nuclear-news

The week that was, in climate and nuclear news

CLIMATE CHANGE disruption – the future is happening now. Destructive Wildfire near Canada’s Oil Sands May Have Been Fueled by Global Warming. Climate change is taking its toll on water supplies, and especially – on children. Month after month, global average temperatures reach record heights. Ocean’s small shelled animals suffering from acidification due to global warming.

Children Suffer Nuclear Impact Worldwide.

Leaked TTIP documents cast doubt on EU-US trade deal.

USA.

• Exelon nuclear corporation demands tax-payer bailout for its uneconomic power plants.
• Continuing nuclear waste leak at Hanford.
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission to re-analyse costs of potential impact of severe accident At Indian Point.
• Documents reveal poor performance of Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility (MOX).
• Respiratory diseases, radioactive fumes – concerns in St Louis County, USA.
• Radiation from Santa Susana Field Laboratory in California causing cancers, but this is hushed up.
• Parents near nuclear plant concerned about evacuation plans.
• Sanders and Clinton split on future of Indian Point nuclear station.
• USA’s Energy Dept program ‘Orange Button’ will bring down costs of solar power.

UK. Global danger in transporting nuclear wastes by plane.

CANADA. Cameco cuts back on mining uranium, as market stays slumped.

Former Electricite de France SA Chief Financial Officer says he quit because of financial risks of Hinkley nuclear project. UK nuclear parts made at French plant in fakery probe. ‘400 irregularities’ in nuclear power plant parts – admits France’s nuclear firm AREVA.

OCEANIA. Nuclear shipwreck still highly radioactive over 60 years later.

JAPAN. Fukushima and the Right NOT to Return: Nuclear Displacement in a System for “Hometown Recovery”

NORTH KOREA. North Korea’s nuclear program.

May 7, 2016 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

1 May: nuclear news for the past week

Late news flashes:

• Australia’s submarine purchase from France in cahoots with nuclear lobby‘s plan for expansion of nuclear industry, Australia as world’s nuclear trash dump,  to be announced on May 6 by the sham South Australia Nuclear Fuel Chain Royal Commission.
• The seller, France’s corporation Direction des Constructions et Armes Navales (DCNS) is notorious for corruption.

Most impressive news item of the week – Central bankers, financial facts, bringing an end to the nuclear power era?

NUCLEAR 

The next nuclear disaster will probably be an intentional one.

Concern over influence on World Health Organisationby outside agencies, with  financial support

UKRAINE.  Ukraine’s nuclear industry remains a time bomb. The real menace of the Chernobyl nuclear situation.  Mikhail Gorbachev: 30 years after Chernobyl, time to phase out nuclear power. Covering shattered Chernobyl nuclear reactor – a financial problem for Ukraine.   Over 2 million people receiving benefits due to radiation effects of Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

At Chernobyl and Fukushima, radioactivity hasseriously harmed wildlife.   Thyroid Cancer in Fukushima Children: When the Language and Information Gaps Mislead. Indoor playgrounds help Fukushima families to deal with their very real fear of radiation.

JAPAN.  Series of earthquakes is delaying Japan’s ‘nuclear revival’. Toshiba to lose 260 billion yen due tolosses over Westinghouse nuclear power subsidiary.  Fukushima plant’s new ice wall not watertight.

USA.

• A second double-shell tank leaking radiation at Hanford?
• Idaho in danger from nuclear waste, and must be protected.
• California State Senate demands removal of stored nuclear waste from San Onofre power plant.
• US Senate Efforts to Do Away with Mandatory Licensing Hearings for So-Called Advanced Nuclear Reactors-Small Modular Reactors. US Senate Bill 2795 on Deregulation of the Nuclear Industry.

UK and FRANCE. So-called “charity” nuclear front, Alvin Weinberg Foundation, group lobbies UK govt to fund Small Nuclear Reactors. Westinghouse keen to fleece UK tax-payers with Small Modular Nuclear Reactors.

France’s government says decision on Hinkley nuclear plant is again delayed. European law means it is illegal for France’s govt to fund EDF’s  British Hinkley nuclear project. France’s tax-payers  give €3bn to save debt-ridden nuclear corporation EDF.

GERMANY’s compromise plan to make power companies pay for nuclear waste disposal. Germany wrestles with the dilemma of disposing of dead nuclear reactors and their toxic wastes. Computer viruses have infected German nuclear power station.

BELGIUM Most of Belgium’s population to be given potassium iodide pills.

SWEDEN Vattenhall nuclear corporation in financial trouble, opposes nuclear risk premium, seeks to abolish Swedish tax.

CLIMATE. USA Republicans – half of them accept the science of climate change. Austria losing to climate change its most precious environmental resource – glaciers. Climate Feedback helps climate scientists toevaluate media stories.

RENEWABLE ENERGY A solar-powered flight across the Pacific – the Solar Impulse 2 arrives in California. USA Republicans now liking renewable energy – for financial, not climate, reasons. USA wind energy investment – over $128 Billion. Denmark’s solar energy growth – way ahead of schedule.

May 1, 2016 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 1 Comment

Australia to follow Britain into an even worse nuclear deal with France

A year ago, the nuclear lobby managed to get a spurious Nuclear Royal Commission going in Australia. Stacked with pro nuclear enthusiasts, this Commission spent a heap of tax-payer money touring global nuclear companies. They especially spent time in France.

On May 6th, the Commission will announce its findings, (already decided upon at the beginning). This will be that the State of South Australia should set up the full nuclear fuel chain, but starting with importing the world’s radioactive trash, (In Australia, hardly anyone knows about this, as it has been  kept as a matter for just one State, and not publicised nationally.

NOW, by a ?strange coincidence, Australia has decided to buy, at huge expense, nuclear submarines from France. They will be fuelled by diesel, not nuclear, – but the switch to nuclear can be made later, when Australia’s inconvenient anti nuclear laws have been overturned.

Just when the UK has got itself locked into a very dubious nuclear deal with France, Australia is about to do an even worse one.

“The company involved , the Direction des Constructions et Armes Navales, now partly privatised and named DCNS, is a lady with a shady past,

May 1, 2016 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Climate and Nuclear News This week

CLIMATE. Paris climate negotiations ahead of schedule.  World powers worried at effects of climate change, drought, causing conflicts.  UN study of  cap at 1.5 degrees Celsius – it may not be feasible. Hillary Clinton unsuited to task of confronting climate change, too enmeshed in corporate thinking. New campaign ‘Two Degrees of Change’ urges female executives to demand action on climate change.  Rapid collapse of ice shelves in Antarctica.  Sea level rise has been underestimated – new ice studies suggest.  Warm, Southerly Winds Gust to Hurricane Force Over Greenland in Staggering Early Season Heatwave — Temperatures Now Hitting up to 41 Degrees (F) Above Average at Summit

Widespread support for Church of England’s stand against Exxon Mobil.  Religious groups urge US lawmakers to approve funding for Green Climate Fund (GCF).   Climate Change Threatening Mt Everest. Climate change affecting India: Severe Drought, Water Shortages  In Australia, and everywhere else, oil and gas lobbies pay shills to obstruct action on climate change. Big Oil spends up Big to thwart climate change action.

RENEWABLE ENERGY. Global renewable energy boom, with Asia Pacific at the heart of it.

EDF in America going for wind power, abandoning nuclear. Wind power in America in a big way, and transmission grid development. Wind power – the big buy-up by big companies.  Jobs boom in USA States with wind power development.  India: Gujarat’s government increases solar energy incentives, with rooftop subsidy.

NUCLEAR. 

WORLD. Russian naval officer who saved the world from nuclear war.

Statistical analysis indicates that we can expect more severe nuclear accidents. Nuclear industry up to their old tricks, spruiking “new nuclear“.   $Billions being spent on research for Small Modular Nuclear Reactors, that are unlikely to be viable.  Allison MacFarlane on nuclear safety.

JAPAN. Just 74 miles from Sendai nuclear station, strong earthquake hits Japan. Under the radar. Japan’s nuclear development pushed along by USA think tank, a nuclear front– Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).  Bribery allegations result in resignation of Japanese economy minister Akira Amari. The TPP was negotiated in secret, and now one of the chief negotiators is accused of taking bribes.

Fukushima – the irradiation of a nation. Fukushima’s evacuees have radiation-caused illnesses, but this is covered up in Japan. Braving danger and radiation for chance to earn 11,000 yen a day. Cheated every step of the way: a raw deal from subcontractors.  Radioactive wild boars rampaging around Fukushima nuclear site.

EUROPE.German nuclear centre a target for Paris terrorist?. According to German intelligence, terrorist Salah Abdeslam did not have German nuclear files.  In Europe, nuclear industry needs EUR 450 billion to survive. Luxembourg would pay France to shut down all too near nuclear power station. Dangerous state of aging nuclear reactors in Ukraine.

USA

• Hillary Clinton calls Donald Trump “reckless” on nuclear policy.
• Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) still not open, and USA’s toxic nuclear waste mounts. Expanded nuclear waste role for USA’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant.  USA Energy Dept moving away from dangerous MOX nuclear fuel plan.
• Plymouth needs an unbiased Nuclear Committee to advise on decommissioning Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station.  Pilgrim nuclear power plant not to close until 2019.
• Holtec nuclear waste company gets special safety exemptions!
• American nuclear engineer arrested for allegedly secretly helping China’s nuclear program.

UK vulnerable to cyberattack if planned nuclear deal with China goes ahead.

IRAQ. Radiation effects of depleted uranium continue to bring disease and death in Iraq.

April 15, 2016 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

11 April: the week in climate, nuclear and corruption news

This week, I stray even further away from the narrow focus on things nuclear. It’s impossible not to notice the achievements of investigative reporters, collaborating across the globe, to reveal widespread corruption in the oil industry, and in the finance industry.  In both cases, hundreds of journalists worked for a year in bringing these facts together.  I’m glad I’ve been watching the BBC series John le Carre’s “The Night Manager” – helped me to understand how corruption works, including legalised corruption. But I digress  even worse.

There’s another massive global corruption going on, and this is the corruption of science. Our grandchildren and great grandchildren will have cause to blame us, as governments, industries, media, join in complacency, or even downright denial, of the reality of anthropogenic climate change. A major source of information on climate change is ra ra at http://www.ecoshock.org/ – where you will learn that that there really is no time to lose: climate change may be happening faster than we all thought.

Equally important, but “under the radar”, is corruption in the nuclear industry. That hasn’t been investigated yet, but are we to believe that the nuclear industry is squeaky clean?  At least two aspects of science corruption are lies promoted by the industry – the lie that nuclear power will save the climate, and the lie that low dose ionising radiation is harmless, even good for you.  I suspect that there is more to come.

CLIMATE CHANGE – happening faster than we expected.

Surprise surprise !  The UNAOIL and the Panama    corruption crises are interlocked. 

IN BRIEF.

• Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists analyses outcome of The Nuclear Security Summit.
• Renewable energy and new technologies undercutting price of nuclear power.
• Self styled “Pro Nuclear Environmentalists (PNEs) are just not credible on Chernobyl radiation.
•  France suggests UK’s Hinkley Point nuclear project could still be postponed.
• Nuclear confidence trick: the ‘swap’ of UK’s nuclear wastes for ‘medical isotopes’. UK sending nuclear wastes to America – dangerous and unwise.

April 10, 2016 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Nuclear confidence trick: the ‘swap’ of UK’s nuclear wastes for ‘medical isotopes’

This transfer of wastes to USA is such a con job. It’s portrayed as a “win win”. What a lie!

First of all, medical radioisotopes can be obtained without use of nuclear reactor, as Canada is now doing. By use of non nuclear cyclotrons – linear accelerators, these radioisotopes (most being very short-lived) can be made close to the point of use – a much more practical system.

Second, the whole transport idea is bizarrely unsafe – passing through or over communities, waterways – risk of accident, of terrorism.

Thirdly, it is madness to set up this “exchange” plan, in order to prolong this noxious industry, and with that silly figleaf of nuclear medicine tacked on top of it. Blind Freddy could see that the number one priority is to stop making radioactive trash

April 6, 2016 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 2 Comments

The past week in nuclear and climate news

It’s getting harder, and more ridiculous, to separate nuclear issues from fossil fuel issues. Nuclear and coal power are really intertwined, indeed depending on each other, and both contributing to global warming.

And now there’s the global oil corruption scandal, which really can’t be ignored.

NUCLEAR SECURITY SUMMIT Four dangers overlooked . Absence of Russia at nuclear security summit. US and UK to do cyber attack tests on a nuclear power plant.

CLIMATE and ENERGY   By 2018 world must shift to zero carbon, to avoid extra dangerous global warming.  USA and China – joint statement: both will sign Paris climate deal. Rockefeller to ditch oil, gas, holdings on ethical and economic grounds: criticises Exxon Mobil    Clean coal” technology is not working.   Renewable energy taking overthe world- already.   Report: Clean Energy Economy Employs More than 2.5 Million Americans, Poised for More Growth.

Global Marketing frenzy to sell nuclear reactors to the Middle East.

UK.

• Terrorism threat to Britain’s nuclear facilities is increasing – warns Nuclear Regulator.   Transatlantic flights with nuclear waste cargo – an unacceptable danger.
• Chinese nuclear corporation decides not to get involved in UK’s dubious Hinkley nuclear project. Further doubt on future of Hinkley Point nuclear project, as costs rise again. EDF senior engineers call for delay in UK Hinkley nuclear power development.
• British churches going green, going for renewable energy.
• Britain now boasts world’s largest floating solar energy farm.

USA.  

Donald Trump would contemplate dropping nuclear bomb on Europe.  White House says Donald Trump’s nuclear policy is ‘catastrophic’.  Donald Trump and Ted Cruz agree on undoing Obama’s climate action work.

The coming wave of shutdowns of old nuclear reactors in America. Troubled history of New York’s Indian Point nuclear power station. Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station desperate for money: call for taxpayer funding.

North Dakota rejects plan for experimental deep borehole (preliminary test for nuclear waste disposal)  Radiation in seafood. Is that why California bans commercial crab fishing?

Community solar power now getting the backing of energy utilities.

BELGIUM. All about the terrorists’ plan to attack Belgium’s nuclear power station

CHINA is building a national electricity grid. And “China pushes for mandatory integration of renewable power. Co-operation on super grid – China, Pakistan, South Korea. Global electricity network – China’s plan.

RUSSIA building new multiple-warhead nuclear missiles.

JAPAN  journalists under pressure from government.  “

• City” of Waste: Fukushima Cleanup Now Up to 10.7 Million 1-ton Bags of Radioactive Waste.
• Multiple rivers in Fukushima Prefecture have radioactive sediments.
• Tepco starts freezing soil around Fukushima plant reactors   Ice wall at Fukushima plant switched on, but will it work?
• Public-private council launched to turn Fukushima into green energy hub.

AFRICA. New proof that South Africa planned a binding nuclear deal with Russia.

INDIA. Rural Indians’ lawsuit against coal power plant is dismissed by USA judge.

April 2, 2016 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

26 March latest nuclear news

Wake up World! Belgium terrorist attack shows vulnerability of nuclear facilities. And it’s not just nuclear reactors- it’s ANY nuclear or radioactive facilities.

CLIMATE. Highest in 666 million years – today’s carbon emissions. World Meteorological Organization — Dangerous Climate Future Has Arrived.

NASA and Rosatom want nuclear rockets to take astronauts to Mars.

BELGIUM. Fears that Brussels bombers were plotting to build a radiological dirty bomb. Belgium: nuclear staff refused access following news that terrorists had considered attack on nuclear plant. Military presence increased at Belgium’s nuclear power stations.

GERMANY. Danger of terror attacks on Germany’s nuclear stations

USA.

•  “Deadly force” – a new rule for nuclear facility safety.
• St Louis County residents count the health toll from radioactive wastes.
• Large number of baby deaths close to nuclear contaminated site.
• Armed UK vessels secretly take weapons grade plutonium from Japan to USA.
•  Spent nuclear fuel staying put near closed San Onofre nuclear power station. Vulnerability of San Onofre’s nuclear wastes.  America’s nationwide problem of nuclear wastes, and Edison’s experimental Holtec solution.
• USA’s nuclear industry in death spiral?
• For the first time, most Americans now against nuclear power.
• Politics.Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton agree on climate change, disagree on nuclear energy. According to Donald Trump – OK to nuclear bomb Syria?   Why are US media and Presidential candidates ignoring $trillion nuclear weapons spending?
• NEW NUCLEAR AIR-LAUNCHED CRUISE MISSILE A REDUNDANT CAPABILITY.
• Home solar energy is booming in USA.

UK.   Taxpayers up for huge liabilities if Hinkley nuclear power project goes ahead? UK govt getting resigned to the likely scrapping of Hinkley Point C nuclear project?  China wants big involvement in construction of Hinkley Point C nuclear station.   Rolls Royce touts “football fields” of mini nuclear reactors for Britain. Cheaper, faster renewable energy will obliterate the prospects for “new nuclear”

FRANCE. Years more delay for EDF’s Flamanville nuclear power station. AREVA’s huge loss on Finland nuclear project.

FINLAND. Russia funding and building new nuclear power station in Finland.

JAPAN. Nuclear safety too costly for Japan- scraps 6th nuclear reactor. Toshiba investigated over Westinghouse Accounting. Toshiba to dump its nuclear business, as U.S. units probed? TEPCO refuses to reimburse ¥20.1 billion in claims from Tohoku. TEPCO says 5.3 tons of tainted water leaked at nuclear plant.    Incidences of Thyroid Cancer in Children Rising in Fukushima. FIVE YEARS AFTER: Fukushima thyroid cancer patients’ families join forces. Incineration of radioactive waste begins at Fukushima nuclear plant.

UKRAINE. Disturbing facts about Ukraine’s nuclear power stations. Chernobyl’s anti radiation sarcophagus. Nuclear dump plan for Chernobyl area.

INDIA. Kakrapar radiation leakage highlights need for investigation of All of India’s nuclear reactors. Renewable energy beating nuclear power in India.

SOUTH AFRICA. Once again, access to South Africa’s nuclear documents is denied

March 26, 2016 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Climate and Nuclear News 18 March

Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs

CLIMATE and RENEWABLE ENERGY Renewable energy effective in stalling greenhouse gas emissions – International Energy Agency (IEA). New study shows how warm ocean currents affect Antarctic ice shelves. . Sea levels could rise to mind-boggling levels. Antarctic ice sheets melting: when will the tipping point be reached?

Climate action a winner for USA with clean energy and transport policies.  India’s massive bet on solar power is paying off.

The Importance Of The Nuclear Security Summit – five points.

UK and FRANCE France’s auditor brands Hinkley Point nuclear project as financially risky. EDF want French tax-payers’ financial aidfor UK Hinkley Point Nuclear Project.  UK Members of Parliament to question EDF executives about Hinkley nuclear project financing. New UK nuclear project Hinkley Point C – now a”dead duck” ? Political importance to world’s nuclear powers, of getting Hinkley project happening.

BELGIUM 30 major European cities and districts call for shutdown of aging Belgian nuclear reactors.

JAPAN. Fukushima fuel melted through containment vessels and is “spewing radiation”. Fukushima – too toxic for humans AND for robots.   The health toll of Fukushima nuclear disaster – especially workers and children. The workers of the Fukushima nuclear clean-up. Japan, US, France to team up on Fukushima clean-up: official.

After court ruling, things are grim for Japan’s nuclear industry.

USA. 

• $Billions for US nuclear submarines.
• USA worried about weapons proliferation risks in China’s Nuclear Recycling plan.
• USA’s nuclear regulator ineffective, as radiation leaks continue.
• Tax-payer money proposed in Senate, to keep uneconomic Fitzpatrick nuclear plant going.  
• South Carolina nuclear whistleblower workers punished for speaking out on safety concerns.
• Hanford Nuclear Reservation ordered by federal judge to comply with new deadlines for nuclear waste clean-up.
• Bill Gates enjoys spruiking his plutonium dream.

TAIWAN. Despite rain , thousands rally across Taiwan, against nuclear power.

SOUTH AFRICA. Seven key areas for concern in South Africa’s nuclear build plan.

INDIA.   Kakrapar Nuclear Plant Is Likely Undergoing A Loss-Of-Coolant Accident: Dr. A. Gopalakrishnan

March 18, 2016 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Response to South Australia Nuclear Fuel Chain Royal Commission’s Tentative Findings

ABOUT SUBMISSIONS in response to The Tentative Findings of the South Australian Nuclear Fuel Chain Royal Commission, Noel Wauchope  16 Mar 16

Today I take the unusual step of publishing several extracts from one submission. The Royal Commission has allowed very little time for people to send in submissions. So – few are available to me right now.

BUT – Paul Langley of South Australia has prepared a submission. And it is a beauty!  Why? Because not only does it pack a punch, but, equally important, Langley provides a wealth of information, facts, figures, and reference sources – https://nuclearexhaust.wordpress.com/2016/03/15/response-to-the-tentative-findings-of-the-sa-nuclear-fuel-cycle-royal-commission/

Sad to mutilate such a strong and lengthy submission, but I have done so on this website. So there are 5 extracts from the submission, on today’s page. If you have time, go to the original. If you don’t have time, at least see what Langley writes about Transport of High Level Nuclear Waste,  Gawler Crater,  The Law and the Profits,  Gaining Public Trust,  AN ALTERNATIVE to nuclear industry 

March 16, 2016 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Nuclear news in this Fukushima anniversary week

11 March – the fifth anniversary of the Fukushima Nuclear Catastrophe.  There’s a prevailing attitude in the general world of media, business, and government, that it’s all over – nearly fixed, back to nuclear business as usual. Not true.  Indeed, the harrowing truth is otherwise. Dr Tilman Ruff is one of many who have set out the reality of the continuing health and environmental impacts of ionising radiation from Fukushima.

There is also a comprehensive new report , by Dr Ian Fairlea,  on the continuing health effects of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

The whole sorry nuclear story is brought up to date, in  a new 15 part series Nuclear Power in Our World Today. Episode One focuses on the “front end” of the nuclear chain – the truly awful and continuing effects of the thousands of old abandoned uranium mines.

March 12, 2016 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 1 Comment

Renewable energy news – more fun, and much more is happening than in the nuclear industry

Journalism highlights of the week :

*Australia’s revolving door – from politician to mining executive and back again: how miners control Australian government policy.

*The horrendous truth about just how big a mess nuclear corporation EDF is in.

Yes, I do get tired of all the doom and gloom – about the nuclear industry – both in its harmful effects, and in its dismal future prospects.

Meanwhile – when I start looking at renewable energy news – well, there’s miles of it! And, not to be discounted, even where I live, I see new solar panels popping up in the neighbourhood every week!

RENEWABLE ENERGY & ENERGY EFFICIENCY

• Death throes of the nuclear industry as renewables move towards 80 percent penetration in the U.S.
• An unforgettable year for solar power in USA.
• Global Boom in Wind Power, led by China and USA.
• UK govt urged to lower tax on energy efficient homes – report.
• Cornwall, UK, gets wind farm without any govt funding- community energy!
• Solar power powers up; London – with World’s biggest floating solar farm.
• Dramatic improvement in solar cell technology.
• In 10 years – 100% renewable energy is doable.

Climate Change Champion – Leonardo Di Caprio.

USA  Design flaws in America’s nuclear reactors: NRC engineers call for shutdown, if not fixed.  ‘uncontrollable radioactive flow’ from Indian Point nuclear station into the Hudson River.  Radioactive leak just one of many nuclear problems at Indian Point, USA. The end of the nuclear age – foreshadowed as Indian Point nuclear station leaks radioactivity. The danger of flying nuclear materials between UK and USA. Russia & USA Pointing Nuclear Missiles at Asteroids – bonanza for Lockheed Martin etc. High costs and construction delays cast gloom over nuclear industry. The Price of Nuclear Weapons and Nuclear Power

JAPAN – Fukushima.  TEPCO Lied To The World About Fukushima Meltdowns. Court case will unveil ‘the hidden truths’ of the Fukushima nuclear meltdown. ‘Keep pro nuclear signs’ as reminder of Fukushima nuclear catastrophe. How solar energy can turn lives around in nuclear-devastatedFukushima. ‘deep freeze’ of soil wall at Fukushima plant. TEPCO now burning thousands of radioactive work clothes. As far away as Tokyo, highly radioactive black sand from Fukushima meltdowns is found. Radioactive contamination still a very real crisis for Fukushima fishermen. Very few return to “re-opened” town in Fukushima.

Strontium 90 – Japanese Preserving Deciduous Teeth Network.

WEAPONS & WAR Huge rally in Britain against Trident nuclear missile system. UK govt to spend £642 million developing new submarines for Trident nuclear missiles. Russia to test launch ballistic missiles from nuclear-powered submarines. Kim Jong-un orders nuclear weapons readied for use ‘at any time’ India about to get a nuclear-armed submarine. New USA nuclear missile test.

FRANCE.  The horrendous truth about just how big a mess nuclear corporation EDF is in. Francepromises more compensation to Pacific nuclear test victims. France prepared to extend life of nuclear reactors: energy minister. France sued by Geneva over dangerous and polluting nuclear station. France’s nuclear giant AREVA in deep financial mess – again!

GERMANY‘s nuclear utilities will have to transfer nuclear clean-up cash by 2022.

IRAN Big win for Rouhani and Reform in Iran elections. International Atomic Energy Agency reports that Iran is abiding by nuclear agreement.

March 5, 2016 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

The week’s roundup of nuclear news

New UN Talks on Nuclear Weapons Start. United Nations works toward legalisation of absolute nuclear disarmament.

Nuclear power being beaten globally by wind energy.

JAPAN

Nuclear weapons kept on Okinawa, by USA.

Japan’s nuclear reactor restarts anger Minami Soma mayor.

Takahama Nuclear reactor leaking radioactive water.

Fukushima.

• Normalizing radiation – Japan’s nuclear policy “Fukushima is clean and safe again!”
• Japan Olympic teams to train in nuclear clean-up zone.
• Japan’s Nuclear regulator suggests Tepco to give up removing molten fuel from Fukushima plant.
• Out of control- Fukushima nuclear wastes, but they plan Olympic events there!.
• Fukushima and the great repatriation lie.
• Fukushima disaster: Tepco to pay couple in landmark damages case
• Rising toll of missing Fukushima workers – presumed dead – coverup by mass media.
• For some Fukushima mothers, protecting children from radiation comes at heavy price.
• How banned “Mislabeled” Fukushima food products are making it onto international store shelves.

USA.

• USA Presidential candidates: their policies on nuclear power.
• Nuclear Whistleblowers Report Criminal Acts by Multiple US Government Agencies; Affidavit Ties Lockheed-Martin to Karen Silkwood’s Death.
• Thousands of nuclear workers made sick by radiation, but not getting any help.
• Swiss-German Plutonium Believed to Have Just Been Dumped on South Carolina; More on Its Way.
• Spread of Hanford radioactive pollution is “alarming”.
• Calls for Reopening Investigation of Corruption at Los Alamos Nuclear Lab and of Suspicious Suicide of Ex-Deputy Director Richard Burick.
• Florida lawsuit over alleged unlawful nuclear fees.
• Gloom in USA nuclear industry: claim they’re ignored in Clean Power Plan. Entergy won’t save loss-making FitzPatrick nuclear plant.
• St Louis radioactively contaminated sites visited by Dr Helen Caldicott.
• USA Dept of Energy wants to dump nuclear waste on Sacred Native American Lands.

UK. The collapse of UK’s planned nuclear power programme ?

INDIA. USA govt’s position: its nuclear companies should be exempt from civil or criminal liability.

CANADA. Fukushima Cesium 137 found in 7 fish near Canada’s West Coast, but not in salmon.

GERMANY struggles with nuclear waste storage problem. Nuclear industry AND tax-payer funds both may be needed to cover nuclear shutdown costs. Germany’s “big four” utilities liable for nearly 40 billion euros for nuclear waste storage.

CHINA ramping up its nuclear industry, with plans for exporting reactors. Russia is offering bribes for Egypt to buy its nuclear reactors.

SOUTH KOREA    rejects calls for nuclear armament.

SOUTH AFRICA. Trouble brewing  over nuclear energy programme. Economist warns that nuclear deal will downgrade South Africa’s economy to junk.

AUSTRALIA. Aboriginal landowners shocked at plan for nuclear waste dump close to sacred site.

Saudi Arabia political analyst says that the kingdom has a nuclear bomb.

Huge savings in planned solar energy project for Marshall Islands.

February 26, 2016 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

The week to February 20, in Nuclear News

UN ruling on Julian Assange, and Constitutional Law.

Paris terrorist attackers had planned to target Belgian nuclear reactors.   Belgian terror suspect had video of high ranking nuclear official.

Stolen nuclear material in Iraq – risk of an Islamic State “dirty bomb”.

EUROPE is more than 118 billion euros short of funds needed to decommission its nuclear reactors.Limited liabilityfor Germany’s nuclear operators in nuclear phaseout.

BRITAIN’s nuclear project Hinkley Point C staggers again. UK public conned by vested interests into funding Trident nuclear weapons system.

Call on the British govt to hold a public enquiry on the murder of Hilda Murrell. The unsolved murder of Hilda Murrell, Anti-Nuclear Activist.

FRANCE: EDF in its financial woes, extends the life of four nuclear reactors. EDF dodges making a decision on UK Hinkley nuclear station. Defective pressure vessel could seal the tomb of the EPR nuclear reactor.

UKRAINE. Radiation causing Chernobyl’s wild animals to lose their sight.

JAPAN. 

• 16 new child thyroid cancers confirmed in Fukushima’s children.
• Fukushima couple wins landmark case against TEPCO. Fukushima evacuees urged to individually file suits against TEPCO. 9,600 members of Fukushima plaintiff association suing Japanese govt and TEPCO.
• TEPCO Turning Off Radiation Monitors While Testing Contaminated Waste Incinerators.  Fukushima’s nuclear waste problems piling up.  More than 1,100 water storage tanks at Fukushima plant … and counting.

USA.

• St Louis underground fire moves closer to radioactive trash dump.
• Radioactive groundwater a difficult problem at Vermont Yankee nuclear site.
• Nuclear industry funded under the mask of “clean energy” – the Breakthrough Institute.  USA Government quietly funding billionaires’ nuclear folly.
• Nuclear crooks prosper in USA.
• Moapa Band of Paiute Indians fear a nuclear waste dump being imposed at Yucca Mountain. Native Americans’water supply contaminated by uranium mining.
• US Energy Dept cites two companies for violations at Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP).
• Tennessee Valley Authority considers selling its unfinished Bellefonte Nuclear Plant. New nuclear reactors plan abandoned in Alabama.
• USA had nuclear weapons on Okinawa- declassified information, but everyone knew anyway.

CANADA  Push to not just postpone nuclear waste burial near Great Lakes, but to stop it altogether. Official Canadian report reveals Fukushima radioactive iodine in rain reached West Coast of America.

INDIA . Corporate elites push their toxic nuclear products onto India

SOUTH AFRICA . President’s very proble

February 20, 2016 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment