-Fire Resolution at UN Security Council. Surrender or die – Netanyahu.

WEAPONS and WEAPONS SALES. 

• Israel receives 230 planes, 20 ships loaded with US arms amid Gaza war.  US….Arsenal of Genocide in Gaza . 
• Year of the drone — how the hi-tech weapon has transformed warfare.  
• Spiralling nuclear costs make UK’s Ministry Of Defence’s equipment plan unsustainable. 
• Russia has completed delivery of nuclear weapons to Belarus, Lukashenko says.   Russia To Retire World’s Only Nuclear-Powered, Largest Battle-Cruiser Pyotr Veliky. 
• Kim Jong Un announces his nuclear resolutions for 2024.

January 1, 2024 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

TODAY. Nuclear Industry’s New Year Resolution – “Let’s get sloppier about safety”

yeah, well - it’s a new day, it’s a beautiful new year - let’s look on the bright side. The global nuclear lobby is certainly doing that with its glowing plans for tripling of nuclear energy by 2050

Safety is now a downgraded priority. A couple of today’s examples – Japanese nuclear safety regulators lifted an operational ban on a nuclear plant owned by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, deciding that it’s now safe after all.  In the USA, the NRC (federal nuclear safety agency) decides that  cracks in a backup emergency fuel line at a South Carolina nuclear plant are not so serious any more.

Let’s forget the nuclear industry’s history of major (and continuing) disasters, “minor” mishaps and near-misses. And let’s forget the dangers of crumbling old reactors, untested new gee-whiz ones, cracking and corroding copper pipes and waste containers, terrorism risks, drone dangers, cyber-security hazards, transport risks, extreme weather events, weapons proliferation, mishaps in space, and crookedness and corruption in the industry.

Yey! let’s waltz away into 2024 with the jolly prospect of nuclear power solving the climate crisis, energy crisis and so on. We can brush up the old big reactors (saves us the cost of scrapping them – leave that job to our grandchildren ), build myriad little tiny reactors in every country, (sell them especially developing places that have no expertise in nuclear technology) , and bring happiness and wealth to that small but highly organised phalanx of global nuclear ‘Influencers” – while the rest of us party on, and our bought politicians smile benignly.

After all, there are the various nationall safety and radiation protection agencies to save us . Right?

Trouble is – safety reporting procedures are designed to protect the nuclear industry, not the public.

Agencies like USA’s Nuclear Regulatory Commission rely on the International Atomic Energy Agency – whose brief is to promote the nuclear industry - a brief beautifully expressed by its slimy Director General, Rafael Grossi.

Let’s consider- the “safety” of ionising radiation:

• The established health ministeries rely on the Commission on Radiological Protection, which relies on The Radiation Protection Commission which relies on the international Commission on Radiological Protection, which relies on the IAEA / RERF (Reference Materials)
• The IAEA / RERF relies on the military industrial nuclear complex of five veto-wielding Security Council members

They pass the nuclear safety handball back and forth between each other - as the nuclear-industrial-military complex rolls on towards armageddon.

December 30, 2023 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

TODAY. The rise of the  Übermensch  – the tech gods

 Douglas Rushkoff ,in his new book  Survival of the Richest: Escape Fantasies of the Tech Billionaires,  alerts us to this disturbing phenomenon of our decade – the influence of those super-wealthy individuals – Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg,  Sam Altman, Peter Thiel.

Rushkoff explains the extraordinary breadth and power of these men. – “Musk not only owns X and Tesla but also SpaceX, StarLink, the Boring Company, Solar City, NeuraLink, xAI, and someday, he hopes, another finance company like PayPal”  “Bezos doesn’t just control Amazon – but the Washington Post, IMDb, MGM, Twitch, Zoox, Kiva, Whole Foods, Ring, Ivona, One Medical, Blue Origin and, of course, Amazon Web Services”  “Gates 20bn dollars’ worth of Microsoft stock and assets are Microsoft Azure (his 23% of the cloud), LinkedIn, Skype and GitHub.” 

The really worrying thing is that these individuals think that they are experts on everything, and the world seems to be believing this.

Their individual expertise is in each case, in some form of advanced technology. Yet in fact, it is apparent that they are woefully ignorant of just about everything else that really matters. They have no interest in ecology – in the web of life that exists on this planet, and which is essential for human survival. Nor do they have any grasp of the significance of workplace conditions - consider the exploitation of Bezos’ Amazon workers. And they show no understanding of the environmental effects of the tech resource boom.

Yet their fantasies for the future seem to be accepted as realistic propositions: colonies on Mars and the moon,  “doomsday” escape settlements, uploading a person’s consciousness to “the cloud”. So media coverage and tax-payers money go to approving and encouraging their schemes.

The part of all this that I find particularly sinister and dangerous is the complete downgrading of studies and expertise that are not highly technical. Studies in ecology, public health, sociology, history, culture and the arts. 

We are marvelling at the “genius”, the “success” – of these lop-sided “experts” - all of whom seem to be significantly lacking in common sense. We follow them at our peril .

December 28, 2023 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 1 Comment

Nuclear news for week ending 18 December

A bit of good news. Staying in Gaza as an act of love: Stories from the Catholics who risk their lives to serve. Blossom Dearie Christmas wish https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTub-8WIXfg

TOP STORIES.  

Nuclear push- will it unravel?   Wins, losses and participation trophies for US nuclear power in 2023. 

Sad Clown with the Circus Closed Down*: Zelenskiy’s Demise. 

Israel Is Wiping Out Gaza’s Journalists: A Tribute. 

COP28 — The End Of The 1.5°C Fantasy.   Failure of Cop28 on fossil fuel phase-out is ‘devastating’, say scientists. 

Australia’s Defence Minister Marles is wrong – Australia IS taking US and UK nuclear waste!  Nuclear energy is not viable for Australia, for a number of reasons.

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

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Climate.     COP28 fossil fuel pledges will not limit global warming to 1.5C, says IEA. COP 28 ‘s fundamentally weak agreement to “call on parties to contribute” to action on climate change. At COP 28, fossil fuels targeted for the first time, but with a weak pledge.   Cop28 president says his firm will keep investing in oil.

Nuclear. I’m trying hard to keep the Israel and Ukraine news out of this newsletter. That is hard, because the trajectory of each is bringing us closer to the nuclear brink. It’s like pre World War 1.

Christina notes. The demise of Vladimir Zelensky – when will the USA throw him under a bus? Netanyahu’s Israel breathes new life into the modern Nazi movement. What I want for Christmas – for people, especially the media, to tell the truth a bit more often.

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CLIMATE. Does nuclear power generate GHG CO2 emissions? COP 28 and the nuclear energy numbers racket. Nuclear power – a ‘dangerous distraction’ from real climate action. The danger of rising tides to the Dungeness nuclear site, and to planned small nuclear reactors for Sussex.

ECONOMICS. EDF told not to expect UK to step in to fund Hinkley Point C flagship nuclear project. China’s CGN Halts Funding for UK’s Hinkley Nuclear Plant. The Uncertain Costs of New Nuclear Reactors: What Study Estimates Reveal about the Potential for Nuclear in a Decarbonizing World. Grand plan to triple nuclear energy with small nuclear reactors, but where’s the funding? France scores diplomatic wins on banks and nuclear in new EU rules.

EDUCATION. Subsidy for nuclear energy, but what about nuclear waste? Inside the Youth-Led Fight for a Demilitarized Future.

ENERGY. German nuclear plant to be replaced by Europe’s biggest battery.

ENVIRONMENT. Fukushima: Japan’s Triple Threat in Spades.

HEALTH. Fukushima nuclear plant worker exposed to radiation.

INDIGENOUS ISSUES. Bribery to indigenous people – by Canada’s nuclear lobby.

MEDIA. Criticize Israel? You’re fired.      Causing Gaza Blackouts, Israel Benefits from Media Double Standards.        Sellafield nuclear site exposés are long overdue.     Matthew Modine on His Role in ‘Oppenheimer’ and Producing Nuclear Testing Doc ‘Downwind’: ‘This Insanity Hasn’t Stopped’.          Kristen Stewart Warns the World Is “Dangerously Close” to Nuclear Catastrophe.

POLITICS. 

• U.S. Congress passes bill barring imports of Russian uranium for nuclear power, (but this ban can be waived as needed.) 
• Nebraska team launches study of Congress and nuclear weapons policy. 
•     Chris Hedges: The Death of Israel.  Bernie Sanders Votes No on Giving Israel Aid to Continue ‘Inhumane War’ on Gaza  INTERNS ACCUSE CONGRESS OF SUPPRESSING CALLS FOR CEASE-FIRE. 
• Member for Dublin urges swift action on Sellafield nuclear threat.
• Australia: Labor’s new AUKUS bill declares Osborne in SA, Stirling in WA as nuclear zones. 

POLITICS INTERNATIONAL and DIPLOMACY. 

• UN Members Support Gaza Cease-Fire in Overwhelming 153-10 Vote. Biden Intends To Keep Participating In The Incineration Of Gaza.  Is Biden taking the Iran nuclear deal off life support? 
• Iran Dismisses Fears Over Its Nuclear Program. 
• China drops out of British nuclear power program. 
• The UN Nuclear Ban Treaty is Leading Resistance to Nuclear Autocracy. As nuclear powers restart the arms race, unarmed nations call for reason. 
• Dreams of a nuclear revival overtaken by reality.

SAFETY.  Sellafield staff ‘used home computers to beat security failings’. Nuclear plants and the war in Ukraine.

SPINBUSTER. HOW BIDEN’S STATE DEPARTMENT CONCEALS ITS “HUMAN RIGHTS BLACK HOLE” IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

WASTES. Cumbrian councils urged to poll public over controversial nuclear dump plan. Theddlethorpe nuclear waste site: Informed decision needed, says council..

WAR and CONFLICT. UN General Assembly votes to demand immediate ceasefire in Gaza.  Ukraine’s 200 Fighter Jet Demand Could Lead To Nuclear Catastrophe.

WEAPONS and WEAPONS SALES. The Chris Hedges Report: The Weapons Israel Tests on Palestinians Will Be Used Against All of Us. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PEWDLunejA  Nearly Half of All Israeli Munitions Dropped on Gaza are Imprecise ‘Dumb’ Bombs.   

Ukraine asking US for military aid that doesn’t exist – New York Times.  Ukraine was never going to win – US senator. Why Zelensky’s ‘Fantasy’ of Building Military-Industrial Hub in Ukraine is Doomed.  

Why the Pentagon is a multitrillion-dollar fraud. French nuclear submarine visits Scotland. South Korea military says North fires ballistic missile.

December 18, 2023 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

What I want for Christmas – for people, especially the media, to tell the truth a bit more often.

I was 7 when I discovered that Father Christmas was not real. Yes, a bit slow indeed. I felt so betrayed that my parents had lied to me. At least it solved the mystery of why I (badly behaved) got beaut presents, and my best friend (well behaved) got little ones. Twas all about the money available in each household, not about being naughty or nice.

The world, especially my world – the “Western world” continues to perpetrate comfortable weasel words and downright lies. And it all goes a bit crazy at this time of year - the addiction to rampant consumerism taking precedence over spending lovely times with family and friends.

Some of my favourite current lies. Top lie is ‘THE CLOUD’, and “CLOUD COMPUTING”. The only genuine cloud here is the veil of lies that covers the truth about the digital system – uncontrolled spread of steel and concrete datafarm monstrosities, guzzling water and electricity.

Then there are all the military lies and euphemisms “collateral damage” “special military operation” . In the case of the Israeli obliteration of Palestinians – there are the “targeting Hamas, not Palestinions” , “right to self-defence” , ”saving civilian lives” ”lowering the intensity” – when what is really meant is genocide.

Climate change action – is full of dubiously worded stuff, vaguely worded COP 28 statements with no effective target or date to “transition away from fossil fuels”- and  “transitional fuels can play a role”

Then there are the obfuscations, weasel words, and downright lies of the nuclear lobby – “clean” “green” “sustainable” “low carbon” “low cost” ………….

So, for Christmas and the New Year, it would be nice to read and hear some straight words that actually match the facts.

December 18, 2023 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 5 Comments

TODAY. The demise of Vladimir Zelensky – when will the USA throw him under a bus?

The augurs are not good for Ukraine’s President Zelensky . 

Menacing clouds gather: Zelensky in his latest trip to Washington failed to get more $billions from USA – the Ukraine counter-offensive against Russia has failed – European support for Ukraine is faltering- huge losses of soldiers and civilians – continuing corruption in Ukraine – shutting down of Orthodox churches in closed trials, alienation of all except fascist and nazi -connected political parties – unhappiness of oppressed Russian-speaking citizens.

With complete disregard for Ukraine’s history, – its experiences during World War 2, the Minsk agreement, the 8 years of war against the Donbass region, and then disregard of Zelensky’s promises pre-election, – USA and the West swallowed the whole magical myth of Zelensky as messiah for Ukraine, saving the world from the satanic Putin.

It might have been wise to consider just who is this person they are choosing to lead Ukraine, USA, NATO into this super-expensive murderous mess. The comedic background sounds like fun - the clown who once pretended to play the piano with his penis. But not only did Zelensky lack a background in politics: he was really out of his depth in the complicated and corrupt world of Ukraine’s business and political system

What Zelensky did have was an inflated ego, a narcissistic personality, and a superb ability to charm, con and persuade people. So he’s brave, energetic, etc. But it has been a disastrous two-way street - Zelensky conning the West and the West conning Zelensky. into Ukraine’s suicidal aim to humiliate Russia, re-acquire Crimea and the Donbass, and become a NATO bastion. 

In the meantime, the Ukrainian death toll mounts, and the USA weapons manufacturers profits mount.

But hey! – now we’ve got the Israel-Gaza crisis. That all needs USA weapons, too, to keep that massacre going. The spotlight is off Ukraine.

There must be many who resent Zelensky – to put it mildly. Perhaps there will be a negotiated way out of the Ukraine mess, and Zelensky might safely slide off to quiet retirement overseas.

Vladimir Zelensky has been very useful to the USA. But it’s time to discard him.

December 15, 2023 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

The week in nuclear news

A bit of good news – Deforestation rates plummeted in the Amazon

TOP STORIES. 

Americanization of International Law: Legitimizing Palestinian Genocide and Promoting Nuclear Self-Defence. 

Sellafield: ‘bottomless pit of hell, money and despair’ at Europe’s most toxic nuclear site. We will be paying for these crumbling dangerous nuclear monoliths for generations. 

Nuclear Power Pushing at the UN’s COP28 Climate Change Conference. What Do COP28 Double Down, Triple Up & Nuclear Commitments Mean? 

Nuclear’s share of world power output at multi-decade low – report. A damning new report on the present and future of nuclear power.

FROM THE ARCHIVES. Exposed! Extinction Rebellion fact checks pro-nuclear front. Rising temperatures, rising seas – the growing climate change menace to nuclear power.

Climate. World predicted to break 1.5°C warming limit for first time in 2024. Talks at Cop28 set to intensify in bid to break impasse over fossil fuels.

Nuclear. Last month the big nuclear news story was the economic story of the  failure of NuScale’s small nuclear reactors. This month – it’s the revelations, by the Guardian UK, of the dangerous state of affairs at the largest nuclear site in Europe – Britain’s Sellafield.

Christina notes. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at COP 28. – let’s call it what it really is – a nuclear marketing company.  As the global corporate media fawns over the nuclear industry, The Guardian has the guts to do some REAL INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM.

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 AUSTRALIA. Ted O’Brien’s nuclear love-in atCOP28 gets a brutal reality check. Australia’s Opposition Coalition opposes Australia tripling renewable energy, backs nuclear power pledge at Cop28. Coalition delivers the same old tired nuclear talking points at COP28.

 Indonesia ratifies nuclear weapons ban treaty. Australia should too. US Defense funding bill to include OK for nuclear subs, AUKUS tech for Australia. Australian government funding Adelaide University to train students for a nuclear-powered defence-force.

CLIMATE. John Kerry furthering his career as nuclear lobbyist, at COP 28.     20-plus countries pledge to triple the world’s nuclear energy by 2050.    United Arab Emirates is using COP 28 Climate Summit to promote small nuclear reactor industry, as well as fossil fuel industries. Summary of the nuclear push at COP 28. ‘Spotlight on nuclear power’ – a questionable proposition. 

 The German Environment Agency shows that a global tripling of nuclear capacity by 2050 is neither realistic nor needed to achieve climate goals. Nuclear sector must overcome decades of stagnation to meet COP28 tripling goal. COP28: Is a tripling of nuclear energy workable?  

CIVIL LIBERTIES. UN Launches Gates-Funded Global Digital ID Program as Experts Warn of ‘Totalitarian Nightmare’. The US Condemned Stalin’s Prosecution of Journalists. Now It Uses His Playbook, to prosecute Julian Assange..

ECONOMICS. Cancelled NuScale contract weighs heavy on new nuclear. Nuclear lobby gets EU approval as ‘strategic net-zero’ technology: its next battle is to get EU funding. Marketing: U.S. government continues to pour $billions into the failing Small Nuclear Reactors business, in the hopes of exporting SMRs.

EDUCATION. Estonian universities anticipate high costs of training nuclear experts.

ENVIRONMENT. Sellafield has contaminated the Irish Sea with plutonium.     Atomic Kittens! Locals invaded by ‘radioactive’ cats after workers at UK’s most hazardous site nicknamed ‘nuclear Narnia’ feed 100 strays…but are they a myth?       The beautiful little UK seaside village torn apart by nuclear power station fight.     The Radioactive Pacific Ocean.

ETHICS and RELIGION. Nuclear disarmament a ‘critical pro-life issue,’ warns Archbishop Wester. 95 Democrats and 216 Republicans Support Resolution Conflating Anti-Zionism and Antisemitism.

HEALTH. Air Force expanding review of cancers for members who worked on nuclear missiles. Fund for Nuclear Waste Exposure Victims in Limbo as Congress Balks at Cost.

LEGAL. Former chair of Ohio’s utility regulator indicted in nuclear bailout law scandal.

MEDIA. The Guardian view on Sellafield scandals: ministers must put public safety before secrecy. Apocalypse Then: 40 Years Ago, A TV Movie Saved the World from Nuclear Annihilation. Digital Rights Groups Urge Meta to Stop Silencing Palestine.

OPPOSITION to NUCLEAR . A resounding rejection of ‘nuclearism’.

PERSONAL STORIES. One Family’s Harrowing Journey Out of Gaza City. Fears of a major leak at Sellafield nuclear plant should be taken seriously.

POLITICS. UK minister demands answers for security failings at Sellafield. Scotland government adamant in rejection of nuclear power. Scotland’ Energy Secretary Neil Gray points to safety risks as he rejects nuclear power attempts. A Scotland without nuclear power would be safer for people and planet. COP28: Global nuclear pledge casts further doubt on UK’s capabilities.

  New Mexico’s delegation outraged at removal of expand nuclear radiation compensation from proposal. Poland’s nuclear plans in question after negative assessment by security agency.

POLITICS INTERNATIONAL and DIPLOMACY.

• How’s the nuclear ban treaty doing? 
• Chinese Nuclear Weapons and Canada: An Uncivil-Military Connection. 
•   4 East African countries are going for nuclear power – why this is a bad idea. 
•  Boastful International Atomic Energy Agency – announces a “Nuclear Energy Summit” like a climate event, for 2024. 
•  Sweden signs pact granting US access to all its bases.

SAFETY. Any future accident at the Sellafield nuclear site could be worse than Chernobyl, according to experts. Incidents. Canadians should be afraid of radiation: Frank Greening.

SECRETS and LIES. Sellafield nuclear site hacked by groups linked to Russia and China. Sellafield nuclear site workers claim ‘toxic culture’ of bullying, sexual harassment and drugs could put safety at risk. UK nuclear police and workers share WhatsApp jokes about paedophilia, racism and homophobia. UK nuclear revelations: how bad could they get and could they affect the US and Europe? 

 Recent Nuclear Declassifications and Denials: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

SPINBUSTER. Pro nuclear lies abound at COP 28 – Bill Gates’ push for his shonky sodium -cooled Natrium reactor .

WASTES. ‘Dirty 30’ and its toxic siblings: the most dangerous parts of the Sellafield nuclear site. Revealed: Sellafield nuclear site has leak that could pose risk to public. Extended Licence given for the storage of highly radioactive waste at Chernobyl. Nuclear tomb plan at Blind River criticized .

WAR and CONFLICT. US Defense Secretary Austin should resign over scurrilous attack on peace community. Suffering and killing in Gaza must stop now.

WEAPONS and WEAPONS SALES. China, the U.S., AI and Autonomy in Nuclear Command and Control. Would A Nuclear Weapon Make South Korea Safer? New information tool on nuclear weapons seeks to identify the next arms control strategies. B-2 Spirit stealth plane cleared to use B61-12 nuclear bombs. US aid to Ukraine laundered back to military-industrial complex – congressman. British government to send surveillance planes to facilitate Israel’s genocide. Not a Penny Nor a Bullet Off the Table. ‘Moral Insanity’: Biden Admin Bypasses Congress to Rush Tank Shells to Israel.

December 11, 2023 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment