nuclear-news

The News That Matters about the Nuclear Industry Fukushima Chernobyl Mayak Three Mile Island Atomic Testing Radiation Isotope

TODAY. Nuclear wastes 30 years away. So -no problem for present decision-makers – happily superannuated when the shit hits the fan.

The lovely thing about being a Minister in the Parliament, indeed being an MP , especially in the Labor Party, is that you don’t have to take responsibility for the consequences of any decision that you, and the Party have made.

In 2021, the Australian Labor Party – Anthony Albanese, Penny Wong, Richard Marles etc , had the opportunity to oppose the Morrison government’s crackpot plan for buying nuclear submarines (which will be obsolete before they ever come into operation). But no – the Labor opposition had to show themselves to be just as tough against China as the corrupt and crackpot Liberal government.

Good little Party loyalists, – Labor has to stick to a decision, however silly.

So now in government, they complacently plunge Australia into a super-expensive, super-dangerous, nuclear submarine provocation against China. Australia is now locked into joining USA whenever it decides to goad China into action to fully incorporate Taiwan. (Both USA and Australia recognise Taiwan as politically part of China, but that apparently doesn’t matter.)

The nuclear industry is now gloating – having long held the aim of turning Australia into the world’s nuclear waste dump, At least there will now be this foot in the door for them.

Who’s going to oppose a nuclear waste dump in Australia? The media will welcome it, and scream “Jobs Jobs Jobs”. ( If it were a napalm factory for burning Vietnamese children, they’d still rejoice – “Jobs Jobs Jobs“)

The big opposition to nuclear waste dumping in Australia has always come from the Aborigines.

If the nuclear lobby can’t buy the indigenous people, then they just ignore them, as second rate citizens. Hell they weren’t even citizens at all, when their homes were bombed by the UK nuclear tests.

But any way that you look at it, the great comfort for the government decision-makers, is that they can comfortably retire, without any worries about things like a toxic waste dump, that they could have prevented,- NOT THEIR PROBLEM !

March 19, 2023 Posted by | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

TODAY. Isn’t it wonderful how the men in opposing political parties can unite in hate and belligerence?

It really is quite sweet to see,- in America, the Democrats and Republicans being friendly – “on the same page”. Same for Australia, where the Labor and Liberals are being lovely to each other.

So good to see. It’s a bit of a pity that they fight each other so strongly about everything else, policies on health, education, welfare, environment – all those things that are crucial for the common good.

But now, and this really is very much a blokey thing, the opposing political parties are agreed on hating China, and on the need to spend many, many billions of the taxpayers’ money on weapons, especially nuclear. (Australia’s nuclear submarines won’t have weapons, I hear your cry) Australia’s subs will be controlled by USA, secretly, like the Pine Gap facility – Australians won’t even know what’s on them.

Well, the blokes are good at business, too, and so are the bought females that are celebrated these days (think of Victoria Nuland, Jennifer Granholm, Penny Wong ). And, they are right. You couldn’t get a more reliable customer for your weapons business than the tax-payers, who have to just pay up, bindly. with no say in these $multibillion nuclear decisions made on their behslf.

March 16, 2023 Posted by | Christina's notes | 6 Comments

TODAY. The sadness of Fukushima.

The most popular news stories are about celebrities, sport, fashion, cute animals…..

And perhaps that’s a good thing. We don’t need to be miserable all the time – and the news, by its very being, means unusual and bad events.

In the middle of those unusual and bad events, we should pause, to think about the human beings involved, and what they’re going through.

In the midst of global hypocrisy about things nuclear – the Japanese government should surely take the cake. But the rest of the powerful world governments, too, deserve medals for hypocrisy.

Not only is it time to stop the whole insane toboggan-ride to nuclear annihilation. It’s also time to help the victims of previous nuclear destruction. It seems to me that the people of Fukushima have had little help from Japan, and the world community. They need a material helping hand, and also – to be listened to – their opinions on nuclear waste, on emptying radioactive trash water into the Pacific, on the wreckage to their fishing industry.

It is sadly paradoxical that the world media waxes jubilantly over “new nuclear” and nuclear submarines, while as much as possible, ignoring the anniversary of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear meltdown.

March 14, 2023 Posted by | Christina's notes | 4 Comments

Nuclear news this week – as we remember Fukushima

Some bits of good news – It’s time for some good news about protections for mother Earth.

Climate. 60 Climate Feedbacks & “A Better Catastrophe”.

Coronavirus. Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): Weekly Epidemiological Update.

Nuclear. 11 March was the 12 year anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe. The Japanese government would prefer that this should be forgotten. Trouble is – the catastrophe is not over.

As an Australian, I am finding our media – TV, radio, newspapers – quite nauseating. All falling over themselves in an orgasmic joy over the decision to pay $squillions for motley USA-UK-pretend-Australian nuclear submarines, that will be useless for monitoring our coast, but useful for feeding the coffers of USA-UK weapons-makers who now seem to own their governments. Everyone’s on the bandwagon – even former PM Kevin Rudd, supposedly a friend of China, now twisting himself in knots with weasel words about China, as he’s about to be Australia’s ambassador to Washington.  We need a Diogenes, to go about Australian politics and media,  in daylight, with a lighted lantern, trying to find an honest person.

ECONOMICS

EDUCATION. Nuclear and space lobbies increase their grip on universities, a new example in UK . The extraordinary popularity of renewable energy university courses.

ENVIRONMENT. Campaigners claim permit change at Hinkley Point would kill billions of fish.

HEALTH. Why were studies canceled? . The voices of the victims . Social effects. 2 yrs after Fukushima nuclear disaster, gov’t not facing evacuees’ hardship.

LEGAL. Another executive goes to prison for lying about doomed nuclear project. National remembrance day , and huge civil case penalty for Tepco executives, but memory of Fukushima now fading in Japan.

MEDIA. Australian Media Are Outright Telling Us They Are Feeding Us War Propaganda About China. Australian corporate papers call for war with China, nuclear weapons and mass conscription.

OPPOSITION To NUCLEAR. In Taiwan, strong opposition to extending life of nuclear reactor.

PERSONAL STORIES. Fukushima’s first responders recall the disaster 12 years on.

PLUTONIUM. DOE wanted to quadruple plutonium pit production. For now, activists have stopped them.

POLITICS. The Nightmare Espionage Act That is Killing Julian Assange and the First Amendment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shvZy_95uOg. Some ‘sober thinking’ remains in Ukraine as portions of population are in favor of peace talks.

POLITICS INTERNATIONAL and DIPLOMACY. Saudi Arabia Seeks U.S. Security Pledges, Nuclear Help. Saudi Arabia seeks US security guarantees, nuclear assistance in return for Israel normalisation.

PROTESTS. Fukushima Vigil Outside the UK’s Uranium Fuel Manufacturing Factory .

RADIATION. Low-dose radiation linked to increased lifetime risk of heart disease. Dr Ian Fairlie -Low-dose radiation a health danger in the nuclear industry , as well as in medicine.

SAFETY. 

SECRETS and LIES. Fake ‘nuclear bomb’ alert on TV and radio scares Russians.

SPACE. EXPLORATION, WEAPONS.  War in space: U.S. officials debating rules for a conflict in orbit.

SPINBUSTER. How the nuclear lobby scuttled the EU’s anti-greenwashing tool.

WASTES. Twelve years after 3/11, dispute grows over Fukushima’s radioactive soil. What´s happening at Fukushima plant 12 years after meltdown? Massive amounts of fatally radioactive melted nuclear fuel remain inside the reactors. Pacific island leaders urge Japan to stop dumping nuclear waste into ocean: report. Graphite – deadly dirt or dusty diamonds? Ocean discharge is the worst plan for Fukushima waste water.  new blow to fishermen.

WAR and CONFLICT Rare admission from Australia’s corporate media that hosting America’s Pine Gap surveillance system makes Australia a legitimate target for long-range ICBMs. Observations on the NATO-Russia Ukrainian War. Ukraine: A war to end all wars in Europe. The Foreseeable End of Ukraine. Netanyahu justifies strikes on nuclear facilities. Romania: airborne troops among 100,000 U.S. forces in Europe poised for war with Russia.

WEAPONS and WEAPONS SALES .  

March 13, 2023 Posted by | Christina's notes | 3 Comments

TODAY. Nuclear economics – the road to fascism.

Western world politicians are twisting themselves into knots, trying to convince their electorates, and themselves, that nuclear power is economically viable.

Russia and China don’t have that agonising problem, as in those countries, the taxpayer dutifully forks out the money, and there’s no pretense that nuclear power is a great way to choose invest your savings. (However, China is obviously aware that renewable energy is a much more economic way to go)

Freed from having to persuade the public of nuclear power’s cheapness, Russia and China are able to go allout for nuclear weapons, which are really now the only purpose of the nuclear industry.

The Wester nuclear industry, and its bought politicians and journalists now work hard to convince a sceptical public of the economic benefit of small nuclear reactors, and even of big ones, too. It’s tough enough to keep pushing that big lie – that nuclear will solve climate change. But as global heating adversely affects the reactors, the job of pitching nuclear as beneficial and cheap, gets ever harder.

Russia and China show the way to go. Stop pretending that Mum and Dad can invest in NuScam or Rolls Royce or Hinkley or all the other nuclear front tricks. Just admit that the big money is in weaponry industries, and let the governments get on with the job of squandering tax-payer money on toys like small nuclear reactors – whose only real purpose is to facilitate the nuclear weapons industry.

Unfortunately, this approach, while being easier for governments, is not good for democracy. The Russian and Chinese people have little choice to dissent from their governments. Indeed, in those regimes, a person’s dissent can result in that person’s disappearance. That’s dictatorship, that’s totalitarianism. For the Western world, it’s certainly in the interest of the nuclear industry to have the governments running it. For the nuclear industry – fascism would be the successful way to go.

March 12, 2023 Posted by | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

TODAY. All quiet on the Fukushima front? The global nuclear lobby sure likes it that way.

The video above is from last year. I could find only one up to date video about the 11 March 2011 Fukushima nuclear catastrophe. The newest video is at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY3F1hqt5eA and for this one, it is not permitted to be re-shown on other websites.

Why is it not to be made widely available? Is it because that video shows the sadness, and the courage, of young Japanese university students who are dedicated to tell the story of the nuclear disaster – to the younger generation.

I guess that the Japanese government, all the other pro-nuclear government, and the despicable global nuclear lobby are only too pleased to have the Fukushima nuclear story fade into the background. After all, these worthy entities, having pocketed their fat salaries, with a bit of luck, will be dead and gone when the nuclear shit really hits the fan, world-wide.

It is the young and their children, who will cop the results of this toxic industry.

Meanwhile do we just all pretend that the Fukushima nuclear disaster is over and done with?

March 10, 2023 Posted by | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

TODAY. Is Israel the most dangerous nation in the world?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that the option of attacking an Iranian nuclear facility in “self-defense” must be left on the table.

“Any military attack on a nuclear facility is outlawed, is out of the normative structures that we all abide by,” – IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi .

Netanyahu said no such prohibition could apply to Israel.

************************************

For the nations of the world, it is wrong to attack a nuclear facility. But for Israel alone – it is OK?

There seem to be only 2 ways of looking at Israel:

There’s the deliberately ignorant anti-semitic way highlighting denial of the Holocaust. Never mind that there’s extensive evidence of the horrors perpetrated on Jews by Nazi Germany, – and of the tardy and inadequate given help to the Jewish people by the rest of the world.

Then there’s the abject, penitent, response of the Western world – “We must not add to the sufferings of the Jewish people by criticising them“.

There is a third way to look at Jewish people – i.e. Jews are human beings, like the rest of us.

It’s about time that this view prevailed. Just as with an abused child, who grows up to become an abuser himself – that is not behaviour to be tolerated, or permitted, even though we recognise the awfulness of that child’s experience. So why on Earth is it OK for Israel to attack a nuclear facility!

Why are Israel attacks on Palestinians OK. but Palestinian responses are “criminal”?

Why do they call Israel the “Jewish State”, when there are Christians and Muslims etc living there? Are the non-Jews seen as untermenschen?

Fortunately, a lot of Jews agree with me. The sooner they kick out Benjamin Netanyahu, the better

March 9, 2023 Posted by | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

This week in nuclear news

Some bits of good news. International Women’s Day: 15 trailblazing women making the world better.    Historic treaty to protect oceans’ biodiversity.

Coronavirus. Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): Weekly Epidemiological Update ( March 2023)

Climate.   The 2023 Climate Risk Landscape

Nuclear. Where to start?  Well, the danger of nuclear war is the most urgent thing.  There’s Ukraine – with Zelensky wanting to attack Crimea, and with Biden surrounded by his warmongering advisors Victoria Nuland, Jake Sullivan and more- “whatever it takes“.

The USA warhawks are getting smarter. Instead of starting a war, with USA troops, as in Iraq, Afghanistan etc – the system now is to goad another country into an invasion –   Russia invading Iraq,  That not only preserves USA troops from any danger, but is a business coup for US weapons company, – as in Ukraine buying $billions of weapons. Intended result –  a weakened Russia

Next step, even cleverer  –   get Australia to buy $171 billions of nuclear submarines, goad China into attacking its own province, Taiwan, and let Australia as China’s adversary and target, take the human and financial brunt of it all . Intended result – a weakened China.  USA is in dire need of some intelligent leaders and advisors.

Christina notes. Pauvre chere Agnes – unhappy about “discrimination” against nuclear energy!

    Barngarla women warn Kimba nuclear waste plan will ‘destroy’ sacred site, Dreaming stories. Traditional owners fight to stop SA nuclear waste dump.

CIVIL LIBERTIES. Der Spiegel asks: “Is the CIA hunting Assange’s supporters?”

ECONOMICS. France Sees ‘No Problem’ Funding Macron’s New Nuclear Reactors. Marketing: South Korea, France keen to sell nuclear reactors to Saudi Arabia (no connection with nuclear weapons OF COURSE!)


ENVIRONMENT. Spain renews call for US to remove soil from nuclear accident site. Campaigners claim permit change at Hinkley Point would kill billions of fish. Ministry to delay trial on reusing Fukushima soil in Kanto area.

HEALTH. Compensation sought for victims of nuclear weapons development. Scientists: Fukushima’s nuclear wastewater capable of producing cancers after release.

INDIGENOUS ISSUES.  Australia’s Barngarla women warn Kimba nuclear waste plan will ‘destroy’ sacred site, Dreaming stories. Traditional owners fight to stop SA nuclear waste dump.

LEGAL. ‘David and Goliath’ – legal case, as indigenous group fights the Australian government to stop a nuclear waste dump on their traditional land. Idaho county challenges spent nuclear fuel storage.

MEDIA. Movie Premiere -“The Road to War”– Australia is being set up to be the US proxy in its coming war with China  –  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEU02LTJBx  It Is The Mass Media’s Job To Help Suppress Anti-War Movements. DieDieBooks releases nuclear horror Threads essay, with plenty of nods to Lawrence’s The Day After – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aG-e52yAxfs

NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY. The Dream of NuScale Small Nuclear Reactors Hangs in the Balance. Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactor project running out of cash.

OPPOSITION to NUCLEAR. Nuclear Free Local Authorities call on Secretary of State to end ‘wanton vandalism’ of environment at Sizewell. Canadian environmental watchdog group ROEE does not support expansion of nuclear power.

POLITICS. Japan’s Citizens’ Nuclear Information Center Protest the Cabinet Decision on the Nuclear Power Promotion Bundle Bill.     Many Fukushima mayors reluctant to take stand on nuke energy shift. Fukushima residents feel left out in TEPCO’s water plan.  Richard Marles and the betrayal of Australian sovereignty.

  Boris Johnson champions small nuclear reactors, UK government’s commitment to nuclear power wavering, as Hinkley Point C’s costs and delays escalate? French MPs pave way to dropping legal limit on nuclear in energy mix.

POLITICS INTERNATIONAL and DIPLOMACY. 

PROTESTS. Fukushima Anniversary Vigil Outside UK’s Nuclear Fuel Manufacturing Plant Near Preston — RADIATION FREE LAKELAND

SAFETY. The Nuclear “War” in Ukraine May Not Be the One We Expect. Belgian nuclear regulator tells govt not to extend oldest reactors. Evacuation plans still missing around 6 of Japan’s nuclear power plants.

SECRETS and LIES. US has spent billions on Ukraine war aid. But is that money landing in corrupt pockets? The West has fostered the creeping “nazification” of Ukraine, to increase hostility to Russia – philospher Aleksandr Dugin.

SPACE. EXPLORATION, WEAPONS. Space dangers: Contested orbits and mounting space junk.

SPINBUSTER. Jennifer Granholm was Pwned (Pwned = utterly and humiliatingly defeated in a game) in the continuing Edward Teller tradition.

WASTES 

WAR and CONFLICT. The ninth anniversary of the Ukraine war. A coming wider war with Crimea in US sights. Ukraine preparing attack on Crimea – Zelensky. ‘Ukrainian kamikaze drone’ crashes down near gas plant just 68 miles from the Kremlin as Putin demands tighter security. Ukrainian Army War Crimes Include Shelling of Ambulances, Firetrucks, and Rescue Workers in the Donbass Republics. Viktor Orban: “In A War Taking Place In Europe The Americans Have The Final Word“.   NATO conducts massive submarine warfare exercise in Mediterranean   

Pentagon Prepares for Island Combat in the Pacific as US-China Tensions Rise. G7 should declare ‘no first use‘ of nuclear weapons: ex-Hiroshima mayor.

WEAPONS and WEAPONS SALES. Trudeau sends more German tanks to Ukraine F-16 Aircraft Delivery To Ukraine Only Matter Of Time – Merezhko. Scholz vows to ‘permanently’ increase Germany’s military output to aid Ukraine: CNN. U.S. to train NATO eastern flank allies on HIMARS Preparing for war with Russia: Texas air base has trained over 8,000 NATO pilots.    

Avalon Military Bonanza. If the nuclear submarines aren’t ready in time – no worries – Australia will get lots of fun weaponry against China. Isn’t it exciting? UK, US or a hybrid? Intense speculation as Australia’s $170bn nuclear submarine choice looms. The USA is letting Australia buy air-to ground missile for attacking China. 

March 8, 2023 Posted by | Christina's notes | 2 Comments

TODAY. Pauvre chere Agnes – unhappy about “discrimination” against nuclear energy!

Yes, France is the soul of egalite, fraternite and all that (and Yes I dunno how to do the accents on this).

So it’s understandable that French energy minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher should be most upset when other countries belittle mighty France, and its holy nuclear industry.

Trouble is – I think that poor Agnes has got it a bit wrong.

We’re all in awe of France – its cheeses, its wine, culture – natural beauty- wow! it’s superior. But when it comes to France’s much touted nuclear superiority – it is not discriminatory against France, nor its industry – to mention the facts.

Agnes – you and France are going to have to face the facts:

  • Global heating is happening too fast – the wonderful new fleet of reactors would be too late anyway.
  • Climate change, heat, water shortage, are badly affecting France’s nuclear reactors. 
  • France’s reactors have corrosion problems. 
  • Nuclear power is just not “renewable”- depends on a carbon-emitting fuel chain starting with uranium mining.
  • it’s just not “clean and green ” – emits radioactive particles, produces long-lasting toxic wastes. 
  • it’s not affordable. 
  • EDF’s nearly bankrupt – time to stop the pretence
  • in a tense conflict-prone world, nuclear facilities are a dangerous target for terrorism
  • nuclear’s really only useful for supporting the nuclear weapons industry. 
  • it’s popular with the military, the weapons corporations, the bought politicians, but increasingly less so with the general public – who see the preferable alternatives – energy conservation, and wind, solar and other renewable sources.

March 2, 2023 Posted by | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

This week in nuclear news

Bits of good news?

 – hard to find this week. There are “good news” sites, but these tend to focus on individual stories – about cute kittens, or kind teenagers. Still, I know that there are wonderful groups of people all over, collectively doing good things. I’m seeing my own examples of this, while reading through so many excellent submissions to Parliament from Australian environmental groups opposing nuclear power.

Nuclear.  It is getting more bizarre – as the USA contemplates artificial intelligence for launching nuclear weapons. As one of the very most “progressive” Democrats wants more opportunities for small companies to benefit in the weapons sales boom.

The propaganda tsunami – always a part of a war- is upon us.  But is this a war– between Russia and the entire world?  I have no doubt that some Russian soldiers have committed atrocities – and we’re told this every day.  But – really – are there no Ukrainian- committed atrocities?   Does Saint Zelensky really know what he is doing – or is he just following the USA line? Truth isn’t just the first casualty in this war – – it’s the second, third and so on casualty

Christina’s notes. TODAY. Painful realisation that our Australian Labor defence minister is even more stupid and subservient to USA than the Liberals were!   Media determined to ignore the intrinsic connection between “new small nuclear reactors” and nuclear weapons.

CLIMATE. Temperature rise can be stopped. It is a dangerous myth to say that it’s too late to act. 

ECONOMICS. Yet another £6 billion cost hike for UK’s Hinkley Point C nuclear project. Cost of EDF’s new UK nuclear project rises to $40 billion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Owfj0gSeAbw Debt-ridden EDF’s woes increase, with big rise in costs of Hinkley and Sizewell nuclear projects .  UK: big talk about small nuclear reactors, but not much is happening, really.     Russia’s nuclear industry is making great money – thanks to customers in Europe. Marketing: Seoul aims to use strengthened US ties to expand nuclear plant exports.

ENERGY. ‘No miracles needed’: Prof. Mark Jacobson on how much wind, sun and water can power the world. The Unholy Alliance – nuclear power, endless data centers, and endless energy use.

ENVIRONMENT. Groundwater carries radiation risk for North Korean cities near nuke test site – rights group . Toxic US-Japan collusion on nuke wastewater taints global environment.

ETHICS and RELIGION. Japan not only dumps wastewater but also morality.

HEALTH. Health appeal: avert nuclear war and respect international humanitarian law,

LEGAL. Linda Pentz Gunter on the Nuclear Corruption Cases. World dreads Japan’s date with disaster.

NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY. Spreading the Bomb – Will Ottawa revisit Canada’s support for plutonium reprocessing?. Belarus’ second nuclear reactor is far behind schedule, while Unit 1 reactor remains unstable. .

OPPOSITION to NUCLEAR. Fury as Japan plans to dump a million tonnes of contaminated water in the Pacific. Group calls for the stoppage of works at Sizewell C nuclear site, as Sizewell project is not yet authorised, and works are damaging the environment.

POLITICS.   Biden team has ‘deeply rooted hatred for Russia’ – US congressman. How US and Ukraine’s far-right made pro-peace Zelensky a ‘no peace’ president . Caitlin Johnstone – The Empire Gives People The Illusion Of Fighting The Power Without Ever Endangering Real Power. Democrats Praise Bush, Want More Small-Business War Profiteers. 

Canada launches $30 million small modular reactor funding program. USA’ Inflation Reduction Act is a game-changer for the nuclear industry -says Public Service Enterprise Group. 

Hinkley Point Nuclear Megaproject is really a colossal miscalculation of risk management. Do not bring nuclear energy plants to Scotland, SNP tells new UK energy minister.  Boris Johnson demands that UK government declares nuclear to be “a green energy” source, and boosts the industry .   Nuclear power – carbon intensive and environmentally damaging –NOT GREEN – Nuclear Free Local Authorities.

POLITICS INTERNATIONAL and DIPLOMACY. Reckless or rhetoric? — Putin suspends New START nuclear treaty. The New START nuclear treaty, and why Vladimir Putin is walking away from it. Scott Ritter: Anyone Who Doesn’t Get How Serious New START Suspension is ‘Doesn’t Appreciate Life’.       Vladimir Putin says the US-led military alliance in Ukraine seeks defeat and liquidation of Russia. 

Chomsky: A Stronger NATO Is the Last Thing We Need as Russia-Ukraine War Turns 1. China’s Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis. India, China may have averted nuclear war in Ukraine by influencing Russia- US.   Tamara Lorincz: Canada’s Support For Ukraine’s War on the Donbass & Canada’s Anti-Russia Policies — In Gaza https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpEaovhVois.   China calls for Russia to not go down the ‘nuclear weapons route’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRr4HuXsTQ8 .

France mounts ‘aggressive’ nuclear push with eye on EU industrial plan. Poland to buy 1st nuclear power plant with Westinghouse.           Japan beefs up moves in seeking G7 support for wastewater dump.

RADIATION. Our Global Surveillance System on NUKE TESTING is inadequate . Seoul offers radiation tests to N Korea defectors as group flags nuclear risks. Japan slammed for loosening test standards on Fukushima radioactive water.

SAFETY. Courting disaster —Missiles have been passing too close to Ukraine’s reactors.

SECRETS and LIES. The US Can Secretly Rotate Nuclear Warheads Through Australia

SPACE. EXPLORATION, WEAPONS. Russia Sends Ship To Space Station To Rescue “Stranded Crew”  .

SPINBUSTER. B1 Officials reveal cost of shooting down ‘UFOs’ – WSJ

WASTES. Japan postponing its controversial plan for trials to reuse radioactively contaminated soil . World Insights: Science should guide Fukushima wastewater release plan, Pacific leaders say.       Academic speaks out against Japan’s wastewater plan for Pacific.       800,000 cubic meters of new radioactive waste to be generated as a result of decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

WAR and CONFLICT. There has never in history been a greater need for a large Anti-War Movement . More Evidence Emerges That US Wanted Russia to Invade. Thousands rally in Berlin, Paris to call for peace in Ukraine. Forgotten heroes of Britain’s nuclear tests to FINALLY get long-awaited medal this summer. Should Algorithms Control Nuclear Launch Codes?.

WEAPONS and WEAPONS SALES. 

February 28, 2023 Posted by | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

TODAY. Media determined to ignore the intrinsic connection between “new small nuclear reactors” and nuclear weapons

Yah gotta wonder – are the journalists aware that the sole true purpose of “new generation” nuclear reactors is to feed the nuclear weapons industry? Or are they just stupid? I am charitably going for the latter explanation.

With all the hubbub about Putin suspending Russia’s participation in the START nuclear weapons treaty, both the USA and Russia are now enthused to beef up their omnicidal nuclear weapons.

But – oh dear! The huge cost of this! And the dumb public who don’t really like nuclear weapons! What to do?

Well the traditional method is the way to go – brainwash the public with a distraction that will keep attention away from this omnicidal weapons development – new nuclear for climate action.

Especially small nuclear reactors.

The logic is simple – and goes like this:

Big nuclear reactors are expensive, create toxic wastes, are weapons proliferation risks, and their fuel cycle emits carbon and radioactive isotopes.

Small nuclear reactors are “new” and different from big. Therefore they must be cheap, safe, clean. Stands to reason, doesn’t it?

You might not believe me – that the purpose of small nuclear reactors is to keep the nuclear weapons industry going , but Rolls Royce and other nuclear experts know this – and are proud of it:

“the “reliable provision of Russia’s defense capability is the main priority of the nuclear industry” – Rosatom

a host of other defense policy discussions are very clear that the UK nuclear ‘submarine industrial base’ would not be sustainable, if a decision were taken to discontinue civil nuclear power…statements from UK submarine industry sources note incentives to “mask” the costs of this military programme behind the related civilian industrial infrastructure…

a programme of submarine-derived small modular reactors should be adopted in UK energy policy in order to “relieve the Ministry of the burden of developing and retaining skills and capability” on the military side. – Rolls Royce “

But – you tap “nuclear” into Google News – and up will come a stream of articles from respectable corporate journalists – all about the wonders of small nuclear reactors – not a peep out of them about the weapons connection.

February 24, 2023 Posted by | Christina's notes | 2 Comments

TODAY. Painful realisation that Australia’s Labor defence minister is even more stupid and subservient to USA than the Liberals were!

From the Guardian yesterday :

The sustained controversy has prompted the defence minister, Richard Marles, to declare in a speech to parliament that acquiring nuclear-powered submarines would  “dramatically enhance” Australia’s sovereignty, rather than undermine it.

I am almost lost for words…. Is Richard Marles really that stupid? (a) to believe this nonsense himself and (b) to think that aware Australians would believe it.

Australia’s “sovereignty” has always been dubious. From 1770 we were absolutely a British colony . From 1901 we were still a British colony in reality, though no longer in name. Australian soldiers went to World War 1, unnecessarily, for the British. I would argue that since 1945, Australia morphed into an American colony, in our gratitude for USA fighting off the Japanese in WW2.

My measure for true colony-status is – going to war on behalf of the boss nation. Australia has enthusiastically (and unnecessarily) sent our young men and women to fight for America’s wars in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan – wars that had nothing whatever to do with Australia.

America has got smarter about running wars now. They’ve got Ukraine to try to conquer Russia on USA’s behalf (rather than work out a diplomatic solution to the 8 year war in the Donbass). America just sells Ukraine the weapons . This is a two-way win – both financially and politically – no American lives at risk.

Ukraine is probably a dress rehearsal for the big one – against China. This time Australia will be the patsy.

As a prelude, America sells us $171 billion of nuclear submarines. Which Australia can ill afford. These are so that we can fight China on USA’s behalf, (along with nuclear bombers based in Australia). Once again – the colony practically bankrupts itself, (as in Ukraine), and takes all the risks (as in Ukraine)

Why did I imagine that a Labor government would really be any better that the Liberals, when it comes to international relations?

Instead of macho-muscling up against China, – Australia should be recognising its position as a part of Southern Asia, teaching Asian languages and cultures, and fostering good relations and trade with our neighbours, and honestly expressing our differences. That includes China, which shows no intention to attack Australia militarily. Why should they, when they’re better at spreading influence with trade and culture? The Chinese have a different system, in some ways deplorable, – but evolving, and they are not demons.

February 23, 2023 Posted by | Christina's notes | 2 Comments

The news in things nuclear this week

Some bits of good news –  What went right this week: relief for the Great Barrier Reef, plus more. Man Finally Meets Family That Hid Him During Nazi Holocaust 80 Years Ago–And Visits the House.

Coronavirus. Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): Weekly Epidemiological Update. Current trends in reported COVID-19 cases are underestimates of the true number of global infections and reinfections.

Climate.China provinces top list of regions at risk from climate change.  Australian states among world’s most at risk from climate change, extreme weather.

Nuclear.  Much the same as last week. USA warmongers panicking about balloons. Nuclear safety issues being downplayed. The media faithfully regurgitating gushing nuclear lobby handouts about small nuclear reactors.

Christina notes:  Complacency about nuclear safety – a killer waiting to strike!  Bewdy! It’s gonna happen sooner than we thought. Just like Ukraine does against Russia, Australia will fight America’s war against China.

CLIMATE. Global leaders are dropping the ball on climate change. Rising seas threaten ‘mass exodus on a biblical scale’, UN chief warns. Judge commends Just Stop Oil activists. “No regrets” as UK government portrays nuclear power as “clean” and “green”. 

The ‘Icefin’ bore deep into an Antarctic glacier. What it found were temperatures warmer than melting point. Antarctic sea ice level now lowest on record. War is a climate killer.

EARTH EVENTS. Earth Changes Summary – January 2023: Extreme Weather, Planetary Upheaval, Meteor Fireballs.

ECONOMICS. Russia’s Grip on Nuclear-Power Trade Is Only Getting Stronger. EDF’s historic $13.5 billion loss in 2022 – as France became an importer of electricity. Zelensky is literally selling Ukraine to US corporations on Wall Street. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fHZCfRE3n4

EDUCATION. We’ve Forgotton The Potential Horrors of What a Nuclear Winter Would Be Like. Pentagon-Funded Plymouth University Cancels Anti-War Academic: the militarization of higher education.

EMPLOYMENT. Renewable energy workers are in high demand, global survey reveals. At Sellafield nuclear site workers ready to go on strike .

ENERGY.  Thousands of solar panels sent to power recovery effort in earthquake devastated Türkiye . France’s nuclear output plummeted in 2022. Small scale renewable technology installations being deployed rapidly in Britain without government subsidies.

ECONOMY. 

ENVIRONMENT. Fukushima: Japan insists release of 1.3m tonnes of ‘treated’ water is safe. Campaigners claim permit change at Hinkley Point would kill billions of fish.

INDIGENOUS ISSUES. Some, but not all, First Nations support small nuclear reactors in New Brunswick.

MEDIA. Microsoft Puts New Limits On Bing’s AI Chatbot After It Expressed Desire To Steal Nuclear Secrets.  Media Ignores Evidence That West Opposed Ukraine Peace Deal. Pro nuclear film. Murdoch Propaganda Pushes Australia To Double Its Military Budget For War With China

NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY. Checking Back in on China’s Nuclear Icebreaker. Rolls Royce’s “small” nuclear reactor will occupy 5.3 acres..

OPPOSITION to NUCLEAR. Scotland’s campaign groups call on government to reject plans for nuclear power at new Green Freeports.

POLITICS. Coalition for Responsible Energy Development in New Brunswick (CRED-NB) informs Senate with analysis of “advanced” small nuclear reactors. Scotland’s Minister Matheson reassures the Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) that no small nuclear power station will be permitted near Grangemouth refinery.   Small modular nuclear reactors: a good deal for Southwest Virginia? Despite massive losses of nuclear company EDF, and reactor corrosions, France plans to build a new fleet of EPR reactors. France’s government may switch funds from social housing to the cause of propping up the nuclear industry.

POLITICS INTERNATIONAL and DIPLOMACY. Biden says three aerial ‘objects’ US shot down likely not related to China surveillance. EU Commission abandons plans to sanction Russia’s nuclear industry. Ukraine approves second sanctions package targeting Russian nuclear industry Post-war Ukraine – a triumphal land owned by Western business corporations. Iran denies enriching uranium to 84 percent purity amid IAEA row. Iranians Caught Between Optimism, Pessimism Over Nuclear Talks.

Nuclear zealout Jonathan Mead touts nuclear-powered submarines- Australia to have “full control” – (oh yeah?). 7.30 Report: Sarah Ferguson Opens Up New Perspectives on the AUKUS Nuclear Submarine Deal.

SAFETY. Turkey’s Akkuyu nuclear power plant – a useless and dangerous prestige project?. Concerns over the construction of a nuclear power plant in Akkuyu, Turkey, due to its proximity to the 7.8 magnitude earthquake’s epicentre. Quake revives debate over Turkey’s nuclear plant Japan to extend life of nuclear power stations, and also. remove rules specifying the operational periods of reactors. Operational life of Finland’s nuclear reactors extended till 2050, and wastes to be stored onsite till 2090. Sizewell B nuclear station switched off for 66 days for maintenance work. Extending more than two nuclear reactors is dangerous, says deputy prime minister Gilkinet.

SECRETS and LIES. Pentagon testing mass surveillance balloons across the US. Watchdogs File FOIA Request for Holtec’s Secretive “Regulatory Path to Reauthorize Power Operations at Palisades Nuclear Plant”. Ukraine Hawk Who Heads European Commission Has a Nazi Pedigree She Does Not Want You to Know About.

SPACE. EXPLORATION, WEAPONS. NASA Gets High on Its Nuclear Supply. NATO reveals new space fleet.

SPINBUSTER. Japan PM Kishida tells ministers to assuage public concerns over nuclear policy. Object downed by US missile may have been amateur hobbyists’ $12 balloon. What We Know About The US Air Force’s Balloon Party So Far.

WASTES. The World’s Dumping Ground for Nuclear Waste Doesn’t Want Fukushima’s Wastewater. Dumping 1M gallons of radioactive water in Hudson is ‘best option,’ per Indian Point nuclear plant owner.

WAR and CONFLICT. The Horrifying Endgame in Ukraine. Betting on Ukraine victory was ‘suicidal’ – Seymour Hersh. Ukraine ‘peace petition’ backed by nearly half a million Germans.    American Architect of the Ukraine War Gives Go Ahead to Attack Crimea. NATO to participate in Ukraine war “for as long as it takes”.     Why the US seeks War with China by 2025.

WEAPONS and WEAPONS SALES. 

February 21, 2023 Posted by | Christina's notes | 7 Comments

TODAY Complacency about nuclear safety – a killer waiting to strike!

Worrying about Chernobyl, Fukushima, Three Mile Island, Santa Susana, Windscale, Church Rock, Tokaimura , Maya…. all those devastating nuclear accidents? That’s so old-fashioned!

True – caesium, strontium, plutonium, americium, cobalt. iodine 131,polonium – these are killer isotopes produced by nuclear fission- and released bit by bit in the nuclear fuel cycle – or suddenly in an accident.

But, aw shucks, our big boys, nuclear engineers etc – they can cope with all that. I mean some of them (though not all nuclear engineers), think that the safety rules should be relaxed. After all, how can the nuclear industry survive if we keep strict rules on when old reactors must be shut down?

And more to the point, well – I hate to break this secret news, but really, nobody can afford the financial cost of shutting down creaky old reactors, and disposing of the pools and canisters of highly toxic radioactive trash.

So much cheaper and easier to just keep it all going – at least until the next nuclear disaster!(when with any luck, our children, not us, will cop the pain and the cost)

So – thinking along these lines:

  • Finland will extend the life of its nuclear reactors by over 20 years, and its “intermediate” wastes onsite until 2090. (“Intermediate” is  a nicer word for “highly toxic”)
  •   Japan to extend life of nuclear power stations, and also remove rules specifying the operational periods of reactors.
  • France planning to allow its nuclear reactors to operate beyond 60 years, despite its current problems of corrosion and cracks.
  • Belgium, already dodgy in its safety assessments, plans to delay phaseout of its nuclear reactors.
  • Russia?  The mind boggles –  Russia has traditionally been slack on nuclear safety. Is it any better now?
  • Ukraine?  Omigawd!   THey want to build new ones!
  • Oh and Turkey’s going ahead building its Akkuya nuclear power station, all too near to the  7.8 magnitude earthquake’s epicentre.  

All this while global heating threatens all the nuclear power plans situated on coastlines – as sea level rises. While global heating threatens to deprive nuclear reactors of the water supply they need for cooling, threatens to make them shut down as temperatures rise, threaten them with floods, wildfires, and other weather extremes

February 18, 2023 Posted by | Christina's notes | 1 Comment

TODAY Bewdy! It’s gonna happen sooner than we thought. Just like Ukraine does against Russia, Australia will fight America’s war against China.

Isn’t it exciting?

We thought that it would take a while, for little ole Australia (population under 26 million), to become important on the world stage. I mean, most Americans are amazed that we speak English: that’s because they’ve heard of Austria, but not of Australia. Until now.

I mean, Ukraine (pop.44 million) was pretty much ignored, but now it’s big-time. They are “weakening” Russia, and isolating Russia culturally from Europe. Having their own country utterly trashed, environmentally, financially, health-wise, and morally – a small price to pay for being famous.

Australia can achieve the same. Right now, America is plying Australia with propaganda, weaponry and marines, and war games, and best of all, nuclear weapons. Despite international law, these can be based in Australia ‘temporarily”. Australians can’t know when or where the U.S. nukes will be. Fortunately, it is nearly Footee Season, so Australians won’t care anyway.

Australia’s war against China needs to happen soon, (though, preferably, some sort of delicate balance should happen in Ukraine first).

It needs to happen soon, before China becomes even more alarmed, and develops long-range nuclear missiles that could strike too many American bases and cities. Better to have China just focus on hitting Australia. Australia’s current Prime Minister is a bit of a wimp. We need our own charismatic Zelensky – but Peter Dutton might do?

February 15, 2023 Posted by | Christina's notes | 2 Comments

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