nuclear-news

The week that has been , in nuclear news

Some bits of good news –    Removal of over 200 dams in Europe has restored free flowing streams and migratory fish.   Norway turns its back on gas and oil to become a renewable superpower.

Curiouser and curiouser. In Australia, and presumably in other ”developed” countries, the focus on squabbling political personalities, and on sporting celebrities, pretty much dominates the news, except for the continued coverage of Ukraine, seen through an American filter.   Meanwhile, strangely lost in the background is the pandemic story, with new case numbers rocketing world-wide. Then there’s global heating – noted effects in California and Northern Australia –  but what about India, Pakistan, Kenya, Bangladesh?

It is strange, and worrying, that the pandemic, climate change, and the heightened nuclear dangers have  somehow slipped below the radar of public consciousness – but those threats are still there, even if it’s not nice to talk about them.

The Danger of Ignoring Julian Assange https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6bVl47kdNk

Ending the War of Attrition in Ukraine.    Forgetting the apocalypse: why our nuclear fears faded – and why that’s dangerous.

Strategic partnership: U.S. pushes ASEAN to join crusade against Russia, China, Myanmar.   

The Insanity Of Expanding Nuclear Energy.       Poisoned legacy: why the future of power can’t be nuclear.

John Kerry warns a long Ukraine war would threaten climate efforts

Underwater drones could be the end of nuclear submarines. Underwater drones herald sea change in Pacific warfare.

UKRAINE. The horrible dangers of pushing a US proxy war in Ukraine – Atomic energy chief: Ukraine’s nuclear safety situation ‘far from being resolved‘. UN: There is ‘credible’ information Ukrainian forces are torturing Russian POWs  .

EUROPE. GT: NATO’s northward expansion risks turning Europe into powder keg — Anti-bellum

NATO activating Black Sea battle groups — Anti-bellum

USA, 

• Tulsi Gabbard Says Biden Is Risking Nuclear War With Russia Over Ukraine.   Pentagon-Funded Think Tank Simulates War With China On NBC.     The Export and Proliferation of Nuclear Technology . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4nqUg3TOo0       $6 Billion to Keep Uncompetitive Nuclear Plants Alive.
•  Anti- Russian hysteria.       Alaska: U.S. revamps army for Arctic war with Russia, China.      U.S. leads NATO war games in the Balkans .
• US military wants nuclear rocket ideas for missions near the moon. . 
• Devious nuclear zealots at it again in Ohio – new Bill to lead to subsidising ”next-generation nuclear reactors’‘. 
•  COST OVERRUNS AT GEORGIA NUCLEAR REACTORS OFFER CAUTIONARY TALE  Westinghouse Electric’s parent company wants to put the nuclear company on the market.  Talen Energy subsidiary files for bankruptcy, company still plans nuclear data center,  Company says.
•  Company Agrees to Further Tests of Nuke Plant’s Wastewater. 
•  US House passes extension of Radiation Exposure Compensation Act.  
•   Meet the nuclear booster who could unseat an energy appropriator. 
• Timely release of Netflix documentary on Three Mile Island nuclear accident.

UK.

•   Drones seized at UK nuclear bases after a ‘swarm’ and reports of ‘red lights’. 
•  The future of nuclear waste: what’s the plan and can it be safe? 
•   Kwasi Kwarteng: Nuclear push may increase energy bills, minister admits.   Regulated Asset Base system will transfer nuclear’s financial risks to the UK public, rather than the nuclear companies.   Uncertain funding for Britain’s plans for new nuclear reactors.    Boris Johnson’s UK ”nuclear renaissance” – now desperate for funding, pleads to USA.    Cost of living: Ministers consider delaying nuclear power decommissioning to help ease crisis.
•   Energy saving and renewables to create many more jobs than nuclear could.
• ‘Criminalising our right to protest’: UK green groups’ anger over public order bill

FINLAND. Why Finland will seek NATO membership and why I still think we shouldn’t — IPPNW peace and health blog

RUSSIA. Putin could use nuclear weapon if he felt war being lost – US intelligence chief.

FRANCE. French nuclear output down 20.2% in April.

ISRAEL. Yes, Israel Has Submarines Armed With Nuclear Weapons (We Think).   

AUSTRALIA. Radioactive: Inside the top-secret AUKUS nuclear submarines deal. AUKUS nuclear submarine fallout: double-dealing and deception came at a diplomatic cost.nnnAustralian readers condemn the Morrison government’s AUKUS deal

May 16, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Nuclear news this week

Some  bits of good news. New plan to accelerate clean energy access for millions globallyBrush-tailed bettongs doing well after reintroduction to SA mainland.

A busy week –    here are the headlines

BUT- let’s not forget the appalling toll that climate change heat is bringing to Pakistan and India

Reducing Tensions, Building Trust, De-escalating.                Is Russia increasingly likely to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine?      Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand may attend NATO summit. Expansion into Asia-Pacific: NATO military bloc is poison, not antidote.       Ukraine reveals split in ASEAN .       Nuclear War Threat Drives Greater Divide Between U.S., China.

Propaganda During Times of War.

Russian Uranium NOT Sanctioned – Why?

Climate change could introduce humans to thousands of new viruses

Pope Francis reiterates complete opposition to the possession and use of nuclear weapons. Pope says NATO may have led to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

A new propaganda film to jolly up the pro nuclear enthusiasts. Nuclear power is a HUGE water guzzler – so why are we guzzling the lie that nuclear is good for climate?

Diseconomics and other factors mean that small nuclear reactors are duds ( part of larger article)

They suck your electricity while you sleep. What you need to know about vampire appliances

Climate sceptic thinktank received funding from fossil fuel interests

UKRAINE. Ukraine seeks Russia’s total defeat – top officials.           UN nuclear watchdog says situation at Russian-occupied Ukrainian nuclear plant is ‘unsustainable’.     Ukraine’s nuclear power plants caught in the Crossfire of War With Russia.    Ask me about … the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster and its lingering effects.    Chernobyl radiation is not stable after Russian invasion. UK PM scuttled Kiev-Moscow peace talks – Ukrainian media.

JAPAN. Asahi Shimbun – Japan’s nuclear industry needs to be more aware, more careful about terrorism risks. Private equity firms eyeing Toshiba buyout face nuclear dilemma.        [Book review] Documenting the tragic aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear disaster,

EUROPE. Energy saving actions by EU citizens could save enough oil to fill 120
super tankers and enough natural gas to heat 20 million homes. Czech state looking for place to store nuclear waste as EU deadline shortens.

FRANCE. The poisoned environmental legacy of France’s ”Nuclear Park”.

USA.

• U.S. Intelligence played a part in the sinking of Russia’s Flagship vessel. Antiwar Groups Protest Defense Industry Profiteering in Ukraine.   Pentagon deploys airborne, special operations troops for exercises “from Arctic to Balkans”.
• No ”military justification” for the nuclear bombing of Nagasaki. A negotiated ending is better than ”fight to the death”.
• US nuclear power: Status, prospects, and climate implications.  
•  Senate Approves Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Extension. Meltdown: 
• Three Mile Island – powerful new Netflix documentary series. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAOIH8HRdDo Meltdown at Three Mile Island- USA’s closest nuclear close shave. 
•  NASA Is Sending Artificial Female Bodies to the Moon to Study Radiation Risks. 
•   US now preparing for a world with and without Iran nuclear deal.    
• Ohio Democratic Party sues Governor over cover-up of records of the nuclear bailout scandal. $61 Million in refunds for customers in South Carolina’s V.C. Summer Nuclear Station debacle.
• California Governor ”open” to keeping Diablo Canyon Nuclear Station going, but that might not be feasible .
• Vitrification of Hanford’s nuclear waste is plagued with problems, would emit toxic vapours.
• In 2021 USA’s renewable power generation exceeded it nuclear generation.
• USA’s nuclear lobby continues to infiltrate education.

FINLAND. Russia’s Rosatom unit seeks compensation, as Finland tears up nuclear power plant contract.Finnish consortium abandons Fennovoima nuclear power project.

UK. What is REALLY driving Britain’s seemingly illogical push for small nuclear reactors and nuclear megaprojects? UK government’s reckless spending on nuclear submarines is really getting out of control.   In the UK ”a disarmament week of actions against nuclear threats- ‘Faslane Action for Bomb Ban ‘ starting June 6

  Boris Johnson’s Bold Nuclear Bet Has Echoes of Thatcher Failure. UK Greens the party on the rise – a ‘tectonic shift’ among voters. UK Nuclear Waste Services to airgun blast the Irish Sea – the public not consulted.

CANADA. Why shoreline nuclear power plants pose problem for Great Lakes. Green Party speaks out persuasively against small nuclear reactors.

SOUTH AFRICA. Five years after the illegal nuclear deal was nuked, we are still struggling with a broken energy system.

NORTH KOREA. North Korea fires ballistic missile amid growing nuclear threat.

GUAM. War and some unusual developments regarding nuclear-related topics – Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.

AUSTRALIA.

Dissecting Vice Admiral Jonathon Mead’s Nuclear submarine zealotry. This black smoke rolling through the mulga’: almost 70 years on, it’s time to remember the atomic tests at Emu Field .

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

TODAY. Even more dangerous GROUPTHINK – swallowing the idea that a nuclear war could be won

Of course, it must be disappointing to the developers and then the buyers of magnificent new toys, to know that those toys cannot actually be really played with. I mean, they did have a couple of little real games in 1945, and that was fun.

Since then, they’ ve had some sort of second-rate games – testing the toys on indigenous lands, and in the oceans, I mean, tough luck that this destroyed environments, brought cancer and death and dislocation to indigenous communities. And heck, even some white communities were damaged! Also, just building the toys caused thousands of workers to be made ill, and many to die.

But we knew that it was all in a good cause – didn’t we?

And now, many voices, especially some powerful and oh-so-knowledgeable voices, are calling for getting serious with these toys – time to nuke the Russians to bring peace and democracy to them? And, time for the Russians to nuke us in the interests of getting in first?

But the trouble is, some thoughtful people think that it might not work out so well. Apparently, even a very clever computer worked it out that no-one could win in a nuclear war. Indeed, the computer thought that the only way to win – is not to play.

To write seriously – it would be an awful pity if we let those oh-so-knowledgeable voices pass their thinking on to us all, or to enough people – so that using nuclear weapons whether bombs or ”tactical” is accepted as an OK thing to do.

May 7, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 3 Comments

Global mindless groupthink as UK and others swallow the illogical case for nuclear projects, whose sole real purpose is to sustain nuclear submarines, nuclear weapons.

After years’ long research, Phil Johnstone and Andy Stirling have produced a report    https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/24724718.2021.2012351 – it’s a seminal study of how tax-payers’ money goes secretly from ”beneficial” megaprojects to the nuclear weapons industry. In the UK, this means specifically- to nuclear submarines.

The money to the nuclear submarines cannot be measured, cannot be counted – it is so hidden in the world of energy projects, civil nuclear energy. But this explains why the governments persist doggedly with nuclear power projects that are clearly uneconomic, (and no use in combatting climate change – too late, even if they did work)

The sad and shocking thing about this – is the sort of groupthink that has pretty well everyone on the bandwagon – politicians, media, academia, business, education – and not just those who have been bribed by the nuclear industry. It’s a sort of groupthink treadmill, and they can’t seem to get off it, lest they look unpatriotic, or worse, – silly.

May 5, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 1 Comment

Today. The United Kingdom has a problem – a dangerous, nuclear propagandist clown for a Prime Minister

Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the UK will build one new nuclear plant a year, MON, MAY 2 202

”Instead of a new one every decade, we’re going to build one every year, powering homes with clean, safe and reliable energy,” the British prime minister said of nuclear power stations.”

It’s not the first time the prime minister has touted the advantages of nuclear power. In April, he said “nuclear is a reliable, safe and constant source of clean energy.”
(April tweet) Nuclear is a reliable, safe and constant source of clean energy. It’s absolutely crucial to weaning us off fossil fuels, including Russian oil and gas……… https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/02/boris-johnson-uk-will-build-one-new-nuclear-plant-a-year.html

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

This week in nuclear news

A bit of good news – We can restore the climate  – getting past climate despair. Tasmania has become one of the first parts of the world to become not just carbon neutral but carbon negative .

Coronavirus. Global, new cases and deaths are declining, but still increasing in some countries.

IRussia and the West are closer to nuclear war than they were during the Cuban Missile Crisis, warns Nikita Khrushchev’s daughter – 60 years after her father backed down from Armageddon.

NATO allies marching in lockstep: U.S., Canadian defense chiefs meet twice in a week.

NATO’s national armaments directors discuss Ukraine bonanza

The 1983 Military Drill That Nearly Sparked Nuclear War With the Soviets. U.S. sees no threat of Russia using nuclear weapons despite rhetoric- official. Huge solar storm once almost triggered nuclear war between USA and Russia.

Climate change ‘already’ raising risk of virus spread between mammals.

Climate change is increasing the likelihood of another pandemic, researchers warn.

Plastic pollution accelerating the consequences of climate change in Canada’s Arctic, according to new research

Solar beats nuclear at many potential settlement sites on Mars. Photovoltaics vs. nuclear power on Mars.

Renewables to be “the new baseload” by 2030, says McKinsey 2022 Global Energy Perspective.

Net zero by 2050 will hit a major timing problem technology can’t solve. We need to talk about cutting consumption

UKRAINE. International Atomic Energy Agency very concerned at dangers at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear complex. Despite deteriorating situation, Ukrainian parliament still insisting on NATO accession. IAEA probing Ukraine report that a missile flew over a nuclear power plant. The USA has not been able to confirm the allegations that Russia used chemical weapons in Ukraine.

JAPAN. Japan prepares to dump water ignoring nuclear safety fears. Japan’s Toxic Dumping Faces Growing Protests.

CANADA. Concerns about commercial wastes destined for disposal in the Chalk River Mound.

Open Letter ~ Cleanup of Chalk River radioactive wastes — Concerned Citizens of Renfrew County and Area.

USA. 

•  This Is How the United States Could Help Bring Peace to Ukraine.         USA and NATO pursuing a ”winnable war’‘ to the ultimate end – World War 3.       ‘A downpayment on WWIII’: Peace advocates blast Biden’s ask for more Ukraine aid.
•   Effort to stop banks financing nuclear weapons industry.
•   Poor outlook for Joe Biden’s $6 billion effort to keep old nuclear reactors going. 
• Safety concerns about NuScam’s much touted ”small nuclear reactor”
•   Where will Connecticut’s nuclear waste go? 
•  Girl’s Cancer Leads Mom to ‘Overwhelming’ Discovery of More Than 50 Sick Kids Near Closed Nuclear Lab.

INDIA. Severe Indian heatwave will bake a billion people and damage crops. Delhi sweltering under extreme heat, electricity shortage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDfZcXVGxSs Pakistan, India reel under intense heat wave.

UK. Britain’s very wrong turn in energy policy.

RUSSIA. ‘Balancing on the brink’: Senior Russian diplomat warns Western powers of nuclear threat. Russia’s Antiquated Nuclear Warning System Jeopardizes Us All. Russia Just Tested the World’s Largest Nuclear-Tipped Missile.

GERMANY. Germany backs a plan to put sanctions on the supply from Russia, of uranium, the fuel for Europe’s so called ”independent self-sufficient, sovereign” nuclear energy.

SWITZERLAND.  NATO pulls Switzerland deeper into its meshes — Anti-bellum

FRANCE. Is France really the poster boy for nuclear power? Nearly half of its reactors are shut down for maintenance and safety reasons . The stress corrosion problem could be affecting all of France’s nuclear reactors.

N. KOREA. Kim warns North Korea would ‘pre-emptively’ use nuclear weapons.

IRAN. Europe to Make Fresh Push to Revive Iran Nuclear Deal.   

AUSTRALIA. Change of government would present ‘great opportunity’ in fight to free Julian Assange.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8zYQp3rrG8

May 2, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

TODAY: With the macho hawks in charge of Ukraine strategy there may be no hope for our species, unless women take over

I’m sure they’ll be mansplaining it to us until the bitter end.

The pretense continues, that the war in Ukraine is between Russia and Ukraine. Putin and Russia’s macho hawks will rave on about ”special military expedition” or whatever they like to call it.

USA’s and NATO’s macho men will rave on about ”saving democracy” and ”Ukraine’s proud national identity” – but it is becoming crystal clear that they want to drag this slaughter on as long as possible, with an orgy of weapons that will leave Ukraine utterly wrecked, and hoodwinked with the pretense that Ukraine can win.

Not a peep out of the macho men of the West about diplomacy, a negotiation that could end this horror. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin now makes it quite clear that this IS a war between USA and Russia.

Have you ever wondered why these men do themselves up with medals and braid? That’s part of the effort to convince us that they really know what they’re doing.

April 30, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 1 Comment

”’Blind Freddy” could see that the Ukraine war proves the perilous danger of nuclear reactors.

I often wish I knew who ”Blind Freddy” is. He sure is someone that we need in power, in these near suicidal days of war and of countries arking up their militarism.

As the danger of nuclear reactors becomes so patently obvious right now, there’s a frenzy of promotion of nuclear reactors by governments in China, USA, Europe, (notably France), and indeed, across the world

The Ukraine situation, with war surrounding Europe’s largest complex of nuclear reactors – at Zaporizhzhia, surely illustrates how very unwise it is, to have nuclear reactors at all. While everyone, especially Rafael Grossi, head of the IAEA, is scared of a catastrophic accident there, it wouldn’t be the same if it the energy facility were a solar centre, or wind farm. No other method of energy production carries this immense risk of a devastating release of ionising radiation.

The Chernobyl situation is an equally telling one. The disastrous accident happened 36 years ago, yet the site is still terribly dangerous, and made more so by climate change, bringing wildfires close to the crippled reactor. All this, with fighting, shelling, missiles going on. (A somewhat less dangerous situation is in the USA, where the site of the 1971 Santa Susana radiological disaster is threatened by wildfires)

April 27, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Chernobyl anniversary week – nuclear news

What a week!   All about the war crimes –  though it is not certain that all these crimes are committed by just one side in this truly awful Ukraine war.   Meanwhile Julian Assange is blamed, persecuted, and kept in apparently endless imprisonment for exposing war crimes. 

Coronavirus .  Latest on worldwide coronavirus spread, and medical developments. 

Climate.  The climate has become unstable. Scientists warned us for decades. Now even they are rebelling.  Why climate change matters for human health.

The US Cries About War Crimes While Imprisoning A Journalist For Exposing Its War Crimes.

 Who Profits From Narrative Management & Eliminating Dissent?         Big Tech monopolies — Facebook, Google, and Amazon control media in the interests of American militarism. Ukraine: The End Game – A Proxy War and Armageddon – Who are the Flag Waivers supporting? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niyd1bIRnTM&t=20sn America’s aim is not for Ukraine to win, It is to prolong the war and weaken Russia.   Western think tanks push permanent NATO presence on Russian border, Asia-Pacific analog — Anti-bellum     U.S., allies pour arms into Ukraine for war of prolonged attrition .  Nuclear weapons manufacturers see stock prices rise.

How do we assess the dangers of nuclear power plants in wartime? International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day.

The big mistake of sudden renewed optimism about nuclear power.    First-ever talks: Pentagon completing integration of EU into transatlantic military network ,

An increased 2 degree Celsius world will not be liveable for vast swathes of humanity – but that’s the latest semi-optimistic research result.

Why are nature-based solutions on climate being overlooked?

UKRAINE. Ukraine can fight Russia ‘for 10 years’ claims Zelensky.     Ukraine threatens ‘terrorist’ attack on Crimean Bridge – the longest bridge in Europe.       Mariupol – city under siege – the OTHER SIDE OF THIS STORY    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2uK2wNxAbM&t=13s        Playing with fire at Chornobyl.

JAPAN. Scientists: Japan’s Plan To Dump Nuclear Waste Into The Pacific Ocean May Not Be Safe.  Examination of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant for discharge of treated water to be finished; Regulatory Commission to solicit public opinion in May.  Fear of broken contaminated pipes being fixed with wire ropes, which may break and sag due to earthquakes, TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.   Yoshinobu Segawa of Koriyama City, who voluntarily evacuated his wife and children to Saitama City, says the accident “has not been resolved. 

 Magnitude 5.3 earthquake shakes Fukushima and Ibaraki. 

 Hibakusha renews call for nuclear abolition.   No more nuclear power plants, no more war! 〜4.16 “Sayonara Nuke Plant Metropolitan Area Rally” was held.

EUROPE. Editorial: Will Europe be bled by ten-year war? — Anti-bellum. Overwhelming majority of Members of European Parliament oppose inclusion of nuclear power in Europe’s taxonomy as ”green”.

SWITZERLAND. Swiss population keen for nuclear bunkers, -but it’s doubtful that they’d be any use anyway.

RUSSIA. Russia warns of nuclear weapons in Baltic if Sweden and Finland join NATO.     Russia tests nuclear-capable missile that Vladimir Putin says will make enemies ‘think twice’.        Russia makes another offer to besieged Ukrainian forces.    Over a third of the world’s uranium is supplied by Russian-owned sources.

UK. 

•  Report that Chinese drones are spying on UK nuclear sites, including submarines. 
•  The life and slow death of nuclear power plants. Bechtel and Westinghouse will be big on talk but short on delivery for UK’s nuclear projects – Nuclear Free Local Authorities . Grannies For The Future glue themselves to table in protest during nuclear power debate.  
•  ‘‘Decommissioming” of UK’s dead nuclear reactors is likely to cost the tax-payer much more than planned for.         Constant cheap renewable power to Britain – the Sahara wind and solar cables. Energy Department’s own survey shows 8 in 10 Britons support onshore wind – and the Nuclear Free Local Authorities says the Government should back it. 
• UK’s Nuclear Free Local Authorities join in Wales’ call to Japan not to dump radioactive wastewater at sea.  

KENYA. Treasury allocates Sh2bn for nuclear and coal units, but nuclear is unlikely to happen for decades.

FRANCE. Emmanuel Macron won French election on a wide margin, running on a pro nuclear policy. French election: Macron and Le Pen’s nuclear plans torn apart: ‘Waste of time AND money’. France’s nuclear energy output falling, as signs of corrosion halt several nuclear reactors.   Investigations continue into possible stress corrosion in several of EDF’s nuclear reactors in France.

GERMANY. Olaf Scholz cites risk of nuclear war in refusal to send tanks to Ukraine

IRAN. Iran nuclear negotiations at stalemate over IRGC terror listing.

SOUTH   AFRICA. South Africa. Fired National Nuclear Regulator board member takes Minister Gwede Mantashe to court.

ISRAEL. Israel ranked as world’s eighth largest nuclear power.

SOUTH KOREA. Greenpeace chief urges Yoon to reevaluate nuclear-focused decarbonization plan.

HUNGARY. Hungary receives nuclear fuel shipment by air from Russia.

SOUTH AFRICA. Floods in South Africa – a ”climate catastrophe of enormous proportions”.

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

Today: Are we in West being manipulated on a grand scale with deceptive propaganda about the war in Ukraine?

Today I’m posting two videos from Regis Tremblay. I’m sure that Western viewers will hate these, and call the ”Russian propaganda”. And I wish that I could believe that, too,

But I do have an awful fear. Swamped as I am by the tsunami of TV, radio, news, barrage of hyper-emotional depiction of the Ukrainian war, – I cannot help my fearful thought that Regis Tremblay’s speakers are telling the truth.

It’s a painful thought – but I think that the anglophone world, and NATO – the European countries are pulling a giant confidence trick on us all, as we all are led into this frenzy of endless weapons-buying to further the destruction of Ukraine. We are standing by, cheering, as Zelensky and the Ukrainian people are used as pawns, sacrificed, in the cause of the USA discrediting and disrupting Russia

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

Today: My Trumpian dilemma.

Look – I don’t like Donald Trump. He’s an awful misogynistic, bullying, lying person. I could never vote for him. His supporters have been awful, too.

My dilemma is that the Biden administration is firmly in the grip of the military-industrial-media-corporate -complex. They want to keep this war going “to the last Ukrainian” as Charles Freeman put it.

They want to keep selling weapons to Ukraine, Europe, Australia – everybody – and surround Russia, China, – anyone, with bristling U.S. weaponry.

We all know what the Biden administration is up to. The advantage of maverick Trump is that we don’t know what that impetuous uninformed person might do. He might be a safer bet?

It is a real worry that the criticism, scepticism, opposition to USA-NATO’s war in Ukraine seems to be coming mainly from the Trumpian right-wing.

In the media mess, real seekers after truth are few and far between, and rarely heard.

April 19, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 1 Comment

Another anxious week in nuclear news

Some bits of good news – What went right this week: hope for the climate, plus more positive news.     Nature has priority’: Rewilding map showcases nature-led restoration .  Once Rocked by Nuclear Disaster, Fukushima Is Now a Renewables Hub.   Solar Panels That Make Electricity at Night are Finally Here – And They’re Cheap and Don’t Need Batteries. 

CORONAVIRUS.  Global COVID-19 cases pass grave milestone as highly contagious BA.2 subvariant surges around the world.

CLIMATE.  Pole to Pole with Paul Beckwith – I highly recommend this Radio Ecoshock  interview with this top climate communicator 

NUCLEAR. What can I say ?   Are we on the brink of nuclear war? Can we have any confidence in our leaders to make sensible decisions?    It is exhausting to rummage through the media spin in the search for accurate information.

Caitlin Johnstone sheds a critical gaze on media reporting on Ukraine, and asks why Julian Assange is criminalised for revealing military atrocities.        Glenn Greenwald: The Censorship Campaign Against Western Criticism of NATO’s Ukraine Policy Is Extreme.      How Much Are We Prepared To Sacrifice To Help The US Win A Propaganda War Against Putin?

NATO gloats over second, bloodier phase of Ukraine war

NATO’s military buildup on eastern flank to lengthen, broaden war — Anti-bellum

The US-Australia-UK pact seems determined to pursue great power competition at the risk of real conflict.

UKRAINE. Russian soldiers received ‘shocking amount’ of nuclear exposure at Chernobyl site – some may have less than a year to live. Carelessness of Russian soldiers around Chernobyl – shows danger of nuclear sites in wartime. Kyiv Independent news is anything but independent. It’s a mouthpiece for NATO-USA-Azov-nazi propaganda and unverified atrocity stories. Ukrainian blogger gets 15 years gaol for saying that Zelensky govt takes orders from other governments. Zelensky gives his vision of peace deal with Russia.

Zelensky adviser: Ukraine war can last till 2035, best option is for Russia to be broken

 NATO’s shift to Asia-Pacific: Biden trip to Japan designed to rally Asia against Russia, China

USA. 

•  Nonstop Corporate News on Ukraine Is Fueling Support for Unchecked US Militarism. Rep. Ilhan Omar: Accountability for Russia Means Abandoning US ‘Hypocrisy‘. Biden’s genocide comment raised concern . After Undermining International Criminal Court, US Now Wants It to Charge Russians,   Dissent is dying in America – the backlash is vitriolic.  Resilience: NATO offers grants to spy on, stifle dissent.     
• Extremely rare brain cancer appearing in people who attended a New Jersey school, close to former nuclear weapons fuel plant. 
•   NuScale: Not new, not needed — Beyond Nuclear International .     Oregon regulators have doubts about Natrium nuclear schedule for Kemmerer.
•  The average American tax-payer gave $900 to military contractors last year.
• Hanford report reveals problem with nuclear waste solution.    San Onofre’s not the only nuclear worry – there are “nuclear materials events” — lost or stolen radioactive material, radiation overexposures, leaks, and more.   What should America do with its nuclear waste?        Scientist fired after raising questions about safety at nuclear waste plant.
•   U.S. Jews Favor Return to Iran Deal. 

CANADA. A call for World-class Cleanup at Chalk River Laboratories. Canada’s Federal Budget Funding for New Nuclear Reactors a ‘Climate Throwaway’ .

MIDDLE EAST. For the Middle East, the introduction of nuclear reactors poses dangers at every turn. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybdwXo14sQI

JAPAN.  Japan severely breaches obligations under international law by persisting in discharge of nuclear-contaminated water into ocean .      Japanese groups voice growing opposition, organize rallies over govt’s nuclear-contaminated water dumping plan decided one year before.    Japan’s planned release of radioactive wastewater draws concern- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2RB7yw9ceE   Protests in various locations demanding withdrawal of ocean discharge of treated water from TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.    Fukushima Thyroid Examination October 2021: 221 Surgically Confirmed as Thyroid Cancer Among 266 Cytology Suspected Cases

UK.

• UK to get ‘‘special weapons”storage sites for USA nuclear weapons, – making a pre-emptive strike easier.
• Nuclear power stations UK: the new and existing sites at threat of flooding from 2030 amid rising sea levels.  
• Dr Richard Dixon: Scottish and UK governments are on a collision course over nuclear energy and oil.
• Touring exhibition celebrates 40 years on Wales county councils Nuclear Free Zones . Sizewell nuclear project: planning process drags on: thousands of objectors, yet tax-payer funding already promised!
• Planning advises rejected Wylfa as unsuitable for nuclear development. No wonder Boris Johnson wants to ”cut red tape”.
• UK’s energy strategy ”cowardly and incoherent” – solar and onshore wind are the practical options.  Nuclear energy a useless distraction for UK – Green Party MP Caroline Lucas. Johnson’s ‘nuclear fantasy’ will not reduce rising fuel bills or rising temperatures- UK’s Nuclear Free Local Authorities.
• No community in the UK has agreed to host a nuclear waste facility.
• Nuclear Free Local Authorities deplore UK govt’s super-costly new nuclear energy strategy, and its rejection of energy conservation measures. Reclaim the Word “Clean” from the Nuclear Industry. Anti- Bradwell B campaigners slam Government’s boost for nuclear – ”never likely to see the light of day!”
• Rolls Royce shares dive as JP Morgan warns that small nuclear reactors will not be profitable.
• No country in the world has worked out what to do with its old dead, radioactive, nuclear submarines. No room at the dump: Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) fears Johnson’s nuclear ambitions will lead to need for second unwanted underground facility.

EUROPE. Able Archer: The NATO exercise that almost went nuclear. Nuclear and gas in EU taxonomy slammed as ‘greenwashing’. NATO’s incorporation of Finland, Sweden could pose nuclear threat to Europe — Anti-bellum. Europe aiming to stop importing gas, oil, coal from Russia, – but uranium for the nuclear industry – well, that’s OK.

RUSSIA. Fears sunken Russian warship Moskva was carrying nuclear weapons. Russia’s ‘broken arrow’: Fears that NUCLEAR MISSILES sank with Putin’s flagship Moskva.

NORTH KOREA. North Korea tests new weapon bolstering nuclear capability

FINLAND. Finland to buy as many as 2,000 drones, boost military ahead of joining NATO. Not all trade with Russia is stopped – Finland’s still getting nuclear power project built by Russia.

FRANCE. France working out how to save debt-laden nuclear company EDF. French presidential election – Macron and LePen have differing pro-nuclear policies – but in both cases, very costly.

CHINA. China’s view –  After disrupting Europe, NATO aims to destabilize Asia, whole world: Chinese Foreign Ministry Chinese, Vietnamese FMs vow not to allow Ukraine-type tragedy in region

DENMARK. Denmark prepares nuclear emergency plan.

SOUTH AFRICA.. South African Anti-nuclear activist taking Energy Minister to court for firing him.

SPAIN. Spain outraged as massive US nuclear-powered submarine arrives in Gibraltar.

AUSTRALIA.  Pine Gap’s role in China–US arms race makes Australia a target.     Nuclear risks, the war in Ukraine, and Australia’s significant contribution to these dangers. 

April 18, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Today: the nuclear lobby’s most charming new lie – ”energy independence”

I’ve often pointed out the prevailing lies about nuclear power. The big one is, of course:

No 1 ”Nuclear power has nothing to do with nuclear weapons”‘

Then – in order of current popularity:

• nuclear power is essential to stop climate change
• is clean, green
• cheap
• renewablw
• safe
• necessary for medicine
• its toxic waste problem is solved
• provides 1000s of clean gooid jobs
• necessary for space research

There are probably more lies, but right now, I am fascinated with this fashionable new lie – that nuclear power is necessary for energy independence, national sovereignty – blah blah.

What an obvious outright lie! Perhaps the world will actually notice this one!

Sunshine, wind, tides – these forms of energy are truly national – going straight to the local technology. Nuclear is certainly not – starting from the need to import uranium, – going eventually to the likely need to dump te toxic waste onsome other poor sucker nation.

April 18, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Global heating – the cure for the nuclear industry disease?

It’s very odd that the nuclear industry is pitching itself as the cure for climate change, when in fact, it’s the other way around.

I hardly know where to start!

But let’s begin with sea level rise. Current research forecasts dire consequences for Britain’s nuclear reactors, within a few years, as global heating brings up sea levels. That’s sea surges, very big waves, estuary flooding….

Then , paradoxically, there’s water shortages, as nuclear facilkities need heaps of cooling water – and that goes not just for reactors, but for dealing with uranium tailings, stopping tgem blowing away. Uranium mining takes heaps of water

There’s the dangers of wildfires, seen already in Russia – to reactors, and nuclear waste dumps.

There’s heat waves – requiring nuclear reactors to shut down – France is especially vulnerable, with mabny shutdowns already for this reason.

Extreme weather of all kinds poses threats – of damage, of loss of electricity to nuclear safety technology.

An awful lot of nuclear facilities are vulnerable to climate change – the sooner they are shut down, the better!

April 15, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Ain’t it great? New U.S. nuclear warheads to be stored in UK – keeping the war fervour going, making pre-emptive strike possible.

It’s so exciting! This Ukraine war could go on for months, years. And without a single Western casualty! (The Ukrainians don’t count). Those British bunkers were being wasted. Now they’re going to house American nuclear warheads,

That’ll help show the Russians that we mean business!

No more sissy diplomacy, or arms control agreements. The Biden administration’s 2023 defence budget request adds Britain to the list of European countries to store ”special weapons” (they mean B61 nuclear bombs) British chests can swell with pride, (never mind that the nuclear weapons stores could be targets, too)

And, most exciting of all, the U.S, review leaves open the option of using nuclear arms to respond to non-nuclear threats as well.

April 14, 2022 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 2 Comments