nuclear-news

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

The news to 8th December – nuclear and climate

Can Humans Survive? Nuclear weapons and climate change both threaten our existence, but with different time scales and probability.

Closer to the nuclear brink: American air drills begin over the Korean peninsula. The human consequences of nuclear war: a new medical plea against war.

Nuclear news in America is getting more intriguing – with more being revealed about the shady nuclear deals done by Trump’s former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.  It’s enough for Trump’s lawyers to be concerned, as Flynn is now co-operating with the FBI investigation into the Trump campaign and Russia.

On the climate front – when it comes to climate predictions –  the most accurate ones are turning out to be the worst case scenarios. Even in rich countries, climate change is already costing us all financially, and it’s going to get worse.

The illegality of  a plan for a nuclear attack.

Hanford, USA and Mayak, Russia – their hidden radioactive megapollution.

Media to blame for focussing on Trump trivia, minimising climate change.

ANTARCTICA. Antarctica – so remote, but so significant in climate science.– An immense glacier is melting, in Antarctica.

NORTH KOREA.  United Nations’ political chief makes rare visit to North Korea.   North Korea says nuclear war on Korean Peninsula inevitable. U.S. ex-envoy Robert Gallucci urges Washington and Pyongyang to consider China’s ‘freeze to freeze’ compromise.  Environmental dangers from North Korea’s nuclear bomb tests. North Korean nuclear tests sickening residents with ‘ghost disease,’ defectors say.

UK. Electricity from Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMRs) would be much more expensive than from ‘conventional’ reactors. Small Modular Nuclear Reactors not economically viable, but UK govt is funding them anyway. Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit calls for windfarms: wind energy now cheapest form of electricity.

USA.

JAPAN. Tokyo 2020 Olympics costs skyrocket because of Fukushima nuclear reconstruction.  Tokyo 2020 to feed IOC food from disaster-hit regions.   The Japanese Government Is Lying to the International Community: the Radiological Situation in and around Fukushima is NOT Safe.

Failure of Monju fast-breeder nuclear reactor leaves Japan with a huge spent fuel problem. UN General Assembly endorses a Japanese anti-nuclear resolution.   Proposal for Japan to ‘rent’ nuclear weapons from USA.

Fukushima dome roof takes shape, but radiation remains high.   Tepco officials warned workers and journalists not to stand too long next to Fukushima nuclear reactor storage pool. Japan struck by two earthquakes.

RUSSIA. Incident at Russia’s Mayak nuclear reprocessing plant may have caused radiation cloud over Europe.   Fundamental problems with the Russian nuclear industry.    Russia’s deception, denial and propaganda over the nuclear event at Mayak. Russia slams North Korea’s nuclear gambling and US’ provocative conduct.

CANADA. Search narrowed for place to store used nuclear fuel. Just say no to a nuclear waste dump anywhere near the Great Lakes: the message from many officials and residents. Candu nuclear reactor to be buried.

UKRAINE. Risk of Chernobyl sarcophagus collapsing – radiation danger to workers now sealing it    Solar power to take over, on Chernobyl’s nuclear wasteland.

FRANCE. Drones still buzz around France’s nuclear power plants!  France to reduce its use of nuclear power as soon as possible, and discredit the myth of “cheap” nuclear energy. European citizens lodge a complaint against EDF and French govt on nuclear unsafety.

ARMENIA. Armenia considers plan to abandon nuclear power and go for renewables.

 

December 8, 2017 Posted by | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

This week’s nuclear and climate news

The Kim Jong Un – Donald Trump warlike bombast continues, when what is needed is restraint and diplomacy. North Korea unveils a ‘monster’ new intercontinental ballistic missile. Trump administration considers a‘preventive strike ‘ against North Korea – the very worst option.

Always a silver lining, though. Businessmen in Britain and South Korea are enthusiastically marketing new underground bunkers. Their Chumdan Bunker System chief executive officer Go Wan Hyeok  said  “I’m wishing that he presses the button and shoots the bomb! ” “I want to then open up showrooms in Europe and in the UK”

The twin threats of climate change and nuclear pollution join together, as rising seas caused by climate change are seeping inside a remote island nuclear waste dump.

University research indicates that global warming will accelerate as CO2 levels rise.

Western nuclear nations snub Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.

How could the Agung volcano in Bali affect global temperatures?

USA. Trump administration, Michael Flynn, and dodgy nuclear deals with Saudi Arabia.  Michael Flynn’s nuclear role complicates the federal investigation into Russian interference in 2016 USA election. New Study: Over a Trillion becquerels of Fukushima radiocesium fell on Hawaii.  NASA’s new toy – a nuclear reactor on Mars.

FRANCE. Another corruption investigation of French nuclear company AREVA. France joins the rush to market nuclear power to Saudi Arabia. Mushrooms contaminated with radioactive cesium 137 stopped by France, – shipment from Belarus.  EDF says individuals detained after breaking into Cruas nuclear plant.

NORTH KOREA.  North Korea moving fast to complete its nuclear weapons program – could be done within a year.  Daily Mail reports North Korean defectors’ claim of damage caused by Kim Jong-un’s powerful nuclear missile test

JAPAN. Japan’s Kyushu Elec likely to delay nuclear plant restart due to Kobe Steel checks.  Kobe Steel scandal: ‘look the other way’ culture of corporate Japan, faked data for over a decade.  Japan is poised to release into the Pacific one million tons of radioactive water contaminated by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.  Fukushima ‘ice wall’ linchpin not living up to high hopes.  11,800 homes to be destroyed in areas evacuated from the nuclear disaster.   Testimony of a mother who evacuated from Tokyo. Fukushima Cover-Up and Denial.

UK. Looks as if UK nuclear power is coming to the end of the line.   South Korea looks to market nuclear technology to Britain,  in  UK’s Moorside Nuclear Power Station.

CANADA. Strong civic movement opposes Canadian proposal for nuclear waste dump close to Lake Huron.

SOUTH AFRICA. South Africa’s anti nuclear movement ready for President Zuma’s next pro nuclear move.

AFRICA – GABON Gabon’s uranium miners’ long wait for compensation for radiation-caused illness.

RUSSIA.  Russia: a new nuclear accident on the anniversary of the secret Mayak accident 60 years ago?   Scientist confirms potential source of Ru-106 as Mayak’s vitrification unit.      Damning report from Greenpeace on Rosatom and the Ruthinium 106 incident!

December 1, 2017 Posted by | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

The week that was, in nuclear news

The most interesting nuclear story is about the radioactive cloud across Europe. First described as a harmless wafting of radioactive isotopes “over recent weeks”, this news seemed to become  a bit of a worry, first of all, to air travellers. Then the realisation that even if this airborne plume of radioactive ruthenium 106  is supposed to be harmless, it’s not harmless to those close to the source. Now the source is identified, after weeks of contradictory Russian reports, to be the Mayak Nuclear Production Facility, with Russia still claiming that it is harmless. The locals are not so sure.

New research reveals that space travel permanently changes the human brain.

A new arms race underway, as USA, then Russia, modernise their nuclear weapons.

USA. 

UK. UK made ‘grave strategic errors’ in Hinkley Point nuclear project.  The consensus is clear: there is no upside to a nuclear Brexit.

JAPAN.  TEPCO and Japanese govt hope to portray Fukushima nuclear clean-up as a success, as robots find molten fuel.   Call for Japan’s aging Tokai No. 2 nuclear plant to be shut down. Fukushima Darkness.

INDIA. Not in the Name of Climate, Not in Our Name! India’s Poor Resist Nuclear Power. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IspLpQXv_1I

SOUTH AFRICA. World Bank to fund nuclear power in South Africa?

AUSTRALIA. 6 Australian religious anti-war protesters may face 7 years gaol for peaceful Pine Gap protest.

November 25, 2017 Posted by | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

The past week in climate and nuclear news

Today, the UN climate negotiations in Bonn, Germany, are wrapping up. The world’s diplomats discussed and developed national pledges, with USA’s Michael Bloomberg pledging American action by cities and States, in defiance of President Trump. Scientists reported that the plans are not enough to meet the Paris climate goal of holding the global temperature increase to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels. It is still worth acting to prevent extreme changes, but climate change impacts are already locked in.

To give an example of the kind of climate feedback mechanisms  that might be happening, China has this year increased its carbon emissions, largely because of less availability of hydropower.  Hydropower was in short supply because of drought, which, in itself, was probably exacerbated by climate change.

You would think it hardly possible that tensions could ratchet up any further around North Korea, but they have. China has sent a diplomat to North Korea, and has asked USA to stop the naval military drills around the Korean peninsula.

 

Climate change and nuclear threats are twins. Climate change leading to wars.  Activists at COP23 Decry Companies and Corporate Sponsors Pushing Fossil Fuel as Energy Solution. 19 nations pledge to phase out coal. Insurance companies move to divest from coal projects. Minerals deal needed to fuel the clean energy transition.

Nuclear power – dying a slow, painful and wildly expensive death. Even the International Atomic Energy Agency admits that the nuclear industry is failing.

EUROPE. EU Parliamentarians Still Awaiting Answers From EU About Radioactive Ruthenium Cloud That Spread Across Europe. Europe’s radiation cloud is not harmless, if you happen to be near the source.

JAPAN. U.N. body calls on Japan to improve protection of press freedoms and Fukushima residents rights.  If war breaks out on Korean peninsula, Japan must be ready for influx of evacuees. Nine nuclear reactors in Japan use products manufactured by steelmaker that admitted faking quality data. Japan students offered reward for joining gov’t events on nuclear waste. Tepco starts removing nuclear fuel assemblies from wrecked Fukushima Reactor No. 3 .

USA.

UK. UK’s Ministry of Defence blocks reports on nuclear issues, as £1.3 billion spend-up on Trident begins.  Anger in Scotland, as UK’s Ministry of Defence plans big expansion at Trident nuclear bases . Courier and Mersea Island Environmental Alliance (MEIA) concerned at dangers of nuclear plan for Bradwell.  Enormous survey over 13 countries shows that UK citizens want solar power, not nuclear.   Welsh anti-nuclear group partnering with Friends of the Earth Japan to oppose nuclear build at WYFLA. Nuclear radiation harmed 3 generations of family, claims British veteran. Australian aborigines challenge Scottish nuclear waste transfers. UK Labour will plan for the economic impacts of climate change.

NORTH KOREA. North Korea has a sound reason for wanting nuclear weapons.

IRAQ. Extreme weather, prolonged drought – helped ISIS to recruit jihad fighters.

IRAN. Report from International Atomic Energy Agency: Iran is sticking to the nuclear agreement.

CHINA. A Nuclear Space Shuttle by 2040 – the aim of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

FRANCE . France’s President Macron vows to replace every dollar Donald Trump withdraws from climate change efforts. French government considers changing focus of EDF from nuclear to renewables.

GERMANY. Remove all nuclear warheads stationed in Germany – call from Germany’s Green Party.

SOUTH AFRICA. New report says that South Africa should ditch nuclear plan, to save Eskom from ruin.

FINLAND. Owners and suppliers of Finland’s Olkiluoto 3 nuclear reactor – locked in dispute over delayed project.

November 18, 2017 Posted by | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

This week: nuclear and climate news

Sometimes the news in one country is pivotal to the fortunes of the global nuclear industry. Right now, this country is arguably South Africa. Nuclear corruption has been entrenched in South Africa for a long time. It’s becoming urgently important now, as President Zuma nears the end of his term.  The global nuclear lobby must be watching, with some trepidation, to see whether a whole African nation can be bought,  despite the obstacles. In South Africa, the obstacles are: legal, financial, political, and technical. And that’s before one even talks about public opinion, and health and environmental impacts.

With one eye on South Africa, the nuclear lobby’s other eye is, of course, on the COP23 climate talks in Bonn, Germany, where the nuclear lobby is working hard on the sidelines, to persuade the UN that their industry is “clean” – and therefore deserving of financial support.

Investigative reporting lives!! – Informal Labour, Local Citizens and the Tokyo Electric Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Crisis: Responses to Neoliberal Disaster Management

SA energy minister Tom Koutsantonis slammed the federal government’s proposed National Energy Guarantee as an attack on renewables. More at reneweconomy.com.au

What’s happening in the UN climate talks in Bonn?  USA now the only country opposed to Paris climate accord, as Syria now joins.

Sleeping Ice Giants Stir — East Antarctica’s Totten Glacier Accelerates Toward Southern Ocean

EUROPE. Release of radioactive material to atmosphere – French Institute says probably from Russia or Kazakhstan.   Climate Change Related Drought Bakes the Iberian Peninsula.

NORTH KOREA. NORTH Korea has threatened to destroy the Unites States with a “barrage of concentrated strikes”. Why North Korea wants nuclear weapons – the lesson from Libya. Health, environmental, disaster at North Korea’s nuclear test site.

USA.

UK.  Nuclear Safeguards and Brexit.   Small Modular Nuclear Reactors: the last desperate hope of UK’s failing nuclear industry.   Big problems in Britain’s techno-optimism about Small Modular Nuclear Reactors.  Wind power from Denmark to supply UK, by underwater cable

RUSSIA. Russia’s Rosatom touting for nuclear sales to Saudi Arabia.  Russia’s nuclear corporation talking up wind, solar power – (doubts about nuclear future?)

JAPAN. Edward Snowden discusses  Japanese Government surveillance findings. Fukushima Frozen soil wall nearly complete; NRA still doubts effect.

FRANCE. France still aims to reduce nuclear power, but postponing target for this.

SOUTH AFRICA. South Africa’s new Energy Minister rushes into nuclear power development with indecent haste. Coal and nuclear lobbies want to kill off renewable energy, says physics expert

SWITZERLAND. Swiss government worried about obsolescent cooling circuits of nearby French nuclear reactors.

CHINA. Bill Gates and China get together on new nuclear technology.

November 11, 2017 Posted by | Christina's notes | 1 Comment

Round-up of climate and nuclear news

The UN Climate Change Conference will take place 6-17 November in Bonn, Germany and will be presided over by the Government of Fiji. The COP is the forum where UN members meet to discuss how they will limit climate change. This year’s edition, COP23, is more about preparing procedural decisions than reaching agreements as in Paris. Nevertheless, there will be interesting discussions and protests.  With America now out of climate accords, China is taking the lead.

The nuclear industry is sulking, as it did in 2015, because United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) has again, in 2017 rejected its call for nuclear to be included as “clean”, and rejected its sponsorship. – This is of vital importance to the failing global nuclear industry – to get the UN to classify it as “clean” would be a lifeline. 

Meanwhile – it’s not as if the nuclear war threat has gone away.

Success with Paris climate goals is within our grasp. New United Nations report calls for shutting down coal industry, ramping up renewables.  Enormous private sector investment in renewables and energy efficiency – gives Paris climate goals a real chance.

United Nations Environment Emissions Gap Report 2017.  Record high greenhouse gas emissions in atmosphere- highest for 3 million years.

Need for a new legal framework to protect the coming millions of climate refugees. Global public health emergency is already upon us -climate change.

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution finds radioactivity from 9146-1958 nuclear bomb tests is still lingering.

Examining the hype in Australia about space exploration.

ARCTIC and ANTARCTICA . Extreme Warming at the Poles this Week — Arctic and Antarctic Temperatures to Rise to 20-30 C Above Average in Some Locations.

NEW ZEALAND. New Zealand looks to accepting climate change refugees.

USA. Climate and energy.  Trump administration and the nuclear and coal industries to push for their industries as “clean” at UN climate conference. State of California bypasses useless Trump government, as Governor Jerry Browm goes to Bonn climate talks.    Stanford University professor  Mark Z. Jacobson takes legal action against critics of his 100% renewables article. USA government report says Climate Is Warming And Humans Are The Cause.   USA Government Scientist Blocked from Talking About Climate and Wildfires.

Nuclear.  US officials still talking with North Korea, despite President Trump. Chaotic situation at Los Alamos National Laboratory -secrecy about plutonium danger. Trillion-dollar nuclear arms plan sets up budget brawl.

NORTH KOREA. Russia AND the US send nuclear bombers  near North Korea. US will not accept a nuclear North Korea– Defense Secretary Mattis. USA would negotiate with North Korea- but only on USA’s terms.   High-ranking North Korean defector says a US strike would trigger automatic North Korea retaliation.  “Brisk activity” at North Korea’s nuclear site prompts fears of another missile test.  North Korea denies the story that its nuclear test killed hundreds .  North Korea operates a hospital that treats soldiers exposed to radiation at its nuclear test site.

SWEDEN. Sweden’s 65,000 public nuclear fallout shelters, and more to come.

IRAN. International Atomic Energy Agency chief Yukiya Amano says ‘no problems” in checking Iran’s nuclear facilities.

FRANCE. French President agrees with Russia’s Putin on need to preserve the Iran nuclear deal. Series of incidents, with safety significance, at French nuclear power plant. France To Decide By End 2018 How Many Nuclear Plants To Shut.

JAPAN.  The truth concerning nuclear accident induced thyroid cancers. Japan TVreport.    Radiation has affected Fukushima’s monkeys: smaller bodies, smaller brains, anaemia. Japan’s nuclear problems: all of their reactors likely to contain faulty Kobe Steel components.

SOUTH AFRICA. South Africa’s Finance Minister put the brakes on nuclear programme, due to the ailing economy. President Zuma still wants a major expansion of nuclear power.

UK.  Britain’s Brexit nuclear headache -leaving Euratom – will have to get its own nuclear inspectors.   Britain’s BBC again fails to address false and misleading information; this time about Moorside nuclear. Evidence that Britain’s nuclear power industry subsidises nuclear weapons.  UK Labour government would sign global anti-nuclear weapons treaty.  Drug use by British navy sailors on nuclear Trident submarine.

INDIA. India’s nuclear industry problems: repeated shutdowns at Kudankulam nuclear power plant.

NIGER. AREVA’s new entity NewCo struggles with unprofitable uranium mine in Niger.

PHILIPPINES. Philippines signed up to the UN Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty.

GERMANY. Record breaking wind energy in Europe: Germans got electricity for free.

FINLAND. Areva-Siemens and the Finnish electricity company TVO blame each other for delays in nuclear build.

November 4, 2017 Posted by | Christina's notes | 1 Comment

This week in nuclear, climate, pollution news

Sometimes, it seems  a bit ridiculous to single out the nuclear danger, or the climate danger, from all the other insults that human beings are throwing at the planet. Wars and violence are bad enough, but the overall big killer now is pollution especially where it’s combined with poverty.  It’s surely time to take a global view of our punished biosphere. It’s affecting us, and the biggest organisms, and the smallest  – as with the massive decline in flying insects.

Anyway – to nuclear news. Apart from the ever dangling sword of Damocles situation of North Korea, the news for the so-called peaceful nuclear industry is pretty bleak. The World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2017 has just been released, and even in China things are crook.

Risk of ‘unacceptable war’ – if U.S.A. made a pre-emptive military strike on North Korea.

North Korea warns of possible atmospheric nuclear bomb test.  USA nuclear bombers to go back on 24 hour alert.

Two old former leaders,USA’s  Jimmy Carter and Russia’s Mikhail Gorbachev talk sense, (but will anyone listen?)

Hiroshima Survivor Setsuko Thurlow to accept Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of ICAN.  ICAN calls on Nobel Foundation to cease indirect nuclear arms investments.

AS UN Climate Change Conference draws near, Christian leaders demand implementation of Paris Agreement.

Record low prices for unsubsidised solar power.

EUROPE. With plummeting renewables costs, costly nuclear fusion unlikely to ever make sense.

JAPAN. What a difference a word makes: Japan weakens its annual anti-nuclear resolution!

USA.

UK. As renewable energy costs shrink, British government wastes money on Small Nuclear Reactor fantasy.  – Britain’s (really uneconomic) ‘peaceful’ nuclear power is actually subsidising nuclear weapons. Seaweed clogging up cooling system of EDF’s Hunterston B nuclear station in Scotland.

A subsidy ban for new onshore wind farms could add £1bn onto UK energy bills. Britain’s ‘Greater Manchester Big Clean Switch‘ welcomed by The Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA).

BBC finally apologises for its uncritical interview with climate denialist Lord Lawson.

NORTH KOREA. Stresses on North Korea’s nuclear test mountain – becoming unstable?

INDIA. India-USA nuclear arrangement just an American marketing effort – “dead at the very beginning”. With its rapid growth in solar power, India now a leading clean energy generator.

SOUTH AFRICA. South Africa Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba says large nuclear power project is not affordable.– South Africa’s opposition party ready to take legal action if govt fails High Court ruling on nuclear transparency

SOUTH KOREA. South Korea scrapping plans for 6 nuclear reactors, but will continue with 2.

FRANCE. Concern over condition of France’s aging nuclear reactors: 20 of the 58 currently shut down.

IRAN. Death sentence for man found guilty over Iran nuclear scientist killings.   IAEA boss Yukiya Amano to visit Iran.

NEW ZEALAND. New govt in New Zealand plans for 100% renewable energy.

October 28, 2017 Posted by | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Nuclear news to 21st October

I know that it’s becoming a tedious subject, but, unfortunately, the risk of war, a nuclear war, is creeping up inexorably. The general consensus of expert opinion is that North Korea’s Kim Jong Un does not want, or intend to start, a war. His quite rational aim is the ability to deliver a nuclear weapon to the USA. and thus prevent an American attack, and ensure the survival of his regime.  Russia and China, have achieved this ability, and USA and the world have learned to live with this reality.

Expert opinion seems completely confused as to the real aims of USA’s Donald Trump, and this is making for a scary scene. – And, it is hard to dismiss the opinion of the 27 psychiatrists who warned  about Trump’s mental state.

2017 – a catastrophic year for the nuclear industry – downturn in China, USA, and globally.

The growing threat of cyber attacks on nuclear weapons systems.

North Korea’s belligerant response to USA-South Korea military drills.  South Korea developing missiles to destroy North Korea nuclear facilities.

European Union statement on the Iran nuclear Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Quitting Iran nuclear agreement would ruin 12yrs’ work, threaten nuclear war – says ICAN

JAPAN. Kobe Steel scandal and mismanagement is especially bad news for the nuclear industry. World Trade Organisation ruling on  Korea’s ban on Japanese seafood. Japan attempting to force contaminated food products onto the market.  Kansai Electric Power Co. to permanently close 2 nuclear reactors in Fukui Prefecture.  Japan’s solar powered smart communities.

Court rulings show Fukushima relief falls short of reality of victims. Robots are central to Fukushima’s highly dangerous nuclear radioactivity clean-up.

SOUTH KOREA. Secrecy surrounding meeting of World Association of Nuclear Operators in South Korea.

RUSSIA. Russia positions itself as mediator on North Korean nuclear crisis.

USA.

UK. UK Labour warns that nuclear safety laws post Brexit could damage Britain’s democracy. Hinkley nuclear white elephant: Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) warns UK govt against further loan guarantees.  Part of the giant Hinkley Point nuclear plant will have to be demolished and rebuilt. Britain’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) likely to create a new agency, after cancelling Cavendish Fluor Partnership.

SOUTH AFRICA. South Africa’s President Zuma now has a new (Nuclear) Energy Minister: David Mahlobo praises nuclear energy. Kickbacks, procurement irregularities, at Eskom. Fatal flaws in Eskom’s plan for new nuclear power at Koeberg, South Africa.

FRANCE. In 20 French cities, Greenpeace activists highlight the vulnerability of nuclear spent fuel pools.     29 French nuclear reactors at risk, warns France’s Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN).     Nuclear wastes – a divisive problem for the French, that could mean the end of the industry.  Electricite de France (EDF) keen to market nuclear power to Asia. 100 employees evacuated from office of French nuclear station , due to mysterious package found.

CHINA.  Chinese slowdown may end nuclear’s last hope for growth.  China forced to close top skiing area, due to earthquake concerns about North Korea’s nuclear tests.  China looks to a second record breaking year in solar power installations.

UKRAINE. £1.3bn Chernobyl New Safe Confinement planned for completion this year.

CZECH REPUBLIC. Czech Republic breaking its legal obligations in building nuclear facility, with neighbouring countries not participating.

October 20, 2017 Posted by | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Nuclear and climate news to October 15

Unfortunately, that strange and worrying individual, Donald Trump, has yet again managed to dominate the news media, on nuclear and other issues. He has has struck a blow against the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement – in defiance of other world powers – by choosing not to certify that Tehran is complying with the deal. If Iran now leaves the deal, there’s the prospect of  a new nuclear arms race, in the Middle East. Nobel Peace Prize winner ICAN says Trump is ‘igniting new conflict rather than reducing risk of war’.

Meanwhile, there’s the escalating danger of an American nuclear first strike on North Korea.

NUCLEAR. – Nobel Peace Prize winners say that the UN Treaty is the “beginning of the end for nuclear weapons”. Global opinion poll: people want diplomacy with North Korea, not war.

Despite the hype, it’s doubtful that underground bunkers will work, in the event of a nuclear attack.

Ignoring the danger of ionising radiation: nuclear waste dumping in the sea.

CLIMATE. Wounded Tropical Forests Now Emit 425 Million Tons of Carbon Each Year — Restoration, Fossil Fuel Emissions Cuts Now Urgent.

USA.Nuclear

USA. Climate .The role of climate change in California’s wildfires.  Unlike President Trump, USA’s military are keen to prepare for climate change disruption.

NORTH KOREA. Earthquake detected near North Korea’s nuclear site – raising fears of a new nuclear test.  Satellite photos show North Korean shipyard test site. A new nuclear missile launch might be imminent.

JAPAN. Rokkasho Fuel Reprocessing Plant Faked Safety Records For 14 Years.   Japan Cleared to Re-Start World’s Largest Nuclear Plant.   Voluntary evacuees win compensation over Fukushima nuclear disaster. Fukushima District Court finds National Government and Tepco Responsible.

SWEDEN. Buildup of radioactivity in wild boars in Sweden – from eating Chernobyl area mushrooms.

SOUTH KOREA. South Korea: thyroid cancer patients say no to nuclear power plants.

UK.

FRANCE. Greenpeace protestors show poor security at French nuclear station – by breaking in!

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES.  UAE to sever ties with North Korea.

PAKISTAN. Pakistan’s new nuclear-capable submarine-launched cruise missile (SLCM) opens up a dangerous new era.

CHINA. Chinese government boosting storage capacity for renewable energy.

SOUTH AFRICA. Eskom gets permission to develop a new nuclear plant.

SRI LANKA. Sri Lanka enforces UN resolution on nuclear and biological weapons.

INDIA. Tamil Nadu: Union Ministry of Environment now allowing mining of thorium, uranium, in ecologically sensitive CRZ areas.

RUSSIA. A new solar farm opened in Southern Russia.

October 14, 2017 Posted by | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

To October 7 – the week in nuclear/climate news

The 2017 Nobel Peace Prize has just been awarded to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN).  This global campaign began in Melbourne 10 years ago, and look where it went from there! Retrieving Australia’s past reputation for work towards nuclear disarmament, ICAN’s dedicated team just kept going. Today, I can feel proud to be Australian,  despite the Australian government’s present craven record on disarmament.

Contrasting with that positive news, we have Donald Trump’s latest ominous utterance – “the calm before the storm”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU62DZ_Xf0M Who knows what he means?  At least in the 1979 Peter Sellers film “Being There” that particular  dimwitted President knew that he was talking about gardening.

 

NUCLEAR  Text of Nobel Peace Prize award to anti-nuclear campaign ICAN. Why Trump’s Words on North Korea Matter – normalising nuclear war.

Debunking the myths about nuclear fusion – The ITER Power Amplification Myth.

International Atomic Energy Agency predicts slowdown in nuclear power.

Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMRs) can’t compete, unless ordered en masse.

CLIMATE. Stark Evidence: A Warmer World Is Sparking More and Bigger Wildfires – Degraded Tropical Forests Now Release More Carbon Than They Store.   40 large Catholic institutions put their money where fossil fuel investment isn’t.

USA. Nuclear

CHINA. Bill Gates partners with China’s government nuclear companies to develop his small nuclear reactor dream

EUROPE. Europe plans to save Iran nuclear deal , despite Donald Trump. European States anxious about Britain’s ‘nuclear revival’ in Hinkley project. Iodine tablets for Dutch provinces near nuclear power stations. Norway grants immigration to Israeli nuclear whistleblower.

NORTH KOREA.   North Korea threatens Japan – with ‘nuclear clouds over suicidal Japan’.   North Korea’s environment paying a heavy price for Kim’s nuclear bomb tests.

SOUTH KOREA. Catastrophic outcome if North Korea were to attack Seoul and Tokyo.

IRAN. Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran is working well: Trumps is dishonest.

UK.

Brexit is mucking up Britain’s Small Modular Nuclear Reactor dreams

JAPAN. The World’s Biggest Nuclear Plant Approved to be Restarted in Japan.   Japanese opposition party will phase out nuclear power – Japan nuclear stocks down. New, unexpected way in which Fukushima is polluting the ocean. 

Japanese beaches 60 miles away have become major source of radioactivity after Fukushima. Radioactive Water “Possibly” Leaked From Reactors For Months “By Error” Says Tepco.

– Fukushima after six years and half: the forgotten victims.

CANADA. Radioactive dump plan near Ottawa River is meeting growing opposition.  Investors beware of uranium mining company Cameco.

NEW ZEALAND. Education on nuclear disarmament – New Zealand is the leader.

SWEDEN. Very high radiation levels in Europe’s wild boars: record high in boar shot in Sweden.

GERMANY. German authorities puzzled over increase in radioactive particles in air.

FRANCE. EDF wrestling with problems on the Hinkley Point nuclear power project.

INDIA. Nuclear submarine accident – India’s nuclear-powered submarine, INS Chakra, damaged. Farmers in 575 villages unite against Chutka nuclear project in Madhya Pradesh.

October 7, 2017 Posted by | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

The week to 1st October, in nuclear and climate news

For a change, I digress from the usual themes.  While the media fixes on Trump’s and Kim’s nuclear threats, a lot of other things go on quietly. For example, the Trump attack on workers’ rights, –on worker safety, – on public health and environmental protection.  – on refugees,  Much as I dislike joining in the media fervor for watching Trump, it becomes almost a necessity, because we are witnessing the most extraordinary dismantling of all government policy for the public  good.  It is as if it’s all happening under the cover of our angst about North Korea.

The rise of Germany’s right wing party, adopting the Trump tactics, has brought a fascist element into the German Bundestag, and signifies the new importance of populist politics in Europe.

1461 scientists speak up for saving Australia’ oceans

NUCLEAR    International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons comes at a historic moment of brinkmanship.    Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity in North Korea – the meaning of Trump’s threats.    There is a diplomatic way to resolve the North Korea nuclear crisis.  Leaders of USA and North Korea continue to trade threats and insults. North Korean threats – very good for the underground nuclear bomb shelter sales

Six international academics refute the attack on renewable energy by Ben Heard and others.

Leukemia risk increased by radioactive iodine treatment for thyroid cancer.

CLIMATE.  Half-way to Catastrophe — Global Hothouse Extinction to be Triggered by or Before 2100 Without Rapid Emissions Cuts.    Christian leaders make the moral case for climate action. Global carbon emissions remained static in 2016 – (one bit of welcome news). Hundreds of $billions a year – the hidden costs of climate change.

USA.

NORTH KOREA.  North Korea claims “the Right to Shoot Down U.S. Warplanes“.   A worse fear? A nuclear accident in North Korea, – and it could trigger a nuclear war.

EUROPE. European Commission to invest €222 to promote Europe’s transition to clean energy.

UK.

IRAN. Iran’s foreign minister calls on Europe to support nuclear deal, and defy USA ‘s plan to sink the deal. Iran nuclear deal is best option, says Israeli general.

JAPAN. A Further Delay in the Cleanup At Japan’s Fukushima Nuclear Plant. Fukushima Decontamination Work Racket Yakuza Arrested.  Chiba court recognizes nuke disaster evacuees’ ‘loss of hometown’ for first time.    Dozens of Japanese towns choosing decentralised solar energy, with microgrids.

INDIA. India-USA civil nuclear cooperation agreement is really just a weapons marketing deal.

IRAQ. Iraq wants nuclear reactors: (does that fill you with confidence?)

UKRAINE. Holtec planning to build small nuclear reactors in Ukraine.

GERMANY. New find points to Hitler’s project towards a nuclear bomb.

September 30, 2017 Posted by | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

The week to 23 September in climate and nuclear news

As nations sign up at present, at United Nations, to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, the Treaty is due to come into force  later, when 50 signed members have ratified it. 122 countries out of the 193 UN member nations approved the draft treaty in July.

The nuclear weapons nations and their associates oppose the treaty, giving various important strategic sounding reasons. But when this UN treaty comes into force, joining the previous treaties that make other forms of mass destruction illegal, the governments with nuclear weapons will no longer be able to claim the moral high ground.  Their stand will sound hollow, against the growing global consensus that the possessing, threatening, using of nuclear weapons is inhumane and immoral.

Equally importantly, at the UN General Assembly, the urgency of the need to address climate change, is being discussed.

Vatican ratifies treaty on the prohibition of nuclear arms.

Concern in China, South Korea, Japan, at Donald Trump’s belligerent speech at United Nations.

USA and South Korea’s show of bombing force against North Korea. North Korea Vows to Complete Nuclear Weapons Program

Nuclear plants in the path of hurricanes – disasters waiting to happen.

Climate change already affecting world health.  –Melting Arctic ice cap

Successful 1987 ozone layer international treaty now involved in fighting climate change. An international Treaty that works! The Montreal Protocol and the healing of the ozone layer.

USA.

NORTH KOREA. threatens hydrogen nuclear bomb test in the Pacific

JAPAN. 6.1 magnitude earthquake 320 kilometres east of Fukushima nuclear plant.  Kyushu Electric plans to restart Genkai No. 4 reactor in March.   Fukushima. Nuclear Fuel Retrieval Delayed.

NORTH KOREA. Report that North Korea may be secretly building nuclear submarine.

UK. UK’s religious leaders unite, to urge Theresa May to sign the UN nuclear weapons ban treaty . Terrorism danger, as weapons grade nuclear material flown from UK to USA.  All proposed nuclear sites in UK are vulnerable to flooding.  Anti-nuclear civil disobedience is ramping up.  A FOURTH unexploded bomb found near Britain’s Hinkley Point C nuclear site! Most Britons happy to live near wind turbines, but not near Small Modular Nuclear Reactors.

FRANCE. French President Macron calls on Trump to honor Iran nuclear deal.

RUSSIA. Remembering an intelligent man who saved the world from WW3 

BELARUS. Spectre of Chernobyl nuclear disaster rises again, regarding new nuclear power station in Belarus

CHINA. China considers rescuing problematic UK Moorside nuclear station project.

CANADA. Anti nuclear groups invite individual MPs in Canada to sign the nuclear ban treaty.

September 23, 2017 Posted by | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

This week in nuclear and climate news

It’s all sounding a bit same-same: nuclear posturing from Kim Jong Un and from Donald Trump. Trouble is – in our atmosphere of “nuclear brink fatigue’, it still IS getting closer to the nuclear brink.

I don’t know about you, but in my patch, Australia, well you just wouldn’t know that from Sept 20, the 10-page treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons will be open for signatures from any UN member state. No media coverage. It’s as if the thought of nuclear war just doesn’t matter. Hell, it could even be an acceptable idea, nowadays. Or maybe not.

Same-same on climate, too.  But again, not really, as the planet’s weather patterns change inexorably,  glaciers melt, and mainstream media covers the subject less than ever.

 

The global impact of glaciers shrinking as climate change affects them. Satellites reveal global fingerprints of sea-level rise.  – Pope Francis urges climate change sceptics to consult with a scientist.

Global Doctors Congress recognises nuclear war as the greatest public health threat.

About The World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2017  Nuclear power industry in  decline, as renewables get ever cheaper and more effective. The problem of plutonium: justification for its reprocessing is now dead.

UK UK’s ‘Operation Temperer’ replaces police with military personnel at nuclear power plants.— Police see Sellafield nuclear site seen as “a great strategic target for terrorists”.  EDF warns on Britain’s nuclear safety problems, in the exit from the European Union. Closed since 1977, Dounreay Fast Reactor at last being emptied of radioactive fuel elements Spectacular drop in the cost of offshore wind brings Hinkley nuclear plan into question.

USA. Nuclear 

USA Climate

NEPAL. Himalayas facing grave threat from climate change.

IRAN.UN nuclear watchdog defends Iran deal.

RUSSIA. Russia to advise USA to stay in the Iran nuclear agreement.  Mayor of Russian cvoastal towm makes a fuss about abandoned radioactive generator, and other nuclear junk sunk in oceans by Russia

NORTH KOREA.  North Korea Fires a Ballistic Missile Over Japan for the Second Time in Three Weeks.   Mystery seismic energy release following North Korea nuclear test.

SOUTH KOREA. President Moon says No to nuclear weapons in South Korea. South Korean opposition party in USA asking Washington for nuclear weapons.

FRANCE. EDF has increasing safety problems on its nuclear power stations in France.

KAZAKHSTAN. Kazakhstan’s international low-enriched uranium bank makes the world LESS SAFE

 

 

September 16, 2017 Posted by | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

The past week in climate and nuclear news

People are experiencing “nuclear brink fatigue”. It’s only human, as right now, most of the world is unable to do anything about the impending showdown between USA and North Korea. It’s all too possible that both the North Korean and American regimes are now pondering just how many lives can be blown up while still assuring the leaders of staying in power. Brown and yellow lives are the risked ones, as North Korea can’t or wouldn’t attack USA. Meanwhile Donald Trump has assured that “If thousands die, they’re going to die over there. They’re not going to die over here — and he’s told me that to my face.” –  Senator Lindsey Graham

Climate and nuclear concerns merge in Florida. With our news media focusing on Hurricane Irma, you’d hardly know that 40 million people are impacted by floods in India, Bangladesh and Nepal.  International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is being urged to get strong participation of women in climate change discussions and decisions.

International security must be part of the discussion on nuclear weapons ban treaty.  The world now reaches a nuclear weapons stalemate.  Militant groups can use drones as weapons.

Promising development in non nuclear production of medical isotope technetium-99m (Tc-99m).

Climate change did not cause hurricanes, but made them more destructive.

Very few scientific papers dispute climate change – and they all turn out to be flawed.

Fighting climate change: chocolate company Mars to spend $1 billion on this cause.

GREENLAND. Global effects of rapid thaw of Greenland’s permafrost.

USA.

ANTIGUA and BARBUDA. Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda says mighty hurricanes are ‘living consequences of climate change’

NORTH KOREA.  Kim Jong Un’s nuclear aim is to save his regime, not to attack Los Angeles. North Korea’s latest threats against USA.  North Korea claims to have successfully tested hydrogen bomb.  Danger: Plutonium nuclear fuel being transported by sea in the North Korean missile influence area.  Underground complex of tunnels ready for Kim Jung Un’s escape, if nuclear war occurs. Satellites show landslides and land disturbances at North Korea’s nuclear site.

SOUTH KOREA. Radioactive particles from North Korea nuclear tests now found in South Korea’s air, land and water.

GUAM, OKINAWA. American military bases have made Okinawa, Guam, nuclear ‘targets’

JAPAN. Despite earthquake risks, Japan’s Kashiwasaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant might be restarted.  Japan’s Rokkasho nuclear reprocessing plant runs into trouble yet again  Tokyo Metropolitan Area is Widely Radioactively Contaminated. Ice wall at crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant damaged by typhoon rain.- Battling nuclear demons: Mental health issues haunt those who were the first line of defense after 3/11.

UK.

SWITZERLAND. More money in nuclear decommissioning than in running nuclear power?

EUROPE European Parliament members to raise alarm on Fukushima food imports

CANADA. Canada’s Environment Minister strong on including climate change in revamped North American Free Trade Agreement.

September 9, 2017 Posted by | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Nuclear and climate news to 2nd September

Climate change remains the greatest global threat – because it is getting close to irreversible. But the nuclear threat is pretty big too. This month, nations can ratify the UN  treaty on the prohibition of nuclear . It is not too late for more countries to join the treaty. It will be open for signatures from any UN member state on 20 September during the annual general assembly.

The North Korean nuclear crisis doesn’t go away.  North Korea’s missile development continues, as USA intensifies its war games on North Korea’s doorstep. One small slip-up could bring nuclear catastrophe.

Floods continue, affecting at least 41 million people in India, Bangladesh and Nepal.  In America, the Houston flood introduces the age of climate chaos for the “developed”world.

Nobel Prize winners proclaim the gravest threats to humanity as ‘Donald Trump, nuclear war and climate change’   The connection between cyclones and climate change.

Nearing a Trillion Watts: By End 2017, Global Wind + Solar Capacity Will be 2.4 Times That of Nuclear.

Dr Jim Green debunks the hype about Generation IV new nukes.

USA. Nuclear    Trump – “all options on the table“, after North Korea’s missile test, flying over Japan.  Most Americans would be fine with dropping a nuclear weapon on an Iranian city  America’s Military Now Run by Military Industrial Complex Lobbyists? Trump spending up big on nuclear weapons– House Armed Services Committee member accuses Trump of rushing nuclear contracts. America’s new fuze nuclear weapons system threatens world stability.

Potential for nuclear disaster at South Texas’ nuclear reactors. Nuclear workers sticking to their posts at South Texas Nuclear Reactors.

Duke Energy Florida is just the latest utility to walk away from nuclear, – and towards solar.

USA Climate USA government to abolish climate change envoy. Donald Trump nominates a vocal climate denier, non scientist Sam Clovis as Chief Scientist. USA coastal properties to lose value because of climate change? Texas Wind Turbines Produce More Electricity Than Its 4 Nuclear Reactors

NORTH KOREA. North Korea Fires 3 Missiles Over Japan As Northern Viper Exercise Ends. Media ignores North Korea’s offers to negotiate, give up nuclear weapons.  North Korea ramps up the sabre rattling.

AFGHANISTAN. In Afghanistan, climate change is as big a threat as terrorism.

JAPAN. Death of Sumiteru Taniguchi, Nagasaki Survivor and Nuclear Arms Foe.  Water plan to remove Fukushima fuel is ‘not viable’ .

UK. UK’s Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) upgrading Trident nuclear warhead to make it even more destructive. Doctors and scientists call on the government to join the international nuclear weapons ban treaty.   A WW2 unexploded bomb found near to Hinkley nuclear station – for the 3rd time!  A historic chimney is set for demolition at Sellafield.  Climate change threats to Scotland.

IRAN. Iran Complies With Nuclear Deal says UN monitor, contradicting Trump. U.N. nuclear watchdog sees no need to check Iran military sites.

GERMANY. Iodine tablets for German communities near Belgian nuclear reactor.

RUSSIA. Russia marketing nuclear power to Bangladesh – will take back the wastes.

September 2, 2017 Posted by | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

« Previous Entries     Next Entries »