nuclear-news

This week’s nuclear news in brief

The most headline-grabbing nuclear story of the week was the collapse of  a tunnel at America’s Hanford nuclear site. While authorities stressed that no-one was injured, and no radiation was released, this accident highlighted the unsafe storage of America’s nuclear weapons waste.

In international politics, the elections of Emmanuel Macron, in France, and of Moon Jae-in, in South Korea, are unwanted blows to the global nuclear industry. Moon Jae-in also signals a trend away from alliance with USA, and a willingness to work with China.

Record-Thin Sea Ice Faces Big Predicted Arctic Warm-up This Week.

NORTH KOREA. North Korea could conduct nuclear test in May – Chinese expert.

USA. NUCLEAR

• Workers at Hanford nuclear site have sealed off a large sinkhole. A sign of the collapse of the entire nuclear industry – the Hanford waste tunnel collapse?
• Korea Mission Centre set up by CIA to address “the nuclear and ballistic missile threat”. Bill in USA Congress to ready USA for a nuclear attack emergency.
•  America’s nuclear subsidies distort markets and damage business. South Carolina nuclear project in doubt, as Toshiba bankruptcy looms. Georgia Power officials  consider fate of Vogtle Nuclear Power Plant construction – cancellation is an option.  Recently opened Watts Bar 2 nuclear power plant already shut down for repairs.
• Protect our water! Indigenous opposition to uranium mining in South Dakota.
•  Texas Nuclear Waste Bill is amended in a big win for environmentalists. Nevada lawmakers approve budgets to fight plan to dump radioactive trash at Yucca Mountain.
•  All too similar to Fukushima prefecture- Savannah River schools get education funding and resources from nuclear company.

CLIMATE.  Montana’s glaciers disappearing – shrinking, like many glaciers world-wide. Arctic Council meeting: USA might be confronted by Arctic Nations concerned about climate change. Environmental Protection Agency dismisses at least five members of a major scientific review board.

SOUTH KOREA. Catholics lead in South Korean movement against nuclear power. THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) missile defense (MD) system a major environmental catastrophe waiting to happen.

JAPAN. The urgent danger of wildfires in the radioactive Fukushima area. Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui calls on U.N. chief to attend nuclear disarmament conference in August.

RUSSIA. Russia selling debt and dependence to its overseas customers.

INDIA. Water and steam leakage causes shutdown of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Reactor.

CANADA. Cities of Marysville and St. Clair oppose Lake Huron nuclear waste dump. Uranium company Cameco in trouble: the industry is just not viable.

GERMANY. German energy groups turn to lucrative business of decommissioning nuclear power stations,

AUSTRALIA. Today, the Parliamentary Inquiry into Australia  on Australia joining the Framework Agreement for International Generation IV Nuclear Reactor Development published the submissions that it received. As this Inquiry has been kept quite secret from the media and the public, it is not surprising that nearly all of the submissions have come from companies and individuals with either a very clear, or a vested, interest in the nuclear industry.

BULGARIA. Bulgaria trying to get private investors for its nuclear project.

May 12, 2017 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Nuclear, climate news, for the week that has been

Well, I know that the big story remains the North Korea   – USA nuclear standoff. This is dominating the nuclear news, perhaps all of the news.

Still, other things nuclear are happening, and the most fascinating this week is the political drama being played out in South Africa. Briefly, The Zuma government has had to stall its plans for nuclear procurement, as the result of a court ruling. This is the latest event in the extraordinary history of corruption in South Africa’s nuclear plans.  Democracy is on the line in South Africa, if the government presses on with the project.

World’s nuclear experts forming a Nuclear Crisis Group to Advise World Leaders on Avoiding Nuclear War.   Chinese diplomat warns that talk between USA and North Korea is essential – tipping point is near.  Pope Francis suggests Norway as mediator, urges a diplomatic solution to North Korean nuclear crisis.  Vatican says nuclear weapons “provide a false sense of security”.

The Independent WHO examines the World Health Organisation and finds it dishonest on ionising radiation.

CLIMATE. Early Greenland Melt Spike Possible as Forecast Calls for Temperatures of up to 50 F Above Average   Lakes around the world are affected by heat from climate change. The disappearing Arctic ice, and its consequences.

NORTH KOREA. China tells its citizens – Get out of North Korea. Russia: “It is evident that Pyongyang will not abandon its nuclear weapons as long as it sees itself directly threatened. North Korea accuses USA of planning a pre-emptive nuclear strike, with its bomber flights. North Korea threatens a pre-emptive nuclear strike on USA. Trump administration trying to make China responsible for fixing North Korean crisis.

UK. Brexit will mean that Britain will be stuck with Europe’s nuclear waste. Nuclear Industry Association (NIA)makes 6 demands for arrangements to replace Euratom. Problems compounded for NuGen’s Moorside nuclear project in Cumbria.  World Nuclear Lobby bewails Britain’s lack of progress on Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMRs).  Even the fake charity Weinberg Next Nuclear recognises the link between Small Modular Nuclear Reactors and Weapons.

FRANCE. Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron – very different views on nuclear power. Macron pins reactor closures to renewables growth.

JAPAN. Japan wants stronger Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Government to release map of potential final nuclear disposal sites this summer. Mount Juman forest fire in Namie spreads radioactive material.  Sparking Fears of Airborne Radiation, Wildfire Burns in Fukushima ‘No-Go Zone‘. Fukushima authorities ask troops to help deal with forest fires near crippled nuclear power plant.

UKRAINE. 2,397,863 registered Chernobyl-related health victims now in treatment. 453,391 ARE CHILDREN.  Chernobyl Remembered. Consequences of Chernobyl.

BELARUS. Belarus march against nuclear power on Chernobyl anniversary.

USA.

• Can the American President think or speak clearly? Unfortunately – NO.  A worrying thought: Trump might imagine that America could win a nuclear war.  500,000 sign Petition Barring Trump’s Nuclear Weapons Use.
• Utility not sure it can finish Vogtle nuclear plant, which was being built by bankrupt Westinghouse Electric. New Nuclear Projects Bankrupted Westinghouse – how it happened. Pennsylvania nuclear corporation looks to tax-payer funding to save the industry.
• Dave Freeman, the nuclear giant-killer.
• Pro nuclear politicians fail to get tax credit in government spending bill.  Petroleum versus nuclear: the industries fight each other for tax-payer subsidies.
• Naomi Oreskes and Jeremy Jones on need for a price on carbon . 180 Climate Deniers in Congress Received $82 Million in Dirty Money. EPA removing “outdated language” – all mention of climate change, from its website.  USA Puts Up A New Wind Turbine Every 2.4 Hours

SOUTH AFRICA. Medium and long term impact of South African court ruling – not good for the nuclear industry. South Africa’s new energy minister talks about nuclear transparency, “public participation”. South African govt will challenge High Court’s ruling against nuclear power procurement. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) excludes nuclear power for South Africa’s energy mix. South African research institutions were paid hush money to shut up about nuclear power.

IRAN. Growing trade between Iran and European Union following implementation of the nuclear deal. Nuclear deal is an issue in Iran’s election. Rex Tillerson attacks Iran nuclear deal.

UAE. Lacking nuclear expertise, United Arab Emirates postpones start-up pf nuclear reactors.

QATAR. Qatar calls for nuclear-free zone in Middle East.

GERMANY. Germany’s record 85% renewables over weekend.

CANADA. Two thirds of Canada’s electricity now comes from renewable energy.

RUSSIA. Early Season Russia-Siberia Wildfire Outbreak Expands Due to Heat

INDIA. Lots of renewable energy news

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

Teetering on the brink, and other nuclear and climate news

You wonder how long the world can teeter on the brink – Donald Trump says:  Chance of ‘major, major conflict’ with North Korea. Unprepared President Trump risks blundering into nuclear war. But Why so little public protest on the current threats of nuclear war?  Have we all got nuclear-war-fear fatigue? Or, in Australia, it is the football season.

Investigative journalism lives! – Time to pay attention to long term effects of low dose ionising radiation. The radioactive berry harvests of Chernobyl.

Trump says that Kim Jong Un ‘is a problem that needs to be finally solved’, sends Cruise missile-carrying nuclear submarine to South Korea. China’s strong warning to North Korea against another nuclear weapons test. Japanese buying nuclear shelters and radiation-blocking air purifiers, in fear of nuclear attack. Just 10 minutes to prepare for a North Korean nuclear attack, Japan’s government says. The multi-million death toll that would result from a pre-emptive strike on North Korea. Close to human extinction – a nuclear war warning from Ex-CIA operative Valerie Plame.

Plutonium in space – the danger in space probes.

USA.   America’s anti-ballistic missile systems capable of nuclear strike against Russia, China.  Nuclear energy utilities NextEra, FPL lose lawsuit over $97.5 million in nuclear-related tax refunds Nuclear bomb drill in New Jersey.  

American scientists march to save science.  Florida’s nightmare outlook with climate change.   9 year old boy persisting in suing Donald Trump over his climate policies. Heartland Institute’s misinformation campaign into schools.

CANADA. Emergency exercises in Ottawa and Nova Scoria: testing how to respond to a nuclear threat.

INDIA. Duration of Indian Hot Season Nearly Doubles as Crushing Drought and Heat Expand Across the Subcontinent.

SOUTH KOREA. South Korea: All major candidates vow to stop building new reactors.

UK.

• Theresa May would be willing to fire a pre-emptive nuclear strike.   Greens Party condemns as immoral UK government’s willingness for pre-emptive strike. Russian warning: Britain would be ‘razed to the ground’if it launched a nuclear attack.
•  Brexit and Britain’s problem of nuclear waste.
• Round-up of latest news on UK’s Hinkley Point C nuclear project.
• Millions funnelled to North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme through house in suburban London.

RUSSIA. Children Still Endangered by Chernobyl Radiation in Russia; Russia Pretends Area Has Improved; Removes Medical, Social Insurance and Compensation. Russia Continues Crusade Against Environmental Groups in Run-up to Earth Day.

SOUTH AFRICA. South Africa’s Eskom nuclear plan set back, as Judge rules nuclear decisions unlawful.

UKRAINE.   Chernobyl’s massive steel arch – temporary protection against ionising radiation.

JAPAN. 80% of voluntary Fukushima disaster evacuees outside pref. unwilling to return home.    Japan reconstruction minister quits after inappropriate comment on disaster zone. The scandalous deficiency of the health scheme in Fukushima.   Tests to start on radioactive soil for use in reconstruction.  Japan’s very big problem of nuclear wastes from its failed Tokai Reprocessing Plant.  High contamination in Namie, Fukushima

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

Nuclear and climate news to 23 April

It’s getting monotonous, as well as scary,  – news reports on all the sabre rattling going on, mainly about North Korea, but also about Syria and Iran. The upshot of all this: –  risk of ‘catastrophic’ nuclear accident increases.  – communities fearful of nuclear war, especially in South Korea, and luxury bunkers in high demand by the filthy rich. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3hbtM_NJ0s

Spin  for “new nukes” – Generation IV nuclear reactors – ramps up.

Decline in the size of the world’s nuclear arsenals, due to cuts by Russia and USA.

As predicted, world’s atmosphere now has 410 parts per million C02

NORTH KOREA Confusion on North Korean situation. RUSSIA ‘moves troops and equipment’ to North Korea border. USA spy plane over North Korea, increases preparations for THAAD antimissile system in South Korea. USA considers show of strength, shooting down North Korea missile tests.  CHINA praises US on nuclear issue, criticizes North Korea. North Korea Threatens Nuclear Strike On Australia.

USA.

• American State Dept certifies that Iran is complying with nuclear deal. Tillerson slams the deal anyway! US threat to ditch Iran nuclear deal.  Trump might want to rip up Iran nuclear agreement, but actually, he can’t.
• Trump’s changed attitude to NATO – he now wants it bigger and tougher.
• USA is building a nuclear missile that is more accurate than ever.  Simultaneous North Korean and American nuclear weapons tests. Double standards? US Conducts Successful Field Test Of  New Nuclear Bomb  New military posture review for Trump’s Pentagon.
• Trump Administration doesn’t know what to do about the Paris Climate Agreement.
• Trump plans for the nuclear industry put Americans in danger – Sen. Ed Markey speaks out! Videos.
•  Donald Trump “paranoid and delusional”, says a group of mental health experts. Bill in USA Congress aims to facilitate removal of a President.
• Demolition of Hanford Plutonium Finishing Plant to begin soon. Citizens not happy with U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission safety report. Delay in legal order to move plutonium stockpiled in South Carolina. Three Mile Island nuclear station could close anytime soon.
• Trump administration plans to eliminate climate data collection.

GREENLAND New and worrying studies on Greenland ice.

JAPAN. Japan to decommission 5 nuclear reactors – but where to put the wastes. Niigata governor dashes TEPCO’s hopes for reactor restarts in 2019. Six years after Fukushima – women and children still suffer most.

FRANCE. France’s next president is in for a big nuclear headache.

SOUTH AFRICA. Eskom seeks exemptions from nuclear procurement rules and regulations. South Africa’s Democratic Alliance will fight Eskom’s rushed nuclear procurement process.

BANGLADESH. Tragic climate change effects already there, in Bangladesh.

RUSSIA. Russia’s claims of ability to carry out Electronic Warfare.  Secret Floating Nuclear Power Plant to be fuelled all too close to city of St. Petersburg.

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

To 15 April – nuclear and climate news

Once again – weapons, and with the Syria conflict, the threat of nuclear war are in the news this week. South Korea tries to reassure citizens that U.S. won’t strike North Korea pre-emptively. Meanwhile cautious and problematic negotiations at at U.N. nuclear weapons ban treaty meeting.

The other big nuclear story is the dismal nuclear power industry prospects, after Westinghouse bankruptcy. Toshiba corporation might not survive its nuclear financial crisis.

Pre-emptive strike by USA on North Korea is on the cards, if North Korea conducts nuclear weapons test. North Korea has threatened “nuclear thunderbolts” at the first sign of a US preemptive strike.

Hans M. Kristensen on New START 2017: Russia Decreasing, US Increasing Deployed Warheads. Nuclear history, and the false promises of Generation IV reactors

In a radical change of pattern, Arctic warm water is being pushed to the surface. Global warming hitting Sub-Arctic wastelands, permafrost, more severely than expected.

March For Science 22 April . People’s Climate March 29 April.

CHINA. China warning North Korea against escalating tensions to an ‘irreversible’ stage.

IRAN. Foreign Ministers at G7 declare support for Iran nuclear agreement.  US reaffirms Iran nuclear agreement. Overall analysis of the Iran Nuclear Agreement.

USA. 

• For the first time, USA drops largest Non-Nuclear Bomb, in Afghanistan.
• Trump’s attack on Syria very good for his shares in missile-maker Raytheon.
• Pentagon’s new killing systems for space.
• American nuclear power industry prospects down the drain, after Westinghouse bankruptcy. Nuclear contractors not turning up for work amid Westinghouse woes. America’s nuclear power operators getting desperate for tax-payer subsidies. Ohio Lawmakers consider bailout for FirstEnergy nuclear plants.
• New radiation detection system begins operations at Port of Los Angeles.
• Geewhiz “new nuclear” lobby will try to hijack the March for Science.
• CLIMATE: California could get catastrophic sea level rise. Florida Emergency Declared as More Than 100 Wildfires Burn Across the State

SOUTH KOREA. South Korea’s nuclear power programme under threat, as Presidential candidates against nuclear or coal expansion.

UK. Toshiba’s financial woes – a bad omen for UK nuclear programme: is Moorside dead? UK’s Ministry of Defence brings in nuclear bigwig to run the £41bn programme for Dreadnought nuclear missile submarines.

JAPAN. IAEA chief urges global support for decommissioning Fukushima plant. Fukushima-linked bullying survey reveals hundreds more cases. Toshiba warns that it might not survive its nuclear financial crisis. Japan’s nuclear technology faces extinction.

RUSSIA. Russia’s plans for nuclear waste ships: but where will they dump the radioactive trash?

SOUTH AFRICA. South Africa’s new Finance Minister all set to rubber stamp nuclear build programme. Eskom says that South Africa has NOT signed any nuclear deal. South Africa’s ‘R1 trillion nuclear deal will guarantee SA ‘junk status’

EUROPE. Problems in Europe with Westinghouse nuclear fuel assemblies

April 15, 2017 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Nuclear news to 8 April

Weapons and war are in the news this week – well, even more than they usually are. US President Trump sent a missile strike attack on a Syrian military airfield, in the first direct American assault on the government of President Bashar al-Assad.  The reverberations of this continue around the world, and USA warns that there could be further attacks.  Trump did act without Congressional approval. There is debate about this – some say he  violated the US Constitution and the War Powers Resolution. Others say that Trump had legal authority to attack Syria. My own opinion – it is a worrying precedent.

The United Nations  held the global summit for a treaty on banning nuclear weapons .  1st round of nuclear weapons ban treaty talks ends, aims to draft treaty next month. North Korea remains a worry, as US President Trump and China’s President Xi begin an uneasy meeting. Meanwhile, Donald Trump expands the power of the President to declare war.

Arctic Sea Ice Volume Continues to Crater

USA is dramatically in the news this week, as I mention above.  Trump is taking a gamble in USA relations with Russia.

• The path to war? US legislation in Congress to unravel the Iran nuclear agreement.
• Trump’s plans to revive Yucca nuclear waste dump idea.
• Trump administration doesn’t want China to buy Westinghouse.
•  Owners of the failed San Onofre nuclear plan agree to relocate radioactive waste from the San Diego County coastline.
• Former Chernobyl neighbours hit with rare eye cancer
• A new load of pro nuclear twaddle from James Conca and “Generation Atomic”- marching “for science” on 22 April!!
•  Heartland Institute Peddling Misinformation to Teachers about Climate Change. Changes emerging, as some USA Republicans introduce to Congress the Republican Climate Resolution.

UK.   UK approves USA military strike on Syria, but not committed to military action.    Britain’s airports and nuclear power stations have been placed on a terror alert – cyber threat         Nuclear Decommissioning makes every other disaster in the post-war period pale into insignificance. Hunterston B and Hinkley Point B Nuclear – safety concerns. Ongoing collapse of UK’s Moorside nuclear project, as French nuclear industry mired in scandal. Who will put up the cash for Wylfa nuclear power project?

JAPAN. Reconstruction minister lashes out over remaining Fukushima evacuees. Reconstruction Disaster: The human implications of Japan’s forced return policy in Fukushima. Lifting Fukushima evacuation orders. After Fukushima, battling Tepco and leukemia. 60% of new utilities object to helping pay Fukushima compensation.  Real cost of Fukushima disaster to reach $626 billion. Think tank estimate triple that of government.

SOUTH AFRICA. President Zuma drastically reshuffles Cabinet, to make way for nuclear power development. Nuclear corruption in South Africa – new allegations. Did Russia’s nuclear lobby make Africa’s President get rid of Finance Minister Gordhan?.

INDIA.  Pakistan, India taking rival steps ‘to advance nuclear arsenals’  9 year old girl sues Indian government for inaction on climate change.

RUSSIA.  Russian warship headed towards US Navy destroyers who launched Syria attack.   Reactors from Russia are Unsafe and Unreliable, Says Russian Environmentalist

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

Nuclear, climate, news to 31 March

The United Nations has just held the first of two global summits to negotiate “a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination”.   This was sponsored by 57 nations, and with 125 nations represented, but the nuclear weapons-dependent  nations did not participate.

Does this mean that the conference is meaningless? Perhaps. Yet, increasingly, public opinion supports nuclear disarmament, and those governments are being challenged, to explain their support for nuclear weapons.

As for the “peaceful” nuclear industry – it is having a financial meltdown. Westinghouse’s bankruptcy, and Toshiba’s record loss, shed doubt on new nuclear build in America and Britain.

Globally, the Paris climate agreement will continue, while Trump Trashes U.S. Climate Policy.

Pope Francis backs nuclear weapons ban treaty. Buddhist Association joins Christian groups in support of historic UN nuclear weapons negotiations

Climate change forcing indigenous peoples from their homelands.

International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA): global economic growth possible with 2˚C scenario with Renewable Energy.

USA.

• America leads boycott of historic UN conference on nuclear weapons ban. $Trillions for nuclear weapons, as USA rejects UN nuclear ban conference.   How did the Pentagon lose $10 Trillion? Air Force B-2 to Get New Digital Nuclear Weapons.
• Would Trump stage a “terrorist situation” if his popularity went right down?
•  Will Westinghouse be able to complete any of its nuclear projects? South Carolina, Georgia, nuclear projects under the cloud of Westinghouse’s troubles. 
• Cover-up of America’s nuclear waste disaster: Hanford, Oak Ridge, Los Alamos, Westlake….  Concern about nuclear waste shipments to South Carolina.
• Remembering Three Mile Island.
• Nuclear power, once the “golden goose” for small towns – now a liability.
• Another pretend-environmental nuclear front group joins the throng- “Environmental Progress”.
• Trump attack, in his war on science and on the Earth’s climate.
• Governors of New York and California Reaffirm Commitment to Exceeding Targets of the Clean Power Plan. Wisconsin and Louisiana cities join 23 others in USA, in going for 100% renewable energy.
• Great Barrier Reef bleaching? No, according to Breitbart, that is fake news.

JAPAN.  11,000 Wikileaks documents related to Fukushima.   Residents furious over high court decision to revoke Takahama nuclear plant injunction. TEPCO fails to pinpoint melted fuel at Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.

NORTH KOREA. Need for America and China to work together on North Korean situation.

UK.  Ireland demands to be consulted on potential effects of nuclear power station on England’s west coast.   Nuclear decommissioning debacle is costly for Britain. Britain will struggle with nuclear regulatory system, after leaving European Union. Britain’s Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) sounds alarm over doctored papers and security breaches at French nuclear parts supplier.  As if in a department store sale day, foreign nuclear companies compete to sell their radioactive products to Britain.

UKRAINE. Danger to Europe of Ukraine’s nuclear corruption.

March 31, 2017 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

The week in nuclear and climate news

CLIMATE. The worrying thing about climate change is not only that it’s happening so fast, but that it could now be seen as “normal”. The  World Meteorological Organisation is telling us that the world climate is now in  ‘uncharted territory’.

This month, my websites have focused on MEDIA. And that scene is worrying, too, as mainstream media has trivialised or ignored climate change. . However, that might now be changing.

NUCLEAR. As climate change risks becoming “normalised”, so, too, does the Fukushima situation. As if the 6th anniversary is over – now we can all ‘move on’?  Deadly nuclear radiation levels detected in Fukushima.  80% of families not going back to Fukushima after housing aid ends. Fukushima fishermen fight release of tainted water as tritium standoff continues.  Yakuza gangsters thriving. And lots more…

New Study: Rapid Transition to Renewable Energy Helps Global Economy, Prevents Worst Climate Impacts

USA.

• March Climate Madness — Wildfires, Scorching Summer Heat Strike Central and Southwestern U.S. By Winter’s End
• North Korea nuclear program is ‘imminent’ threat says Rex Tillerson.  Trump govt to review decades-old US aim of world without nuclear weapons.  Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017 introduced into US Congress. Sound reasons for USA not to replace Land-Based Nuclear Missiles.
• New York State lawmakers push for details on nuclear plant subsidies.  Nearly 70 locally elected officials in New York call to stop pro nuclear subsidies. American electricity consumers in Eastern States stand to lose $3.9 Billion because of aid to nuclear industry.
• Some US Republicans are worried about President Trump’s mental state.

JAPAN.   Japan stages mass evacuation drills, following North Korean missile launches.  Toshiba’s financial meltdown set off by nuclear power plans. Govt plans A Campaign to Tackle “Misinformation” about Radioactive Contamination. Japanese companies exploit refugees for Fukushima radioactive clean-up work.

NORTH KOREA. North Korea’s Capability Has Entered A ‘New Phase’ – warns U.N. Nuclear Inspector Yukiya Amano.

INDIA. India could launch ‘preemptive’ nuclear strike against Pakistan, says expert.India Already Facing Water Shortages Ahead of Dry Season

UK. Request by UN to Britain: Pause Hinkley Nuclear Plant Work for Environmental Assessment.   As Toshiba’s $500m nuclear bankruptcy looms, Britain’s Moorside project could be  doubtful. Campaign groups mobilise against UK’s Bradwell nuclear power project.

NORWAY. At Svanhovd another tiny measurement of radioactive iodine – ongoing release?

RUSSIA. Russia developing Major Naval Base for Nuclear Warships in Syria.

PERU.  Signals of Climate Change Visible as Record Fires Give Way to Massive Floods in Peru

SOUTH AFRICA. South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) organising anti nuclear petition

March 24, 2017 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

This week’s nuclear and climate news

I scratch around for good news. There is plenty, on the renewable energy scene. And this: CO2 emissions from energy remain flat for third year running.  Total number of global nuclear weapons has dropped.

Not so good news. Disaster looms over North Korea: how could this be stopped? US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, rejects negotiation with North Korea, and keeps journalists out. Tillerson considers a pre-emptive strike against North Korea.

Massive amounts of heat being stored in the oceans.   G20 will not be mentioning that nasty left-wing phrase “climate change”.

EUROPE. The very serious threat of sea level rise.

USA.

• Trump budget would boost nuclear weapons spending, slash diplomatic and aid programmes. Savage attack on the environment: the Trump budget. Trump’s budget attack on science.
• Ethics Groups Send Letter to US Attorney Preet Bharara Requesting Investigation of Trump; Within Days Preet was Fired Along with 45 Other US Attorneys.  Rupert Murdoch to gain by Trump firing attorney Preet Bharara.
• Trump’s divide and conquer tactics produce a toxic White House environment.
•  Republican senator slams Trump’s Nevada nuclear waste dump plan.
• Connecticut lawmakers want to call nuclear power “renewable”.
•  Grandfather and granddaughter join forces prevent nuclear doom.
• Thorough research to be done on uranium health effects on Navajo Nation.
• Massive economic costs of climate change.

JAPAN. 

• Japanese Govt. and TEPCO Found Liable by Court for Fukushima Disaster.
•  The illusion of normality at Fukushima.  Six years after outbreak of crisis, Fukushima nuclear workers continue to face slander, discrimination: survey.  Japanese school children who survived Fukushima meltdown are being subjected to ‘nuclear bullying,  Singapore keeping in place Fukushima food import curbs. Olympics being hyped to portray Fukushima nuclear disaster as ‘now OK”
• TEPCO cancels robotic probe of reactor 1. Plan to tunnel under the reactor buildings to remove melted fuel.
• Toshiba might have to pay the buyer, to take failed nuclear unit off its hands.

UK. UK government boycotts UN nuclear disarmament talks.  UK plans for small nuclear reactors stalling. Bechtel pulls out. UK’s Moorside nuclear project in more doubt, with Toshiba’s crisis.

RUSSIA. Russia Plans to Fuel Floating Nuclear Reactor(s) in St. Petersburg – Endangering the City of 5 Million, Before Towing It Around Scandinavia. Russia will pay Kenya to buy its nuclear technology.

TAIWAN. Taiwan govt reaffirms aim to phase out nuclear power by 2025. Thousands in Taiwan protest against nuclear power, demand low carbon sustainable energy.

TURKEY. Call for Turkey to get its own nuclear weapons.

FRANCE. Areva factory for nuclear parts gets poor report from regulator.

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

Fukushima, 2020 Olympics, and other news this week

Japan and the sporting world are cheerfully preparing for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. It will bring in 32.3 trillion yen. And goody – they’re going to have trans gender toilets! Forget about Fukushima. That’s all fixed up. But, actually, – No!  Fukushima remains a lurking global catastrophe. Despite the propaganda, Fukushima nuclear clean-up is not under control.

• Attempts to use robots to find and assess the melted fuel within the reactors have failed: the robots died of heat and radiation. 
• Over 1000 tanks around the nuclear station hold 900,000 tons of  radioactive water, with the quantity soon expected to reach 1m tons.
• The costly “ice wall” around the No 1 reactor has not really worked,  to prevent radioactive water getting into the groundwater.
• Fukushima laden with piles of radioactive soil that can’t be moved into storage
• 32,000 workers at Fukushima No. 1 got high radiation dose, Tepco data show.

Fukushima nuclear disaster evacuees pressured to return to contaminated homes.  About 40 percent of 42 local leaders along the coasts of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures doubt their areas will recover by the time of the 2020 Tokyo Games due to the ongoing Fukushima nuclear crisis. Link between the Fukushima nuclear meltdown and thyroid cancer in children?. Roaming, radioactive boars slow the return of Japan’s nuclear refugees. Financial crunch time looms for Fukushima’s ‘voluntary evacuees’.

(I’ve left out heaps. – especially on climate and renewable energy)

Nuclear lobbyists in disarray on what to do about the nuclear industry’s crisis.

USA. Trump brinkmanship as B-52 NUCLEAR BOMBERS sent to South Korea. Trump administration locks out the media, retreats into secrecy. EPA – USA’s Environment Punishing Agency Now – as Scott Pruitt promotes climate change denialism. The Trump and Congressional Republican Assault on Our Environment.

NORTH KOREA. Nuclear warning from North Korea.

JAPAN. Reasons for Japan to dump nuclear power more obvious now than ever.

March 12, 2017 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 1 Comment

The week in climate and nuclear news

The most significant article of the week comes from 3 very  distinguished writers, in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists,  in explaining how the USA’s military upgrade means a vast expansion of the killing power of the most numerous warhead in the US nuclear arsenal, with the ability to launch a”first strike”. Consequently, the Russians are   gravely concerned, and are developing new sea-based weapons.

President Trump’s  rather sweet  and antiseptic speech to Congress, avoided his previous bellicose promises, but did mention a big increase in defense spending, though not how he would pay for that.

CLIMATE.  With New El Nino Predicted, 3rd Hottest January on Record May be Cool Mark for 2017. Rapid spread of ocean acidification in the Arctic.  Antarctic Sea Ice Hits New All-Time Record Low. Huge slabs of permafrost disintegrating in Northwest Canada. Famine Warning Issued in Four Countries Following Worst African Droughts in Decades.  Experts gather at Vatican conference with call to avoid ‘biological extinction’.

NUCLEAR 

EUROPE. Europe’s wild boars posing a radioactive problem

UK.  Up to £219 billion to clean up the UK’s nuclear mess: autonomous robots to be developed.  Britain’s Failing New Nuclear Programme. UK taxpayers up for tens of billions of pounds sterling as govt bends to pressure to build new nuclear reactors.  Hinkley Point C – “risky and poor value for money” – House of Lords Committee. New Nuclear Reactors in Jeopardy because of Brexit?   “Small Nuclear” lobby not very happy – says taxpayer funding is essential. Oil and gas boss appointed to run UK’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

JAPAN  The spin begins- sanitising Fukushima for the Olympics.  TEPCO blunders raise doubts on ability as nuke plant operator.    Daunting obstacles to Fukushima cleanup, even as evacuees move back.  Bribery scandal over Fukushima decontamination.

SOUTH KOREA. Amid Nuclear Reactor Radiation Fears, South Korea Abandons Japan Airport Flights.

USA. How Donald Trump manipulates media news anchors. Trump’s renewed attack on news media.     Scott Pruitt appointed as EPA chief in order to destroy EPA? : his emails revealed.

Worker sneaked a gun into a nuclear power station. US Senators introduce Bill to promote easier licensing of nuclear reactors.  Georgia Power Suspends Study for Nuclear Plant Near Columbus.  America’s Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) itself has nuclear safety culture problems.

INDIA.  India launches nuclear destroyer missile.   India forced to back out of nuclear project sites, due to local opposition.

March 5, 2017 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 1 Comment

Nuclear and climate news for past 10 days

Blissfully away from news, and from all matters digital, –   I returned to find that the climate and environment politics are worse than ever in USA and Australia.

Meanwhile, on the nuclear scene, things would be farcical, if they were not so dangerous. Donald Trump wants to expand US nuclear arsenal, make it ‘top of the pack’. Australia’s own Dr Helen  Caldicott set out all too  clearly the grim situation at Fukushima Daiichi  nuclear  complex.

The farcical  part is in the nuclear lobby’s pretense that theirs is a viable industry. As the giant Toshiba corporation nears bankruptcy, and nuclear power stations go down like dominoes in USA, it’s really only China where the industry still might save itself. And that’s dubious, too.

Global action is needed, NOW, to defeat the out-of-control Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Effect of air pollution might have masked mid-20th Century sea ice loss.

EUROPE. Iodine 131 reported in Europe in January 2017 – European radiation facts revealed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_30LrqgHqg   Radiation ‘sniffer plane’ over Europe.

USA.

• Oh dear! Transatomic Power has been making false claims about Generation IV nuclear reactors.
• Squabble in West Texas over stranded nuclear wastes.
• Florida Supreme Court rejects nuclear expansion.
• Bexar County commissioners say no to nuclear waste shipments. On both sides o f USA-Canada border, opposition grows to transport of nuclear wastes.
• Fight building in Connecticut against subsidies for nuclear power.
• Link between nuclear power stations and cancer rates?
• New Mexico bill stalled – would have classed nuclear power as “renewable”
• USA confirms use of depleted uranium in Syria, despite its previous promises
• America’s nuclear weapons made workers very ill  
• Trump’s associates and USA conservatives to wage war on environmentalists.  Attacks on climate scientists will continue.
• Growing concern over Trump’s mental condition.

JAPAN.  Almost six years on, Fukushima nuclear disaster still ongoing nightmare. Global nuclear catastrophe waits in the wings, as Japan plans for Olympics.  Fukushima nuclear disaster evacuees ‘pressured’ to return to contaminated homes, says Greenpeace. Nuclear station restart at Oi is approved – but local consent is needed.   Toshiba’s c rippling burden of its overseas nuclear business.

SOUTH AFRICA. Court case to save South Africa from nuclear-industry caused bankruptcy.

FRANCE. Long closure of Flamanville nuclear reactor is costing EDF £1m a day.

CHINA. China delays nuclear reactor start again and again. Opposition to nuclear power grows. China’s culture, and the fear of speaking out on environmental concerns.

INDIA. Solar power for 7,000 Railway Stations In India.

PAKISTAN. Pakistan and India have agreed to extend their bilateral nuclear safety agreement.

RUSSIA. Russia lessening its reliance on nuclear weapons.

ALGERIA. Algerian human rights agency to prosecute France for nuclear tests.

UNITED ARAB  EMIRATES. Arab states might develop nuclear weapons? United Arab Emirates push for nuclear power

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

The week that was, in climate and nuclear news

I don’t know which is the worst news this week – climate or nuclear.   But I am going away for a week on a boat, WITH NO ACCESS TO ANYTHING DIGITAL.  I can’t wait. I’m taking one of those old things we all used to use – A BOOK.

But I digress:

CLIMATE. I hardly know where to start. I think that the worst thing is  connected with the collapse of journalism – as articles appear denouncing climate scientists as “frauds”. This, despite the 97 percent scientific consensus on climate change.

NUCLEAR. Remarkable apathy prevails, as nuclear weapons tensions hot up.

INTERNATIONAL

CLIMATE  January sea ice volume is lowest on record, by a considerable margin. Global warming might accelerate, due to the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation, “El Tío” (the uncle).

NUCLEAR. Delays, ballooning costs, stall Next-Generation Nuclear Reactors.    Uranium companies having ‘worst time ever’.

USA.

• Trump has no skills to negotiate foreign relations, but he can unleash nuclear war. Trump’s chief advisor, Steve Bannon and his obsession with war.  Trump didn’t know what the New START nuclear treaty was, but wanted to get rid of it.  Pentagon urges Trump to expand nuclear weapons, ready for “limited” atomic war.
• SOMETIMES there’s A BIT of good news at Hanford nuclear facility.
• Was the Nuclear Control Room Panel Fire at Quad Cities Caused By a Defective GE-Hitachi Switch?
• Risks in nuclear wastes being transported through Texas cities.
• USA Nuclear officials killed study on whether reactors posed cancer risk to nearby residents  ‘The cancer rates have surged enormously due to high levels of radiation’
• US nuclear industry looks to Trump to change nuclear regulation rules.
• Florida Power and Light, and the costly nuclear mess it is in.

FRANCE. Explosion in engine room at Flamanville nuclear station. A legal breakthrough for French Polynesia’s nuclear test victims. France’s Next President Said to Face $3 Billion Nuclear Hangover.

JAPAN.   Toshiba’s nuclear dominoes collapsing . Hitachi to take a 70 billion yen hit after U.S nuclear project fails.  Beyond nuclear power: Japan’s smart energy communities mushroom.  Robot could not cope with the radiation levels inside damaged Fukushima nuclear reactor. Lost in translation: Fukushima readings are not new spikes, just the same “hot mess” that’s always been there.  Fukushima nuclear disaster: Worker sues Tepco over cancer

UK.  Blow to UK nuclear strategy as Toshiba considers pulling out of Cumbria plant  Europe’s biggest nuclear construction project now hangs in the balance. Harmless radiation” – the message from Britain’s fake charity Weinberg Next Nuclear

CANADA. Nuclear waste dump saga continues in Canada

CHINA. China more than doubled solar capacity in 2016

SOUTH AFRICA Civil society organisations call on President Jacob Zuma to scrap South Africa nuclear deal.

SOUTH KOREA. Seoul Administrative Court finds in favour of local residents, orders closure of nuclear facility.

PAKISTAN. Pakistan demands that India bring its nuclear programme under International Atomic Energy Commission (IAEA)’s safeguards.

INDIA. Toshiba to withdraw from Indian nuclear projects

RUSSIA Russia finally admits to a nuclear reactor failure that it covered up for 2 months

February 10, 2017 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

The past week in nuclear and climate news

How good it would be to be able to ignore Donald Trump! But he sees to it that this is pretty much impossible, in any current affairs media. On the nuclear scene, many worry a lot:

• about his choice of  Steve Bannon on the National Security Council – “Unsupervised by people who know what they’re doing. Trump and Bannon could bring the world closer to a nuclear holocaust.“
•  Pentagon urges Trump to expand nuclear weapons, ready for “limited” atomic war.
• Thanks to Trump’s comments on climate change and nuclear arms we are once again close to nuclear war. 
• USA intelligence agencies to study whether the Russian and Chinese leadership could survive a nuclear attack
• Dangerous steps by Russia and Trump on nuclear arms control

Meanwhile the global nuclear industry is in financial crisis.  And Fukushima nuclear reactor radiation at highest level since 2011 meltdown.

Trump is having his impact on climate change news and action, too.

Joint Statements on Climate Change from National Academies of Science Around the World.

Antarctic Sea Ice Likely to Hit New All-Time Record Lows Over Coming Days.

Delays, ballooning costs, stall Next-Generation Nuclear Reactors

UK.

• Decision to leave Euratom leaves Britain’s nuclear industry floundering. Britain’s nuclear safety at risk as they pull out of Euratom.  Fake charity (nuclear lobby) The Weinberg Foundation is whining about Britain leaving Euratom.
•  British government now being urged to guarantee Moorside nuclear funding.  Blow to UK nuclear strategy as Toshiba considers pulling out of Cumbria plant. Europe’s biggest nuclear construction project now hangs in the balance.

JAPAN. Radiation in Fukushima reactor containment vessel at deadly level: TEPCO.   Fukushima nuclear disaster: Worker sues Tepco over cancer.  Niigata governor Ryuichi Yoneyama stands firm against restart of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant.

Hitachi to take a 70 billion yen hit after U.S nuclear  project fails.     Toshiba’s financial woes continue – about to be sued by trust banks. Toshiba to withdraw from nuclear plant construction, chairman to quit.

IRAN.     Iran tested ballistic missile, but did not breach nuclear agreement

USA. US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis warns NKorea against nuclear attack .  Fear of nuclear war leads Texans to build expensive bunkers.   America’s EPA head announces pullout from a global pact to cut emissions.  A Washington State judge uses doubt on climate change as legal cause to block a climate activist’s defense.

FRANCE. France’s next President to face costly propping up of the nuclear industry. China decides against taking stake in Areva .

INDIA. Toshiba to withdraw from Indian nuclear projects.

SOUTH AFRICA Only government-owned nuclear companies have responded to Eskom on nuclear marketing.

GREENLAND. Greenland – environment future threatened by mining for uranium and rare earths.

February 4, 2017 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Climate and nuclear news, in this last week of January

Much as I hate joining the throng paying attention to that global narcissist, I must admit the fact that Donald Trump’s statements and actions are provoking reactions in America and around the world. On many important issues, such as torture, and religious discrimination, people are responding with alarm. Equally worrying are his policies on  climate and nuclear matters, and his attacks on science and journalism.

I am reminded of a kindergarten teacher, explaining the real message of a child’s bad behaviour “How bad to I have to be before somebody stops me”

I did get some macabre amusement from this news item- Under Trump, nuclear lobby to dump the argument about climate change.

Thanks to Donald Trump, the Doomsday Clock ticks closer to apocalypse

Strong business case to go 100 % renewable – leading global companies

Sea level rise more rapid than expected.

EUROPE. Europe and northern hemisphere warming fast: Europe faces droughts, floods

USA.

• Linda Gunter busts the spin of America’s “new nuclear” salesmen.
• Yet more corruption in the nuclear industry.
• Donald Trump now repressing scientists.   American scientists are now organizing their own march on Washington.
• Trump’s first White House website post – will scrap Climate Action Plan‘
• Despite nuclear tensions, Americans have continued to send humanitarian aid to North Korea.
• Across America’s heartland, Democrats and Republicans embrace renewable energy. Pope Francis has influenced USA Republicans to shift climate views.
• Largest Offshore Wind Project in America planned for New York

JAPAN. Plans to remove nuclear fuel at Fukushima N° 3 reactor delayed again.  Radiation Measured 16μSv/h at Ground Level in Namie-cho, Fukushima. On February 14, Toshiba will reveal extent of U.S. nuclear business writedown.

UK. Another British nuclear mishap kept secret – the Scottish cold war nuclear submarine collision.  Theresa May kept quiet, but SHE KNEW about the test missile mishap. With election coming, British government covered up serious missile test incident.Trident whistleblower tells RT he ‘witnessed 4 unreported missile test failures

Nuclear energy corporation EDF lobbies UK govt to weaken safety rules. Toshiba desperately seeking funding for UK nuclear project, seeks tax-payer subsidy.

CHINA. China’s new nuclear missile deployment – in response to Donald Trump?    China deploys nuclear missiles to the Russia-China border in the northeast Heilongjiang province.

PAKISTAN. Pakistan test-fires nuclear missile capable of hitting multiple targets

FRANCE. Closure of Fessenheim nuclear plant approved by EDF

SOUTH KOREA. South Koreans alarmed about nuclear weapons – uncertainty about Donald Trump.

CHILE. Chilean Wildfires are Worst to Ever Strike the Country

January 27, 2017 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment