nuclear-news

Nuclear news -week to 29 November

Some bits of good news: The coming culture peace.    Good News on Tuberculosis in Tanzania, Crime in the United Kingdom, and Forests in Nepal.

Coronavirus.  Omicron variant now prevalent – more infectious but fewer severe sases.

Climate.  COP27 was disappointing, but 2022 remains an historic year for international climate policy.  1.5C warming threshold to be passed in 9 years as emissions hit record high

Nuclear. The two main issues are the danger of nuclear war, sparking from the Ukraine conflict, and the drive for small nuclear reactors simultaneously with the news that their true costs are astronomic. I can only ponder on whether Kamala Harris really has any brain –  as she’s off and away trying to sell USA’s small nuclear reactors to poorer “Third World” countries.

AUSTRALIA.   

•  What caused the Anthony Albanese China change? Better advisors? 
• Defence Minister Richard Marles delighted to welcome American nuclear-powered Virginia Class fast-attack submarine. 
• Upurli Upurli people say no to uranium mining at Mulga Rock, Western Australia.
•   Nukes Corp Australia carries on.     
• Australia’s debt to the world greater given our ‘real’ carbon emissions.  This case has made legal history’: young Australians just won a human rights case against an enormous coal mine 

ARTS and CULTURE   Russia’s former southern capital renounces its past: How Ukraine is destroying its heritage.

CLIMATE. It’s high time to defuse the military carbon bomb. No country has the solution to nuclear waste. Nuclear is no preventer of global heating – in fact, it’s quite the reverse. New Talking Points delivers all the reasons why small modular reactors have no role to play for climate change.  “Environmental Social and Corporate governance” – EDF and the nuclear lobby try to trick the world with fake “green” credentials. 

Take it from the soup throwers, COP’s a cop-out. Fears that oil exporters will control the next COP climate summit. The COP27 promise to fund climate help for poor countries – will it really be kept?  The Amazon forest is reaching a tipping point and starting to collapse

CIVIL LIBERTIES. Videos showing execution of Russian POWs in Ukraine are authentic.

ECONOMICS. 

• Jobs. New Mexico’s revolving nuclear door: top environment officials sell out to nuclear weapons lab. 
• The projected cost of new nuclear power has risen by fourfold since 2008 – and it is still rising.      Costs of NuScam’s Small Modular Nuclear Reactors revised upwards – yet again! Small Modular Nuclear Reactor cost overruns: the same old problems haunt new nuclear in Utah. Ineos corporation to join Rolls Royce’s messy consortium, to push for Small Nuclear Reactors in the Great British Nuclear Swindle.  UK government underestimated the cost to the public of Regulated Asset Base financing of nuclear power.
• U.S. Nuclear Reactors Among the Oldest in the World.   A billion down the drain for Diablo.   
• Marketing: B1 USA Vice-President For the Nuclear Industry Kamala Harris on a marketing jaunt for NuScam’s Small Nuclear Reactors to Southeast Asia. Kamala Harris, nuclear saleswoman extraordinaire, touting small nuclear reactors to Thailand.

ENERGY. EDF Delays Restart of Three Nuclear Reactors as Winter Hits. Amongst alternative energy sources, nuclear power’s prospects are not good.

HISTORY. France opens archives related to nuclear weapons tests in the Pacific.

INDIGENOUS ISSUES. The consequences of nuclear imperialism and colonialism.

LEGAL.  Nuclear Industry Liability under the Paris Convention.    Legal challenge to UK nuclear plan by groups Stop Sizewell C and Together Against Sizewell C (TASC), and others.    Mayor of Ukraine’s second-largest city fined for speaking Russian.

MEDIA. ‘Publishing is not a crime’: media groups urge US to drop Julian Assange charges.The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine remains under Russian control, despite media reports.

NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY. Nuclear power no solution for Canada’s North West Territory . Putin touts Russia’s ‘Arctic power’ with new nuclear icebreaker. NuScam’s Utah small nuclear reactor project in doubt – needs $billions of tax-payer support.     World’s Biggest Nuclear-Fusion Project Faces Delays as Component Cracks.

OPPOSITION TO NUCLEAR. The Blackwater Against New Nuclear Group (BANNG) strongly opposes new Bradwell nuclear proposal.

POLITICS. 

• Middle East investors and French developers for Sizewell C nuclear station to be paid by “an extra tax” on UK public’s bills ? Rolls-Royce calls for formal funding talks over small nuclear plants. 
• USA government forks out a $billion to keep uneconomic Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant going. USA’s Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) cleverly worded so it could be a bonanza for small nuclear plant developers. 
• Lawmaker says Filipinos will be ‘guinea pigs’ in nuclear pact with US.

POLITICS INTERNATIONAL and DIPLOMACY. 

• Could the Minsk II agreement Have Prevented the War in Ukraine? Merkel explains why she wasn’t surprised by Russia’s offensive in Ukraine. Washington’s Iron Curtain in Ukraine. 
• Philippines to be America’s nuclear guinea-pig for experimental small modular nuclear reactors. 
• Finland’s Fortum turns to U.S. in bid to replace Russian nuclear fuel. 
• ‘Dangerous rhetoric’ stoking nuclear tensions: UN chief.  Future war: NATO holds 75-nation planning session in Berlin.  China, Russia and the bomb — IPPNW peace and health blog .
• Zelensky trapped by Moscow and Washington. 
• Iran Media Looks Beyond Nuclear Deal As Negotiations ‘Fail’.     Iran ‘not optimistic’ about nuclear deal revival talks.     
• The coming Sinophobic calamity. Pandora’s box of nuclear progress.

RADIATION. Protecting kids from electromagnetic radiation in school and at home.

SAFETY. Nuclear Guinea Pigs: NRC’s Licensing of Experimental Nuclear Plants . Threat of Possible Nuclear Accident at Zaporizhzhia Sends Tensions Rising. U.N. Supplied Qatar With Tech to ‘Prevent Nuclear Security Incident’ at 2022 World Cup. Electricity production at Olkiluoto 3 reactor delayed until 2023..

SECRETS and LIES. Ukraine quietly abolishes corruption oversight rule. Ukrainian city names street after Nazi collaborator.

WASTES. Confusion over nuclear wastes from small modular reactors. Estonian public concerned about radioactive waste from planned nuclear power plant. Uniting to oppose Japanese plan to dump nuclear waste in Pacific. UK’s costly struggle to deal with dead nuclear submarines.

WAR and CONFLICT. US ‘success’ is Ukraine’s disaster.   Republished from 2019 Maligned in Western Media, Donbass Forces are defending their future from Ukrainian shelling.     China Prevented Transfer Of Polish MiG-29 Fighter Jets To Ukraine; Kept Russia Away From Nuclear Escalation. 

WEAPONS and WEAPONS SALES. 

• US Arms Dealing Is Out of Control. A new nuclear weapons delivery system is the last thing the US needs. U.S. speeds up plans to store upgraded nukes in Europe. 
• USA hurrying to replace its weapons stocks, after sending so much to Ukraine. Most NATO members have run out of weapons for Ukraine – NYT. 
• Nuclear weapons convoys through Lancashire and parked close to primary school. 
• ‘Deliberate ambiguity’: Israel’s nuclear weapons are greatest threat to Middle East. 
• Kim Jong Un Emphasizes Nuclear Development as North Korea’s ‘Ultimate Goal’.

November 29, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

This week in nuclear news

A bit of good news. At the close of COP27 Summit, some progress on climate justice.

Coronavirus. Radio Ecoshock, (mentioned just below) gives a good update on the current situation.

Coronavirus. Radio Ecoshock, (mentioned just below) gives a good update on the current situation

Climate. I hope that many readers/listeners have discovered Alex Smith’s Radio Ecoshock. The latest edition gives a good wrap-up on the COP27 Climate Summit. And Alex reminds us that “Paralyzed by fear of freezing or economic collapse, there is no mass movement calling for an end to fossil fuels“. ………and ” politicians cannot go too far ahead of willingness by citizens.”

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CLIMATE. Nuclear Power Is Not the Answer. “Everywhere you look at Egypt’s COP27 you can see and hear the influence of the fossil fuel industry” – Greenpeace. ‘On The Highway To Climate Hell’ – The Climate Crisis, Activism And Broken Politics. 

CIVIL LIBERTIES. Moscow accuses Ukrainian soldiers of killing POWs . Russia investigates alleged footage of Ukrainian troops torturing POWs

ECONOMICS. New Westinghouse nuclear deal faces old skepticism: Can it deliver on time and on budget? France’s EDF, Credit Agricole sign 1 bln euro nuclear loan. Even with billions of dollars in tax credits, costs skyrocket at U.S. Small Modular Reactor Project. UK’s Sizewell nuclear project remains unfinanced. Marketing: USA desperate to sell NuScam’s small nuclear reactors – its latest targeted buyer is Thailand.

ENERGY. As Europe Quits Russian Gas, Half of France’s Nuclear Plants Are Off-Line. Putin’s nuclear grip on Europe could spark another energy crisis, expert warns. TIDAL power extinguishes the arguments for new nuclear plants in Suffolk.

ENVIRONMENT. DOE awards millions to restart nuclear operations in southern Ohio as contamination concerns continue.

HISTORY. Who are the Ukrainian integral nationalists ? Fallout from a nuclear past: New book explores human toll of ‘nuclear colonization’ in New Mexico.

MEDIA. Musk’s Money Is Playing Old Games With New Media. With Kiev exposed for a lie that could have triggered a third world war, it is time to examine past deceptions that Western media promoted.

NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY. Small nuclear reactors: USA, Japan, South Korea and a whole heap of companies join in the gamble of NuScam’s small nuclear reactors for Ukraine. So-Called Next-Generation Nuclear Power Plants Are Being Oversold. Strange Rolls Royce plan for Large complex of Large Small Nuclear Reactors for Bradwell. The fading promise of low-cost power from UAMPS’ Small Modular Reactors – Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. USA using COP27 to co-opt Europe , especially Ukraine, into the small nuclear reactor gamble. 

Japan’s new nuclear energy policy- is it really feasible? Nuclear fusion discovery uncovers strange behaviour of limitless energy source.

OPPOSITION TO NUCLEAR. Austria digs in anti-nuclear heels as neighbours build out.

POLITICS. 

• U.S. nuclear plants expect government decision on credits by year-end. U.S. rejects funding to re-open Michigan nuclear plant -Holtec. 
• Sizewell C nuclear plant in Suffolk to go ahead, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt confirms. Nuclear Free Local Authorities welcome energy efficiency plans, but deplore costly Sizewell C nuclear build at the public’s expense. 
• Finland refutes nuclear weapons ‘siting’ and reinforces border. 
• Nuclear is unsafe, unreliable and will leave long and toxic legacy.

POLITICS INTERNATIONAL and DIPLOMACY. 

• Biden, Xi ‘Agreed’ Nuclear Weapons Should Never Be Used. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XsAfxQAZNw  Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance – a leader for action on the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbnsoFftLwc  US nuclear strategy gravely threatens global security. 
• US and Western officials considering diplomacy as winter looms and Ukraine war cost may rise to $60 billion. NATO needs enemies to justify its existence – Russia. Russia and US hold secret talks in Ankara – Kommersant. Urging peace with Russia, top US general challenges DC’s proxy war. Biden and CIA Director Burns in Double Act to Split Putin and Xi. 
• Australia’s reassessment of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. US big defense and Australia’s nuclear crossroads. Albanese must use Xi meeting to return us to the Howard-Abbott golden age of Australia-China relations (this from Murdoch’s Sky News !!!) 
• Japan’s changing nuclear energy policy.

SAFETY. Shelling of Zaporizhzhia is playing with fire, says UN nuclear chief, as blasts reported. Reactors at Ukrainian nuclear power plants shut down after Russian strikes. Shutdown of Ukraine’s Khmelnytskyy Nuclear Power Plant due to military attacks in the region .

SECRETS and LIES. USA Views Ukrainians And Russians As Lab Rats For Weapons Testing. Blowback: Italian police bust Azov-tied Nazi cell planning terror attacks. NATO Diplomat HITS BACK At Zelensky After He INSISTS Ukraine Did Not Send Deadly Missile: Report – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjHEi3b28bY

WASTES. What’s happening with the radioactive waste facility in South Australia?  Radiation Free Lakeland slams the hypocrisy surrounding “Ethics Committee”s approval of seismic blasting that kills marine life, in the plan for undersea dumping of nuclear wastes.

WAR and CONFLICT. Poland missile incident is step towards World War III – Medvedev. Missile fired at NATO member Poland came from Ukraine, US officials say. Did the “stray missiles” to Poland come from Russian or from Ukrainian military? NATO’s hair trigger: The Polish missile incident was a close brush with nuclear annihilation.Biden’s Nuclear Policy Fails the Ukraine Test. Top US general warns of reality on the ground in Ukraine.      Top Zelensky advisor threatens war with Iran.  NATO pushes to consolidate control of Black Sea —Videos from Finland: U.S. troops rehearse for war on Russian border —N Korea warns of ‘all-out’ nuclear response to US ‘aggression’

WEAPONS and WEAPONS SALES PERVERSE PRIORITIES UK : CUT PUBLIC SPENDING, KEEP NUCLEAR ARMS AND WARPLANES. Pink Floyd legend Roger Waters blames US profiteers for Ukraine conflict.

November 21, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 2 Comments

Nuclear news in this COP27 week

Some bits of good news – What’s this, some good news on climate change? Positive news: From ‘Global Shields’ to young voices, all the climate wins at COP27 so far. The Times got it right about 5 reasons for hope on climate action, but very wrong on one. 4 signs of progress at the UN climate change summit. Saving theAmazon.

 Coronavirus. Weekly Epidemiological Update.  World Health Organization reports 90 per 

 World Health Organization reports 90 per cent drop in global COVID-19 deaths, even as new variants continue to appear

AUSTRALIA.

• A Father Fights for His Son & What’s Left of Democracy. 
• The Australian nuclear lobby is at it again.   Nine right-wing rural senators push to change the laws on nuclear activities. 
• Memo G20 – there is a greater enemy than China to fight. 
• US warns Australia against joining treaty banning nuclear weapons.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-x29u7M7I0   Australia “should not face intimidation from so-called allies under the auspices of defense cooperation,”. 
•  AUKUS and nuclear submarines: Defence Minister Richard Marles sets Australia’s course in lockstep with USA-UK’s animosity to China. Military buildup in Australia stirs fears. The definitive case against nuclear subs. Internal briefing reveals Northern Territory government approach to defence regarding AUKUS nuclear submarines. Government accused of hiding ‘lazy $591 million’ in extra costs from scrapped French submarine program.
•  Friends of the Earth urge all South Australian federal Labor politicians to push for the scrapping of Kimba nuclear waste plan.
•  Science Minister Melissa Price closer to the Liberal Opposition than to Labor, as she backs small nuclear reactors to beat climate change   

Coronavirus. World Health Organization reports 90 per cent drop in global COVID-19 deaths, even as new variants continue to appear.  Weekly Epidemiological Update.

Climate –  miles and miles of COP27 news – not covered here.

Plastic. Your Body Is Partly Plastic. So Is Everything Else.

Nuclear. The human species is really at a crossroads. In all these crises – lies abound. Take the lie that recycling plastic works. No it doesn’t. Recycling plastic exists to enable the oil corporations to keep right on selling oil, and keep the plastics industry going.. COP27 is full of greenwash lies, as fossil fuel lobbyists buy national governments.  But the best lie at COP27 is the one about nuclear power solving climate change.  The only problem it really solves is that it counters and obscures the  public’s bad image of nuclear weaponry –   small nuclear reactors for instance –  totally useless against global heating, but a convenient “nice” step towards nuclear weapons. Makes all the nuclear workers feel better.

CLIMATE.

• At COP27 Climate Summit the International Atomic Energy Agency joins all those paid nuclear lobbyists in pushing the lie that “nuclear solves the climate problem”. The USA’s “climate” envoy at COP27 John Kerry is just another nuclear shill. 
• The world is now deep into the climate crisis. Scientists now see the climate crisis as frightening. Barbados PM launches blistering attack on rich nations at Cop27 climate talks. How likely is progress on climate at Cop27? Revealed: US and UK, Canada and Australia fall billions short of ‘fair share’ of climate funding for developing countries.   A bigger-than-ever pack of fossil fuel lobbyists at COP27.    Sea level rise as Greenland ice thaws faster than expected. To those who sneer at activists blocking roads: what are you doing to save the planet?

CIVIL LIBERTIES. U.S. House Intelligence Committee questioned about alleged surveillance of Julian Assange.

ECONOMICS. 

• EU Needs $460 Billion Investment Just To Maintain Nuclear Power Capacity, let alone build new. 
• Russia maintains its grip on global nuclear energy landscape. USA, France, continue to buy nuclear supplies from Russia – no sanctions on that industry!  
• Another US nuclear marketing deal done ay COP27 – $3billion for Romania reactors project.  U.S. uses COP27 to market nuclear power to Romania,  offering over $3 billion funding.   
•  France’s Nuclear Power Problems Are Mounting France electricity prices surge past €1,000/MWh as more nuclear reactors close for winter.  
• Welsh Affairs Select Committee to hear from proponents of nuclear power, on funding plans for Sizewell C project .

ENERGY. As France’s aging nuclear reactors fail, France may block electricity exports to UK. EDF nuclear problems increase risk of winter energy shortages. Incident at France’s Civaux nuclear reactor adds to EDFs problems of stress corrosion cracking in nuclear plants . Is nuclear energy actually sustainable? Ukraine joins in USA’s false story, “clean” energy from the mythical small nuclear reactors.

ENVIRONMENT. Closed Dounreay nuclear site records its highest number of radioactive particles in nearly two decades. Concern over radioactive particles on Dounreay shoreline – poor monitoring of the nuclear clean-up. 

HEALTH. ‘Clear case for inquiry into treatment of men in Britain’s nuclear test programme’.

LEGAL. Maryland Nuclear Engineer and Wife Sentenced for Espionage-Related Offenses.

MEDIA. Massive anti-Russian “Bot Army” exposed by Australian Researchers.

NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY. Surprise surprise- USA co-opts Ukraine to try out small nuclear reactors. Finland plans to continue using Russian nuclear fuel. Ever the optimists… Rolls-Royce chooses four sites for reactor that’s yet to be built.

OPPOSITION TO NUCLEAR . Austria holds the anti-nuclear line. Campaigners seek early end to Chinese involvement at Bradwell. Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament,  International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, Global Zero, and Black Lives Matter- the reinvigorated anti-nuclear movement . ‘Subpoenas’ Served on US Weapons Manufacturers.

POLITICS. UK government denies reports that the Sizewell C nuclear project is in doubt. German Parliament advised not to extend nuclear power beyond springtime 2023. Germany refuses to build nuclear Uniper plant in Sweden.

POLITICS INTERNATIONAL and DIPLOMACY. 

•  On Nuclear Treaty, at Least, Biden Aims for Fresh START With Russia. Russia, U.S. Eye Nuclear Arms Reduction Talks in Coming Weeks – Kommersant. 
•   France’s Macron and UK’s Sunak agree on nuclear energy cooperation. 
•  Tale Of Two Broken Accords: Oslo And Minsk. 
•  Finland to continue relying on Russia for nuclear fuel. 
• Israeli nuclear arsenal condemned by world’s govts in overwhelming UN vote.

SAFETY.

• Nuclear risk: How does Zaporizhzhia compare with Chernobyl?  It can’t go on like this’: Power restored to Ukrainian nuclear plant but situation untenable, says IAEA.  
•    Stress corrosion continues to trouble the French nuclear fleet, EDF Nuclear Reactor Has Test Incident,
• Cracks found in feedwater pumps at Finland’s OL3 nuclear plant. Finland’s OL3 nuclear reactor remains offline as probe continues. Finland’s Olkiluoto 3 repairs could take several months, A disaster waiting to happen’:
• British nuclear-armed sub resurfaces after fire onboard. Staff ‘moved after serious radiation breach’ at Trident nuclear base. ‘
• Sweden’s Biggest Nuclear Reactor Shut Down by Turbine Fault. Deepening Supply Concerns.
• Sizewell C – proposed coastal area is not suitable for nuclear reactors.
• UK government to dump European Union nuclear safety laws – a deregulated race to the safety bottom?

SECRETS and LIES. Corruption exposed: US meddled in Ecuador’s election, using Julian Assange as bargaining chip. Azov Nazi speaks to school kids across America.

WASTES. In Suttsu, Japan, residents don’t want nuclear waste. Radioactive Waste Flasks to Share Arnside Viaduct with Walkers and Cyclists ?

  WAR and CONFLICT.

Global majority leads the way on nuclear disarmament: time to reflect that reality here. US flies nuclear-capable B-1B strategic bombers over South Korea. Let’s Be Clear: If WW3 Happens It Will Be The Result Of Choices Made By The US Empire. What Could Nuclear War Mean For Wyoming? Pretty Much The Worst Parts Of The Bible. 

  U.S. long-range missile launch in the Arctic: “We are intentionally trying to be provocative”.  Pentagon exploits post 9/11 laws to wage ‘secret wars’ worldwide: Report. US prolonging Ukraine conflict for profit: Russian envoy. Concealing US Militarism By Making It Sacred. Germany: Pentagon assembles defense chiefs from 50 nations for Ukraine war confab

 ‘Tactical’ Nuclear Weapons Could Unleash Untold Damage, Experts Warn.

 WEAPONS and WEAPONS SALES. G20 leaders to denounce use, or threat, of nuclear weapons – draft (?a pious hypocrisy in opposition to the UN Nuclear Ban Treaty)) Finland denies plans to deploy nuclear weapons in the country once it joins NATO. more. Will expanding Canada’s plutonium interests support the peaceful use of nuclear energy?lear Australia

www.antinuclear.net

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November 14, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

TODAY. “Strategic Ambiguity” – the pernicious policies that will help to bring about World War 3.

Today, I am taken with the significance, and danger, of that word “Ambiguity“. It is the means by which we are kept in the dark, by which our governments can start a war, a nuclear war, at any time, without the bother of consulting parliament or people. Why are we letting ourselves put up with this farcical state of affairs – put across by the American government, and repeated by the Australian, (and no doubt other governments)?

There’s the ambiguity about Taiwan .  Governments of both USA and Australia recognise Taiwan as part of China, legally a province of China. Yet apparently we’re happy to go to war against China on behalf of Taiwan.

There’s ambiguity about  being the first to attack with a nuclear weapon.  China and India both have a “No First Strike” policy, USA, UK, NATO, France and Russia ambiguously affirm that ” a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.” Biden approved a version of the policy from the Obama administration that permits the use of nuclear weapons not only in retaliation to a nuclear attack, but also to respond to non-nuclear threats.

There’s that classic, notorious, case of Israel, which “neither confirms nor denies” having nuclear weapons. Thus, Israel can intimidate other states, while not having to conform to international protocols like the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Israel also maintains “strategic ambiguity” on the killings of Iranian nuclear scientists.

Why, why, does the “rules-based-global-order” put up with this absurdly dangerous situation, and fervently blame countries that aspire to counter the USA-NATO weapons build-up ?

These pernicious policies of strategic ambiguity causes fear and confusion not only in the citizens of supposedly enemy countries, but also in the citizens of the supposedly virtuous West.

November 8, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Nuclear news – week to 7 November

Some bits of good news, Here are all the positive environmental stories from 2022 so far.

Coronavirus:  Long Covid’s astounding impact, explained in numbers and charts – video.

Global Heating: UN weather report: Climate woes bad and getting worse faster.

Nuclear. Where to start?   Today, I am taken with the significance, and danger, of that word “Ambiguity“. It is the means by which we are kept in the dark, by which our governments can start a war, a nuclear war, at any time, without the bother of consulting parliament or people. Why are we letting ourselves put up with this farcical state of affairs – put across by the American government, and repeated by the Australian, (and no doubt other) government?

There’s the ambiguity about Taiwan .  Governments of both USA and Australia recognise Taiwan as part of China, legally a province of China. Yet apparently we’re happy to go to war against China on behalf of Taiwan.

There’s America’s ambiguity about  being the first to attack with a nuclear weapon.  President Biden approved a version of the policy from the Obama administration that permits the use of nuclear weapons not only in retaliation to a nuclear attack, but also to respond to non-nuclear threats.

AUSTRALIA. 

 Australia is addicted to fighting other people’s wars.  As Australia gets American nuclear-capable bombers, it risks becoming a dangerous military mess and target – like Guam. ‘Target Oz’: Defence Strategic Review must address nuclear risks. Australia’s $multibillion submarine madness and the phoney China threat.     Australia’s ongoing nuclear submarine debacle – ‘A tangle of overlapping interests’, Why does Australia still sell uranium to China?

 This is what Australia needs to bring to Egypt for COP27

CLIMATE. The climate crisis and the danger of nuclear war are deeply intertwined.   COP27 in Egypt. Will rich nations fulfil their promises to help poor countries to fight global heating?       Environmentalists slam corporate influence at U.N. climate talks

ECONOMICS. French nuclear corporation EDF – facing huge debts, but cosily enmeshed with UK government . Failure of the “nuclear renaissance” leaves Britain with super-costly closures of reactors, and electricity shortage. U.S. company Westinghouse wants to build a fleet of nuclear reactors in Europe, starting with Poland.

EMPLOYMENT. Nice work if you can get it: £750 a day for leading Lincolnshire’s nuclear dump bid.

ENERGY. Does the UK need new nuclear plants like Sizewell C to reach net zero? EDF Warns of Lower Output Across Its Nuclear Reactors in France. France, depending on nuclear power, now imports more electricity than it exports.

ENVIRONMENT. Councillor wants to know why there has been an increase in radioactive particles found on Dounreay foreshore.

HEALTH. Carbon-14: Another underestimated danger from nuclear power reactors.     Studies on nuclear radiation’s impact on people necessary (Indonesia).

MEDIA. Ukrainian First Lady Zelenska ordered The Grayzone’s Web Summit cancellation.

NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY. America’s Abandoned Nuclear Power Projects (includes Interactive Map)

POLITICS. UK government might scrap Sizewell nuclear plan. Will they, won’t they – great uncertainty over government go ahead for Sizewell C.       Japanese government seeks to allow nuclear reactors to operate for 80 years.        The new Jewish state in the Levant: A fanatics-led nuclear power.          Poland picks nuclear power that the International Energy Agency says is “stagnating or in decline”.

POLITICS INTERNATIONAL and DIPLOMACY. The U.S. President’s Dismissal Of Diplomacy Undermines His Own Party, Prolongs The Destruction Of Ukraine And Threatens Nuclear War. In America Pro-war hawks have progressive Democrats on their Squad. USA’s deliberate ambiguity on use of nuclear weapons really means “don’t mess with us or we’ll nuke you”. Biden lost temper with Zelenskyy in June phone call when Ukrainian leader asked for more aid.

  Poland, South Korea sign outline accords on nuclear power project. When it comes to a nuclear industry project – Europe puts no sanctions on Russia.

Europe can’t cut economic ties with Russia unless it cuts nuclear power use as well.  World Nuclear Industry Status Report delivers all the empirical data we need to know about nuclear power’s decline.

SAFETY. Attacks on Ukrainian nuclear-power plants challenge treaties, and raise other safety concerns.       Nuclear Free Local Authorities ask when will the Olkiluoto farce ever Finnish?

SECRETS and LIES. Israeli finance minister added to Kiev’s ‘kill list’.

WAR and CONFLICT.     War and Regrets in Ukraine.   The nuclear threats that hang over the world. Doomsday Clock Reveals How Nuclear War Would Decimate Civilization.  US troops on the ground in Ukraine – media. Six Reasons Why Americans Should Care That US Troops Are In Ukraine. U.S. troops on the ground in Ukraine: this is bad! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXSEhwbZhAc    How Close are We to Nuclear War? Will Biden Gamble on a Ukraine Coalition?      ‘Sloppy’ US Talk on China’s Threat Worries Some Skeptical Experts.    North Korea fired intercontinental ballistic missile – Seoul.

 Australia is addicted to fighting other people’s wars.  As Australia gets American nuclear-capable bombers, it risks becoming a dangerous military mess and target – like Guam.  Australia’s $multibillion submarine madness and the phoney China threat.     Australia’s ongoing nuclear submarine debacle – ‘A tangle of overlapping interests’.

WEAPONS and WEAPONS SALES. Nuclear gravity bomb more powerful than Hiroshima blast to be added to NATO’s arsenal.   Finland hints at allowing NATO to station nuclear weapons (?targets) on its soil.    U.S., NATO ready array of missiles for war in Ukraine. Pentagon to provide $400 million more for Ukraine war effort

  Loosening the Nuclear Knot – ARMS CONTROL TODAY,  Pentagon Scraps Submarine Nuclear Cruise Missile Program.

November 7, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 1 Comment

TODAY . Is the nuclear industry more desperate than we realised – now we have Canada calling nuclear energy “CLEAN”?

Amidst all the brouhaha about the danger that Ukraine’s nuclear reactors are in (not just Zaporizhia, but all of them) – suddenly the Canadian government comes out with a statement that nuclear energy is clean and deserving of investment tax credits.

No other industry poses the dangers and pollution risks , especially in war-time – that nuclear does. It’s not just the reactor – it’s the nuclear fuel supplies, the spent fuel wastes, the risk of loos of power and cooling water.

Nature reports – “Nuclear-power plants elsewhere in Ukraine are also under threat. Shelling has been reported at the Khmelnytskyy plant in Netishyn, and cruise missiles have overflown the South Ukraine plant in Yuzhnoukrainsk. And Ukraine’s energy infrastructure across the country is coming under attack, including substations linked to nuclear plants“

Right now , the Ukraine situation highlights just how dangerous and dirty this industry is.

But it’s dangerous and dirty in peacetime, too. The industry knows this. Governments know this, Apart from the eternal toxic waste problem, and radiation hazards, the whole nuclear industry emits lots of carbon.

But on November 3rd ,Canada’s  Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland released the 2022 Fall Economic Statement including small nuclear reactors for  clean technology tax credits. The government also indicates in the statement that it will consult on “additional eligible technologies (eg large scale-nuclear )  It will announce the specific details on what those technologies will be in its 2023 budget.

Well, this pitch-on-nuclear-as-needed-against-global -heating is the current BIG NUCLEAR LIE. (They know it takes decades to set up), they know it’s unaffordable. They’re desperate to put it over us all with this “climate-fixing” nonsense – sneaking nuclear in along with genuinely clean strategies – energy conservation and renewables

November 5, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 2 Comments

TODAY Why can’t Americans THINK?

I suppose that some of them can. Probably quite a lot of them , really.

But you wouldn’t know that, from what comes across in the media. Its as if every American is compelled to think in black and white – there are no greys.

It goes like this: Ukrainians are good, sweet, and saintly people (and of course they will win). Russians are cruel and evil (and of course they will lose).

Then at home – everything that is said by the opposing political party is evil and wrong – doesn’t matter which party you support – it is obligatory to disagree with the other party – on every single thing.

I keep getting stuff from the Trumpian crowd, Qanon etc. – their whole aim being to demonise Joe Biden and the Democrats. But in amongst all this – I do find some sane and sensible criticism of America furthering the war in Ukraine.

Today, I found an article from The American Conservative. I suppose they support the Republicans and Trump. But their criticism of America’s role in this war makes sense.

I think that Donald Trump is a truly awful person – I would hate him to become President again. But – that is two years away. In the meantime, conservatives are saying some reasonable things. It is an awful pity that Americans won’t allow themselves to THINK, instead of blindly supporting their political party, and their apparently religious belief in America’s “righteous” wars.

November 2, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 10 Comments

Nuclear news – scary stuff this week, but we need to be aware.

some bits of good news. India headed towards 100% renewables power by 2050. Mini Wind Turbines For Rooftops: ‘Up to 50% More Power’ and No Spinning Blades    Ozone Hole Continues Shrinking in 2022.

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Oh dear. This newsletter is miles too long. I have put the most interesting items in larger, bold, green. Perhaps you might read just those, and any other topics of interest to you.

This week, I have been overwhelmed with the media tsunami of war-mongering events and articles – all gearing up to the supposedly inevitable war against China !!

But at the same time –    are you  noticing climate change, -global heating events and research? We might escape nuclear apocalypse, BUT –   I urge you to pay attention to Alex Smith’s Radio Ecoshock, the world-leading coverage of things climate .  This week’s episode is CLIMATE ENDGAME – “irreversible transition to Hothouse Earth”? – Greenland  sea-level rise – and a worrying Culture of Underestimation.

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CLIMATE. Climate summit – window for avoiding catastrophe is closing fast. Global heating levels threaten to destroy economies. “The voices in this world which have the most power belong to those who are destroying it”, writes Greta Thunberg.

Atmospheric levels of all three greenhouse gases hit record high. Rising Sea Levels Spell Disaster For America’s Coastal Nuclear Plants. Insect apocalypse looms as world warms

CIVIL LIBERTIES. Reporters Without Borders leads 16 organisations urging UK Home Secretary to intervene in extradition of Julian Assange.

ECONOMICS . French nuclear power group EDF to have a bigger loss than previously expected. Scotland ‘could fund England’s nuclear plants after independence‘ under “regulated asset base” (RAB) model. Sizewell C nuclear station to be funded 20% by French taxpayers, and 20% by British taxpayers. Rooppur nuclear power plant (Bangladesh) : Cost may rise for multiple factors. USA’s Westingouse likely to build and fund 49% of Poland’s first nuclear power station

EMPLOYMENT. About 100 Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant employees, including senior managers, agree to collaborate with Russian occupiers.

ENERGY. Nuclear power – a ‘religion’ in France. now turning out to be a curse..

ENVIRONMENT. This Abandoned Nuclear City Is Trapped Under Ice, What Happens If It Thaws? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9uW-8vPpAU Dounreay nuclear plant radiation scare over high numbers of ‘harmful’ radioactive particles. The Fukushima Area Has Seen Better Days as Nobuhiko Ito Shows. Long-lived radionuclides from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, and consequences for Pacific ecosystems and seafood consumers.

HEALTH. ‘The nuclear bomb was so bright I could see the bones in my fingers’: The atomic veterans fighting for justice. Meetings scheduled on compensation for Utah’s ‘downwinders‘ affected by nuclear testing.

LEGAL. US nuclear firm Westinghouse sues South Korean supplier over Poland reactor deal. Together Against Sizewell and other groups to fight on, despite legal setback.

MEDIA. All at once corporate media pundits push for World War III. Western military-industrial corporate-media show only the NATO-USA war-mongering side of the news. The biggest lie – ADDICTED TO WAR – what most American people don’t know and don’t want to know. Steps towards multilateral nuclear disarmament – but media silence.  Captive media: what does the submarine scandal tell us about Australia’s “defence correspondents”?

POLITICS. Kucinich Says Call for Diplomacy to end Ukraine-Russia War Must be Heard; Silencing of Congressional Progressive Caucus Casts Democrats as the “War Party” Progressives retract Ukraine letter to Biden after uproar. Worthless House Progressives Retract Mild Peace Advocacy Under Pressure From Warmongers. Democrats Should Not Make Support for War a Test of Party Loyalty – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f76p7NUbV5M Dennis Kucinich: Where Are the Pro-Peace Democrats? 

Government Confirms No Nuclear for Australia.

Crushing blow to French President Macron as EDF braces for £28billion hit over nuclear shortfall. Academics and industry questioned on UK nuclear power supply. Sizewell C nuclear could become low on the priority list of UK government projects. Minister Vows Response to Fukushima Reputational Damage.

POLITICS INTERNATIONAL and DIPLOMACY. New Study Finds The Rest Of The World Supports China And Russia. West must stop blocking negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. Kremlin reveals possible basis for Putin-Biden talks. Zelenskyy blasts Israel, suggests Russia-Iran nuclear collusion. Russia suspends participation in grain deal after Ukrainian attack.   Australia changes policy tack – moves in the direction of supporting the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

SAFETY. Ukraine’s Biggest Nuclear Plant Needs a Safety Zone. France discovers ominous cracks in dozens of nuclear reactors. Every nuclear power plant is a ‘dirty bomb’ in waiting: watchdog. Cracks found in all four Olkiluoto Nuclear 3 feedwater pumps. Bulgarian nuclear reactor shut down after technical glitch. ‘Swarm’ of drones spotted flying above UK nuclear plan.

SECRETS and LIES. Meet the spooks, mercenaries s and chickenhawk politicos enlisting as “North Atlantic Fellas Organization” (NAFO) trolls.   Criminals in Finland obtain weapons from Ukraine – police. 

SPACE. EXPLORATION, WEAPONS. Rocket Lab: Helping the US wage endless wars from space. Rocket Report: Norway’s nuclear rocket concerns.   Russian delegation at UN calls on USA to join initiative to renounce weapons in space.

SPINBUSTER. War, propaganda, and blindness. George Monbiot leads the “left” into being cheer- leaders for USA’s endless wars.

WASTES and REACTOR SHUTDOWNS. Cocooning the past – Plutonium reactor in Eastern Washington encased in steel to protect the river. Bring voices from the coast into the Fukushima treated water debate.

WAR and CONFLICT. EU ‘dancing on edge of volcano’ with Ukraine – French ex-president. Allegations fly about plans to use “dirty bomb” and nuclear weapons in Ukraine war. ‘No need’ for nuclear strikes on Ukraine, Putin says. Kremlin diplomat assures that Russia has no intention of using nuclear weapons in Ukraine. NATO primes 20 prospective new members for global strike force. NATO could deploy nuclear warheads to Poland: official.    60 years ago today, this man stopped the Cuban missile crisis from going nuclear. Cuban missile crisis, 60 years on: new papers reveal how close the world came to nuclear disaster. 

WEAPONS and WEAPONS SALES. Cities should increase role in effort to abolish nuclear weapons.24 – 30 October UN Disarmament Week – don’t let the world powers normalise “tactical” nuclear weapons – demand abolition of nuclear weapons now! Tactical Nuclear Fantasists. Spokane poised to declare city a nuclear free zone. US, Japan, S Korea vow response if N Korea tests nuclear bomb. USA upgrades its B61-12 nuclear bombs in Europe. Biden to scrap Trump missile project but critics attack US ‘nuclear overkill’/ NATO adds to warplane, missile defense assets in Baltic Sea. A failure to review America’s nuclear posture.

The Pentagon builds a network in Australian Department of Defence amidst media silence.  With nuclear-capable B-52 bombers in Australia, USA could make lethal nuclear attack on mainland China. US Air Force to deploy nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to Australia. US deployment of nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to Australia’s north likely to fuel China tensions. 

November 1, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

TODAY. USA’s ‘Progressive” Democrats reveal themselves to be cowardly wimps

Wha-aa-aat? 30 USA Democrat Members oof Congress wrote an obsequious sycophantic letter to President Biden – congratulating him with fulsome praise on his management of the Ukraine war – and at the end – a timid paragraph – urging “vigorous diplomatic efforts in support of a negotiated settlement and ceasefire, engage in direct talks with Russia “

We – insignificant peasants – thought that, for the slavish mindless party loyalty of American politicians , this letter was a good idea.

But – no. Slavish mindless party loyalty beats good ideas – and within less than 24 hours  Rep. Pramila Jayapal, the chair of the Progressive Caucus, said the caucus was withdrawing the letter.

The problem is – the slavish mindless loyalty is really to the military-industrial-corporate- complex. They are America’s winners in all the wars over recent decades, inn the present Ukraine war, and the coming war against China – and further endless US wars if there’s anything left after that one.

October 26, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

This week’s nuclear news.

Some bits of good news :  Good News On The 2022 Climate Action Front.  
Undersea Cable to Funnel 3 Gigawatts of Solar Energy From Egypt to Power Millions of European Households

CLIMATE. Nuclear is on the front-line of climate change – and not in a good way – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJh_QheDN3E. Nuclear is Not a Climate Solution – Dr. Arjun Makhijani. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM-jMvUuLE4      Noisy support for an obvious failure. 

 Doomsday Greenland glacier on the brink as scientist sounds alarm. Least Developed Countries want ‘concrete action’ from rich nations at COP27 Climate Summit . COP27 climate change summit: World leaders urged to act as report reveals 768 million are underfed.

CIVIL LIBERTIES. Political Solution for Assange: Jennifer Robinson at the National Press Club. Group of 7 condemn Russian kidnapping of Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant leadership. Russian language should become extinct in Ukraine – security chief.

ECONOMICS. The Economics Of European Nuclear Power Don’t Add Up. American companies might make highly enriched uranium fuel for small nuclear reactors, except that there seems to be no market for them. 

 ‘A nuclear waste dump and seaside resort don’t go well together’. What is Regulatory Asset Base and how will it affect future energy charges for Scots? Energy bills in Scotland set to rise to finance England’s nuclear power plants.

EMPLOYMENT. Strikes at French nuclear plants – what’s at stake?

ENERGY. How European countries are cutting power consumption. Renewable energy brings record savings to Europe. America’s new nuclear power industry has a Russian problem. France’s Nuclear Reactors Malfunction as Energy Crisis Bites.

ENVIRONMENT. An Elementary School Near a Nuclear Dump Site Is Teeming With Radioactivity. Marshall Islanders unwilling to sign economic agreement with USA – want redress first of their harmful nuclear legacy. The Nuclear Site That Can’t Be Cleaned Up.

ETHICS and RELIGION. Archbishop renews call for dialogue on ridding world of nuclear weapons.

HEALTH. Inhabitants of French Polynesian atolls call for support and compensation for the health and environmental harm from nuclear testing. NFLA urges UK government to distribute iodine tablets to help prepare for nuclear threat. How Iodine Tablets Block Some Nuclear Radiation. How Iodine Pills Can—and Can’t—Help Against Radiation.

HUMAN RIGHTS. UN Human Rights Council Presses US to Address Nuclear Legacy on the Marshall Islands.

LEGAL. Whistleblower’ says legal battle with nuclear site owners ‘almost broke me’.

MEDIA. The US Government Sees Silicon Valley As Part Of Its Propaganda Machine.

OPPOSITION TO NUCLEAR. Nuclear Free Local Authorities urge the UK’s new Chancellor to scrap plan to invest in the Sizewell nuclear white elephant. Golden Rule sails for peace to Burlington.

POLITICS. Off the hook: UK government absolves nuclear operators from accident liability. Rishi Sunak’s Richmond constituency is one of the potential locations for a small nuclear reactor factory. Germany will still end nuclear power by April 2023. Kishida’s nuclear policy rekindles battle in small Japanese town.

POLITICS INTERNATIONAL and DIPLOMACY. The Ukraine war: the Europeans have been nicely played by the Americans. US billionaire proposes peace plan for Ukraine and Russia. Elon Musk supports Russia keeping Crimea—because he’s worried about nuclear escalation and World War III. The Profoundly Stupid Narrative That Nuclear Brinkmanship Is Safety And De-Escalation Is Danger.  How diplomacy averted nuclear war 60 years ago.

 Russia is funding its war on Ukraine by selling $billions of uranium to Europe’s nuclear industry– no sanctions on that! USA’s planned small nuclear reactors will need special uranium fuel – from Russia! 

Russia says U.S. blocked its participation in nuclear conference. The West Has Failed: North Korea Is a Nuclear State. Biden’s diplomatic nuclear faux pas regarding Pakistan.

PUBLIC OPINION. The Generational Divide Over Nuclear Power.

SAFETY. Moscow says it now runs Europe’s largest nuclear plant, causing chaos and confusion. IAEA chief hopes to return to Ukraine ‘soon‘ over nuclear plant talks, 

 A European scramble for nuclear energy is hampered by risks of terrorist and cyber attacks, as well as the wastes problem. Damage to feedwater pumps delays the operation of Finland’s massive new Olkiluoto nuclear reactor. U.S. Nuclear Reactors Among The Oldest In The World . M5.0 quake shakes Japan’s Fukushima, no damage reported.

SECRETS and LIES.

Scandalous conflicts of interest in Australia’s advice from USA on nuclear submarines.

 Elon Musk – arguably the world’s biggest conman and egoist. How the pro-Ukraine “North Atlantic Fellas Organization” (NAFO) troll operation crowd-funds war criminals.

SPACE: EXPLORATION, WEAPONS. New Zealand MP says Rocket Lab launches could betray country’s anti-nuclear stance.

WAR and CONFLICT. NOWHERE TO HIDE -How a nuclear war would kill you — and almost everyone else. “Present Danger: Nuclear Power Plants in War” Zelensky denies ordering attack on Crimean Bridge. Terror on Crimea Bridge and Russia unleashing shock’n awe. Why the US must press for a ceasefire in Ukraine. 

SCOTT RITTER: Nuclear High Noon in Europe. Rehearsal for ‘Armageddon’ Underway as NATO and Russia Hold Nuclear Exercises. US rehearses dropping nuclear bombs in Europe. NATO Chief  Raises Nuclear War Fever. Would the use of a tactical nuclear weapon in Ukraine lead to all-out nuclear war? US could directly intervene in Ukraine – ex-CIA chief Petraeus.

WEAPONS and WEAPONS SALES. International mayors’ group calls for nuclear abolition at Hiroshima conference

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

TODAY. The tangled web of deception about small nuclear reactors (SMRs).

It’s been a mess from the start . Nobody wants to admit that the only real purpose for small nuclear reactors (SMRs) is to keep the nuclear weapons industry going.

The big propaganda lie is that SMRs will fix climate change. If that worked (a huge “If”) the world would need millions of SMRs dotted about the planet in a very short time.

The pretense is that they’re needed for electricity production – despite the continuing success of relatively quick establishment of much cheaper and cleaner renewable energy.

The absurdity that SMRs will be cheap. That goes along with the reality that very few investors want to fund them So – NuScale had to set up a rather dodgy, complicated investment body

And UK’s Rolls Royce had to set up and even more complicated one

With no chance of getting real private investors, the nuclear lobby relies on billionaires (Bill Gates for USA, the Perrodo family for UK) – but even they want tax-funded development of SMRs.

Oh, by the way – there are safety, terrorism, and weapons proliferation dangers in SMRs. And they produce wastes that are even more toxic than that produced by large reactors.

But the bit they really like to leave out – is that the whole thing absolutely needs high assay low enriched uranium (HALEU) bought from Russia

October 22, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 1 Comment

TODAY. Ya gotta laugh – the global nuclear lobby spin NEVER GIVES UP! -” Re-imagining Nuclear: Inspiring Youth”

In the midst of near nuclear apocalypse, of Zaporizhia crisis, climate extremes hitting nuclear reactors, astronomic nuclear costs – they think up this ridiculous art spin for the young-modern-cool -supposedly-pro-nuclear enthusiasts

In the picture above, you see at top right the latest “nuclear-reimagining” bit of fluffy spin, -in artwork sponsored by so-called “non-profit grassroots” nuclear propaganda group Generation Atomic

Yeah – the nuke lobby has gone all touchy-feely. Amazingly the generally sober IAEA has gone for this spurious rubbish – even touting the likes of “Isodope” – Isabelle Boemeke, and Zion Lights

Art contest prizes are sponsored by the well-known art authorities International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation (IFNEC), Électricité de France (EDF), and NuScale Power

The nuclear lobby’s timing is exquisite. As the IAEA’s safety expert Rafael Grossi is now tearing his hair out over the Zaporizhia crisis, and the world teeters on the brink of nuclear war – they expect the young to fall for this soft, sweet, lying pro nuke spin. I don’t think that today’s young people are that stupid.

October 20, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 3 Comments

Nuclear, and some other, news – week to 11 October.

Some bits of good news –  What went right this week: an iconic river reborn, plus more.   Around 90 per cent of the plastic in our oceans could be gone by 2040-(they claim, anyway).

A tragic and predictable story.  Another Australian, Wilfred Burchett went to Hiroshima in the first days following the atomic bomb. He photographed the victims, the devastation, the horror, done by the USA. and he wrote about it all.
What happened to Burchett’s  record of this –   it disappeared, then came the never-ending persecution of him, and his banishment from his own country.
They’ll do it more subtly to Assange. They’ll aim to break his spirit and his mental health.  
For Australia, America’s lackey – the best face-saving outcome will be – to make Assange plead guilty. Then he spends some time in the cruellest USA prison. then a “kindly” U.S. President  magnaminously lets him go to an.. Australian gaol. Some years later, a completely discredited and broken Julian is released, when they’re sure he’s forgotten by the public.
But world-wide journalists won’t forget- they have been shown how they must toe the USA line.

Coronavirus.COVID-19 world weekly cases drop 7% but European nations rise 2%  .(Governments in Covid denial?)  International task force finds COVID-19 origins ‘most likely zoonotic’ and warns of a failure to reduce animal-to-human transmission.Julian Assange tests positive for COVID-19.

Rotting in jail’: Thousands march for Julian Assange’s release as his brother urges Anthony Albanese to act. Assange protesters rally for his release. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-l5-PXo0qY The CIA, the corporate state, and the persecution of Julian Assange – democracy being destroyed.

Nuclear War and Moral Sanity. Why We Need To Teach Nuclear War. Nothing’s more important than avoiding nuclear war. 2022 Nobel Peace Prize award violates the purpose of the prize .

Media hide the fascist ideology of Ukrainian militia who visit U.S. Congress.

The World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2022 (WNISR2022). Nuclear share in energy generation falls to lowest in four decades-report.

The risk of nuclear disaster grows every day.

Radioactive releases from the nuclear power sector and implications for child health.

Particle radioactivity linked to pollution-associated heart attack and stroke death.

Renewables need minerals. Can their pollution and public health challenges be overcome?

UKRAINE. 

• Ukraine behind Crimean Bridge blast – US media . Crimean Bridge explosion ‘just the beginning,’ Ukraine warns. Lavrov explains why Russia sees Ukraine as a threat – Zelensky asked NATO for a pre-emptive nuclear strike. Zelensky aide attempts to walk back call for ‘preemptive strike’. US comments on Zelensky’s ‘preemptive strike’ appeal. 
•  ‘We’re hunting them down and shooting them like pigs’: How the Ukrainians are taking brutal revenge on pro-Russian collaborators
• Ukraine War Exposes Risks to Deploying Small Nuclear Reactors. Ukraine’s ZNPP Must Be Urgently Protected, IAEA’s Grossi Says After Plant Loses All External Power Due to Shelling. Zaporizhzhia on the brink: How deteriorating conditions at the nuclear power plant could lead to disaster. 
• Black pigmentation in Chernobyl’s Eastern Tree Frogs. Crops growing 30 miles outside of Chernobyl are still contaminated with dangerous levels of strontium .

POLAND. Poland suggests hosting US nuclear weapons- ‘nuclear sharing’.

RUSSIA. Are Putin’s nuclear threats really likely to lead to Armageddon?

UK   

• 7,000 form human chain in London to protest treatment of Assange.
• The great ratepayer robbery: how UK new nuclear rips off its customers.  Liz Truss and Emmanuel Macron get together on promoting nuclear power, especially Sizewell C. Will Sizewell C nuclear really go ahead? EDF’s €60bn debt, and €52bn costs for French nuclear build. 
• Liz Truss blocks a plan for UK citizens to reduce their energy use. Truss sees energy conservation measures as making Britain a ‘nanny state’.
•  Scotland government will double down on opposition to new nuclear power stations north of the border. Truss call for Scottish nuclear power is to make up for UK mistakes. 
• Nuclear fusion – public money wasted on this unproven technology. Britain’s new Energy Secretary suffering from the ‘nuclear fusion delusion’. 
• Nuclear test veterans: Stik sculpture unveiled at Kent army museum. 
• First containers sealed into Dounreay low level waste vaults. UK’s Nuclear Free Local Authorities urge the South Copeland Geological Disposal Facility to make meetings more “accessible and transparent”.

FRANCE . France’s nuclear energy strategy — once its pride and joy — faces big problems this winter. France and UK to take joint control of Sizewell C nuclear plant. Macron’s nuclear dream means attacking environmental law, and is no help to the climate. As France’s nuclear power production is failing, the government aims to cut the nation’s electricity consumption.

EUROPE. No nuclear power ‘renaissance’ as Europe wrestles energy crisis. Russia’s €200m nuclear exports untouched by EU sanctions. 25 years ago Australia’s Paul Keating warned against expanding NATO.

AUSTRIA. Austria has filed a legal case against European Union’s inclusion of nuclear and gas as “clean” in the EU “taxonomy.

GERMANY. Lasting peace in Europe only possible with Russia’s input – Angela Merkel. State ministry reports leak at German nuclear plant, experts investigating.

USA. 

• Chris Hedges: the corporate state, the CIA, and the lynching of Julian Assange.
• Jeffrey Sachs: end Ukraine proxy war or face “armageddon” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g57ViSqmRFM . Biden must deal on Ukraine . Joe Biden warned of nuclear ‘Armageddon’ amid Russia’s threats. The White House isn’t so sure.  US purchases $290 million of drug for use in radiological and nuclear emergencies .  
• ‘Now, All of You Are Azov’: ‘openly neo-Nazi’ Ukrainian delegation meets Congress, tours US.
• NextEra Energy finds that small nuclear reactors (SMRs) really are the biggest boondoggle of all. 
• Lessons from Hiroshima and nuclear power. 
• Does Russia sell nearly $1 billion in uranium to the U.S. a year?- (If you can follow all this – well good luck to you!)
• Kerr McGee: Is the thorium danger over?

MARSHALL ISLANDS. Marshall Islands to receive U.N. support over nuclear legacy. ‘We want to thank them’: Local Marshallese community welcomes anti-nuclear testing ship.

SPAIN. The government’s price isn’t right for plutonium-contaminated land in Palomares (Almeria)

BELGIUM. Two Belgian nuclear reactors fail in a week.

MYANMAR. Myanmar Junta’s Nuclear Ambition Timeline.

AUSTRALIA. The Australian Radioactive Waste Agency (ARWA) shows that the planned Kimba dump is predominantly for ANSTO’s wastes, NOT for medical wastes. Coalition nuclear power bill “dead on arrival,” but somehow the debate lives on. What do you think the arms trade is, a charity? Actually yes, that’s what it is.

October 10, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Fluoride in drinking water has no effect on child brain development

Am I pleased to find this article. I have spent much time over the years in studying this fluoride question.

All that I’ve found is that fluoridation of water, (where it is deficient) is almost certainly the best public health measure ever.

I can’t understand the fuss made by people who accept iodised salt etc, where it’s needed, but go into panic about fluoride.

Being anti-nuclear does not automatically mean being anti-fluoride, anti-vaccination etc.

Fluoride in drinking water has no effect on child brain development

The UQ research found no difference in brain development between children who drank fluoridated water and those who didn’t.

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