The week in nuclear news
Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs
36 years since Three Mile Island accident- 36 unpalatable nuclear industry facts.
France‘s nuclear industry now a liability, with AREVA’s down ward spiral. France brings in law for green or solar roofsfor new commercial buildings.
USA. For the first time, Pentagon comes clean on Israel’s nuclear weapons. It’s official: wrong sort of kitty littercaused New Mexico Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) accident. USA to establish a new “independent” Nuclear Waste Administration.
Small Modular Nuclear Reactors. Obama executive order tags small modular reactors as clean energy – the only form of nuclear power to qualify. Dubious USA Bills for Small Nuclear Reactors, “education on nuclear”, and nuclear as “renewable”. St George city decides against getting electricity from NuScale’s Small Modular Nuclear Reactors. France’s AREVA nuclear company, itself in dire financial straits, is nevertheless advising NuScale on how to market SMRs. Small Nuclear Reactors turn out to have an equally Big Radioactive Waste problem. Cost of Small Nuclear Reactors is greater than cost of large ones
Significant actions by President Obama to address climate change. Tea Party leader joins environmentalists to formGREEN TEA COALITION.
India. International Atomic Energy Agency Slams India’s Nuclear Regulations. India to get $1 Billion USA ExIm Bank Credit, nearly all of it for renewable energy development
Japan. Anti-nuclear activists want formal public hearings on risks of restarting reactors in Fukui Prefecture, Coal plants funded by Japan’s money that was designated for fighting climate change.
Fukushima.Tepco’s nuclear clean-up wasted $1.6 billion of tax-payers’ money. food products mislabeled. Radioactive cesium in Fukushima’s soil. The status of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
UK. Scotland got 50% of power from renewables in 2014.
Russia. Russia wants US to remove Its Nuclear Weapons From Europe. Russia’s economic woes delaying the buildof nuclear reactors in Turkey.
Ukraine . Perilous risks to Ukraine’s nuclear power plants in escalating war
Nuclear news for this week
Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs
Iran nuclear talks reaching deadline. White House urges US Congress not to sabotage Iran nuclear negotiations
Asian and Pacific Green Parties unite in aim for nuclear free region
Anti nuclear protest: 45,000 people march in Taiwan. Anti nuclear rallies in over 200 German towns
Climate. IAE finds that renewable energy and efficiency are significantlyreducing greenhouse gas emissions
Japan. Govt aims to end nuclear power ban – but legal obstacles remain. Five old nuclear reactors to bite the dust. Japanese public to bear the costsof scrapping them. As Japan has no solution to nuclear wastes, closing reactors should start the end of nuclear industry. “Nuclear village” , like USA’s “military industrial complex” allows TEPCO to go unscathed. Anothermajor leak of radioactive water at Fukushima nuclear facility. Fukushima’s bags ofradioactive trash pile up
Europe. Legal case developing against EU’s approval of State subsidies for Hinkley nuclear plant. Renewable Energy Target to be raised in Norway and Sweden
USA. Revolving door for job between US Department of Energy and nuclear corporation. Nuclear lobby looking for tax-payer funded guinea pigsto test their new gimmicks. 100% renewable energy for Hawaii by 2040/
Canada. Nuclear reactors are not needed for medical isotopes
UK. In just one year, Sellafield nuclear clean-up bill jumps an extra £5bn
France. Nuclear company AREVA – too big to fail?
South Korea blames North Korea for nuclear power cyber attack
This week’s nuclear news
Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs
Fukushima 4th anniversary events planned in London and elsewhere.
Japan: Nuclear restarts could be years away, due to legal battles Fukushima. Slow start to removing nuclear fuel rods from reactor No 3. Two new big solar projects.
UK and 7 other EU countries want European Commission funding to prop up their nuclear industry. Lawsuit over European Commission’s approval of Hinkley will expose full costs of nuclear. Germany says absolute NO to tax-payer funded nuclear power.
The ever more expensive Sellafield nuclear clean-up – £53bn cost now
USA: Nuclear power companies feeling financial pain – their future is dubious. Former governors to take legal action to stop nuclear wastes coming to Idaho
Medical disability for radiation accepted for airman who attended UFO site 30 years ago. I thought this was an interesting one – perhaps relating to some secret radiation or nuclear weapons project?
Russia: not much news about Russia. Always a worry, as their nuclear industry, weapons industry, waste disposal, – all very secretive – almost certainly more dangerous and incompetent than USA’s or UK’s. Giant craters appearing in Siberia– result of permafrost thawing, due to global warming?
Iran: Theatrics by Israel’s Netanyahu highlight the need for a nuclear agreement with Iran
Climate: Murky story of the funding of climate denialist Willie Soon
The present state of play of the Nuclear Free Movement
Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs
Nuclear weapons. The focus has been on this issue throughout February. This weekend, experts in studying nuclear weapons and war have been gathering in New York at the Symposium: The Dynamics of Possible Nuclear Extinction. It’s streaming live – and podcasts, transcripts and a book will later be available.
This week – Lots of (not very good) news on nuclear weaponry and war risks, e.g USA law-makers wanting to spend $577 billion on defense, China, Russia, India ramping up their nuclear weaponry. North Korea, too.
This month, the focus on http://www.nuclear-news.net, (and on http://www.antinuclear.net) will be on the growing movement for a clean nuclear-free planet. At the same time, a global revolution is happening at extraordinary speed – the change from “top-down” “vertically integrated” systems to “small scale or “horizontal” systems. Some business examples – Airbnb, Taskrabbit, Uber, They work through the “digital ecosystem” . Political examples – extreme religious activist groups. So it’s not all good. But most of it is good– based on trust between individuals, building “reputational capital” between strangers with a common vision.
The nuclear lobby has no grasp of this 21st Century transition.
Even the current nuclear PR for Small Modular Reactors is based on huge centrally organised, government funded, mass purchase and mass distribution – imposed from above. Compare that with the millions of homes and small businesses and institutions where individuals made the choice for solar energy – it was not imposed by government.
The clean planet movement is happening at the local level, most often led by indigenous people – and they are linking up globally. The new digital ecosytem has opened the way for millions of people to work together for a healthy nuclear-free planet.
This week’s nuclear news
Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs
Climate change and war: twin threats that exacerbate each other. Jet stream affected by global warming? Danger for aircraft (esp transporting nuclear wastes)
JAPAN unable to stop highly radioactive waste from flowing out of Fukushima reactors. More approvals still needed for restart of two Japanese nuclear reactors
USA. Marshall Islands loses nuclear lawsuit against USA. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel joins coalition for renewable energy, and against nuclear. India nuclear deal protects USA nuclear companies from legal action after accidents. Feb 28 – March 1 New York Symposium The Dynamics of Possible Nuclear Extinction.
UK. EDF’s financial problems delay decision on proposed new nuclear plant at Hinkley Point. UK government bullying Austria over UK subsidies to the nuclear industry? Continuing trial of 2 Russians accused of the 2006 radiation murder of Alexander Litvinenko.
UKRAINE. USA Sending more nuclear weapons to Europe is the wrong move
SOUTH AFRICA. Russia- South Africa secret nuclear deal exposed: details are fearful ones for South Africa. Political factors and funding problems delay South Africa’s new nuclear reactor.
CANADA Indigenous Canadians Are Fighting the Uranium Mining Industry,
NAMIBIA. Radiation leakage fear from fire in Rossing uranium mine
INDIA. USA – India agreement raises danger of nuclear weapons proliferation and nuclear war. India’s Nuclear Liability Law is a major deterrent to USA Nuclear companies
EGYPT – Russia to help Egypt build ‘a whole new nuclear power industry’ –
Pot pourri of the week’s nuclear and climate news
Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs
Climate change adds to nuclear danger, bringing Doomsday Clock closer to midnight.
Nuclear fusion – far too costly, even if they could get it to work
Marshall Islands’ case against nuclear powers unfolds at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
India:Details remain vague on nuclear deal between Obama and Narendra Modi . USA persuades India to weaken its nuclear liability law – double standards here . Nuclear risks now covered by India’s government and Weapons proliferation standards weakened .
USA: Efforts to reform its dysfunctional nuclear weapons complex are just not good enough. Conflicts of intereston Congressional Advisory Panel on the Governance of the Nuclear Security Enterprise. USA’s nuclear utilities want ratepayers to cough up for uneconomic nuclear power plants. Florida lawmaker wants repeal of laws allowing nuclear power companies to get “advance money” from customers.
Cyber warfare now the goal of USA’s National Security Agency (NSA) New Edward Snowden Files Reveal Scope of NSA Plans for Cyberwarfare
Americans embracing rooftop solar : it makes sense economically
UK: £3bn to be spent on massive Trident nuclear weapons project, without Parliament being consulted . tax-payer landed with the astronomic costs of Sellafield nuclear facility. Government secrecy about China’s involvement in the new £24bn Hinkley nuclear power plant. British tax-payers to buy into the French-led new Hinkley Pointnuclear power plant consortium
In Scotland, renewable energy beats nuclear power
Iran: US Republicans out to destroy nuclear talks. Rouhani’s and Obama’s difficult path to a compromise
France: freedom of speech threatened by AREVA
Japan: Nuclear watchdog approves release into sea of groundwater near Fukushima reactors. Fukushima radioactive water clean-up is 2 months behind schedule . Fatal accidents cause TEPCO to suspend decommissioning at Fukushima No. 1 power plant. Japanese government for now gives up its plan to begin transporting radioactive wastes tointerim storage sites
Canada’s record breaking wind energy results
This anti-nuclear website seems to be closed to some viewers, and not to others
Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs
Mysteriouser and mysteriouser
I can’t see this website myself – I am told by WordPress that it is suspended “due to violation of terms of service” – but they have not warned me, or told me what this supposed violation actually is!
Mystery solved – Jan 24
It seems that this website was hacked. Some attention to security , and voila – all works again!
The week in nuclear and climate news
Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs
Climate Change.
- in 2015 Pope Francis is to be a formidable force in the battle against climate change.
- Ban Ki Moon – We are the last generation that can fight climate change.
- Only in America! : USA Senate to vote on whether or not Climate Change is real!
- USA Congress and Senate to be dominated by Anti-Science Climate Denialists. Ultra religious climate change denialist to run US Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
- Climate Change statements and promises from world leaders – all smoke and mirrors
- USA’s most ambitious renewable energy target proposed by California’s Governor, Jerry Brown
Media. Anti nuclear allies: the terrorist victims – cartoonists of Charlie Hebdo. Journalists’ self-censorship – avoiding hard topics for fear of government surveillance
Militarism. Gorbachev Says NATO Expansion Into Ukraine Could Ignite Nuclear War. The nuclear dangers in Ukraine energy wars – don’t miss the full article!
Japan Nuclear policy: the big divide in Japanese society. Fukushima: Environmental problems remain after the Fukushima nuclear disaster Pacific Ocean research. Fukushima fallout has a distinctive “fingerprint”
Iran. Rouhani’s and Obama’s difficult path towards a nuclear compromise.
UK: The Sellafield mess
- Amec, Areva and URS stripped of £20bn clean-up contract.
- 80 miles from Sellafield nuclear facility, radiation is found in food.
- Sorry history and present danger of Sellafield’s ‘Legacy” radioactive wastes
USA Nuclear industry braces for an even tougher year in 2015. Entergy can’t afford, for decades, to dismantle Vermont Yankee Nuclear Plant. USA’s nuclear industry’s future in doubt – as shown in the costs of Exelon’s New York reactor
Renewable energy: New resource for renewable energy information – REsource, from IRENA. Wind power record set by Denmark as it heads towards fossil-free goal
Renewable energy making the news now, as the nuclear industry stumbles
Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs
I feel that I should be apologising to readers. This site is supposed to be all about nuclear news. But today I put up no less than 8 news posts about renewable energy. And, believe me, there were plenty more available..
The problem is – renewable energy is where it is all happening – Scotland, Egypt, Pakistan, USA, China – with advancing technologyy, feed-in tariffs, grid connection to decentralised solar power – etc. (Not happening in my country – Australia – but that’s because we have a complete dickhead for a Prime Minister, and he’ll soon be kicked out)
I’d love to put up more news posts about nuclear power, rather than mainly opinion posts. Especially about those silly little mini reactors they keep hyping about. But they are just not happening, the Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMRs) are all hype, but no action..
As Japan struggles to get the big nuclear restart happening, and as UK goes a bit silent on its very troubled Hinkley nuclear project, and USA nukes go broke – we wait for the next episode in the world’s sorry nuclear saga – and not very good prospects for the industry in 2015
The year when some real action might happen on climate change
Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs
However much people can achieve through individual action, in 2015 it’s a critical time for public action. In December, world leaders meet again to make a plan for climate change action.
At the same time, the failing nuclear industry is making its last, and most dangerous stand, as the nuclear lobby portrays itself as the cure for global warming. Sometimes this pitch is subtly put, touting nuclear and renewable energy as both “part of the mix”. Whether subtly or blatantly, the nuclear lobby’s agenda includes stopping the development of renewable energy and of energy efficiency.
Pope Francis has come out loud and strong for climate action. And he’s going to be there at the December Summit. (A bit awkward for that devout Australian Catholic, Tony Abbott?) Sir David Attenborough warned world leaders to stop their ignoring and/or denial of climate change
USA. The latest shutdown, of the Vermont Yankee nuclear facility, is having its impact across the whole American nuclear industry. USA is really in a mess here. Because the government is legally bound to provide a permanent nuclear waste dump, and has not done so, nuclear companies like Vermont Yankee’s Entergy Wholesale Commodities can go ahead andsue the government. As always, in matters nuclear, it’s the tax-payers who cop the bill.
At the same time, this sorry mess, plus the low costs of oil, gas, and renewables makes investors very averse to the nuclear industry.
Diplomacy. USA and Iran make a tentative agreement on advance of the next round of nuclear talks. Success in these world talks would be a great step forward for global peace. Equally important would be a renewed nuclear arms control agreement between America and Russia. India and Pakistan exchange lists of their nuclear facilities.
Despite those positive trends – there remains the problem of increasing nuclear weaponry –NATO , USA , China , India ,Russia,
Renewable energy – going ahead in leaps and bounds – Germany – 25% of its electricity production in Nov 14. Big companies investing in renewables – Norway’s Statkraft and big multinational corporations
Money is not the only self-seeking motive for promoting nuclear power
Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs
Capt D has pointed out how political leaders can become beholden to the nuclear lobby . So, indeed, can academics who are paid for pro nuclear views and research. So, of course, many writers are already benefiting financially from promoting nuclear power.
But it’s not that simple, especially in Australia. There are other motivations – such as being seen as important, as a leader, even if there is not, at present, any financial gain from promoting the nuclear industry. For example, I’m pretty sure that Barry Brook gains no financial return from the industry, for his extensive pro nuclear lobbying. But he does gain the importance of being almost certainly the only Australian climate scientist who devotes himself to the nuclear cause. Definitely a leader – of sorts!
Then there are the academic and other sheepies – who note all this pro nuclear stuff, and, without much scrutiny of the full issue, decide to go on the “nuclear fixes climate change” bandwagon. After all, the trend is for scientists to be concerned about climate change (and rightly so – plenty of evidence there). So they now seem to adopt the (much more dubious) trend that nuclear power is the cure for climate change.
Then there are the thorium nuclear wannabees – who like to enthusiastically jump on a new bandwagon – be part of the “latest” gee-whiz thing – again , that’s a motive that need not involve financial gain – but does involve some sort of glory by association with the new thorium nuclear companies.
Snippets: Nuclear and Climate News
Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs
Conferences: Vienna Conference on Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons. Lima Climate Summit drags on, with rich countries reluctant to help poor. USA delegate Adam Scheinman at Vienna used bullying tactics to oppose a nuclear weapons ban treaty
USA. Govt’s Department of Energy to give $12.5 billion Nuclear Loan Guarantee to get new nuclear power projects going. USA resists tightening international safety rules on nuclear reactors. No utility executive could propose a nuclear reactor ”in good conscience”says industry executive
UK . Radioactive waste storage ponds in a shocking state of neglect at the UK’s Sellafield nuclear facility. Anglesey Council worried about lack of information on planned Wylfa Newydd power plant plant
Japan. As election day approaches, Japan’s communities deeply divided over the plan to restart nuclear power.
France. Potential for drones to carry explosive devices over nuclear reactors – not detectable by current security monitoring.
Pacific Ocean is still the sewer for the nuclear industry’s wastes
Renewable energy. Wind power success in UK, especially Scotland. Malaysia now a world leader in producing solar energy equipment. 1,000 MW of renewable energy contracts for South Africa
Research. Study into effects of chronic exposure to radiation in food: Chernobyl wolves as an example
Nuclear lobbyists. One example of their dodgy statements – Wade Allison.
The week that was – in climate and nuclear news
Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs
Climate Change. 2014 heading to be the hottest year on record. Climate change brings threat of sea level riseto nuclear power facilities. Energy efficiency is claimed to be the most effective method of tackling climate change.
Uranium spot price plummets as buyers exit market. Nuclear power’s future gets gloomier
Iran. Nuclear talks with Iran extended for another 7 months
Fire shuts down Belgian nuclear reactor.
British jihadi claims that the Islamic State has a ‘dirty bomb’
USA. Illness and two deaths among sailors exposed to Fukushima radiation. Deeper problems underlie the serious errors at America’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). Indian Point Nuclear Complex’s nuclear spent fuel problem increases. Nuclear power plant Vogtle in Georgia – more delays
China. Nuclear power investment in China might not be such a good deal. China’s very rapid renewable energy growth– IRENA reports
UK. Nuclear power outdone by renewable energy in Scotland. Spiralling costs of Britain’s Project Pegasus nuclear plant. UK government extends its Government Security Classifications (GSC), that apply to Sellafield and other nuclear facilities. Doubts grow in UK government about the future of the Hinkley Point Nuclear Plant, as its costs soar, and as renewable energy spreads across Europe, and becomes cheaper.
France: IAEA tells France to smarten up on nuclear power safety
Japan. Nuclear power company Kepco aims to keep reactors going way beyond their present license limit
The week in nuclear news
Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs
Japan disrupted by a large earthquake.with shocks near Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant, with its 7 reactors, now still offline. TEPCO gives up on freezing radioactive water – fails to halt toxic water inflow at Fukushima No. 1 trenches. Japan passes legislation to remove nuclear waste from Fukushima – but implementation will be very problematic. Japan’s Nuclear Regulator says earthquake fault under Tsuruga nuclear reactor is active.
UK. Top atomic energy proponent, Sir David King, calls for renewable energy and energy storage as priority,suggests these as a better future energy source. Shareholder crisis brings more doubts about UK’s Hinkley Point C nuclear plant’s future. UK government secretly questioning whether Hinkley Point C nuclear power project will even go ahead at all. Delay after delay , and soaring coasts, for Britain’s new nuclear build plans. Demonstrations against transport of nuclear fuel The nuclear weapons establishment buys academia
Iran. The tortuous, but very urgent diplomacy of reaching a nuclear deal with Iran.
USA. Legal action by Washington State over Hanford nuclear site vapors. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s chief warns that Commission is not geared for needs of decommissioning. Nuclear power promoter Dept of Energy (DOE) to run research into health effects of radiation?
France. Drone flights near France’s nuclear reactors raise security problems . In gloomy economic situation nuclear giant AREVA “suspends” its financial outlook for 2015 and 2016. 2015 the deadline for EDF to start closing nuclear reactors in France. EDF’s nuclear power plants Flamanville and Olkiluoto delayed yet again.
Canada. Northern Quebec Cree Nation run a determined campaign against uranium exploration and mining.
Cyber security. Pro nuclear trolls are targeting anti-nuclear activists
This week – G20, Climate, Nuclear News
Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs
Legal matters. Judge rules nuclear reactors causing thyroid cancers Judge adds General Electric, EBASCO, Toshiba and Hitachi as defendants in nuclear radiation case
Germany Anti-nuclear activists held up a train carrying uranium for conversion to nuclear fuel, and organise an international meeting to oppose uranium transport hosted by SOFA Münster.
Syria. Five nuclear engineers murdered – by Israel?
France. Mysterious drone flights still going on above nuclear power plants.
Iran nuclear talks struggle on – may continue beyond the deadline of November 24 . Meanwhile Russia ramps up its nuclear marketing pitch to Iran.
South Africa. China joins the throng trying to flog off nuclear reactors to South Africa. South Africa’s nuclear dealskept secret from Cabinet and Treasury!
Bolivia. 56 prominent individuals across the globe write to oppose nuclear energy for Bolivia
USA. weakens environmental radiation safety standards. Tax-payer money invested in dodgy new nuclear gimmick ,Power Reactor Innovative Small Module (PRISM) Note how these days they leave out that nasty word “nuclear”.Renewable energy threatened as Republicans take over in the Senate Thorium – no prospects as an energy source, but China might use it for weapons
UK. Raised incidence of cancers and birth defects in families of British veterans of nuclear bomb tests
1 This Month
6 June – WEBINAR- Get Inspired by Protests Against Military Bases!
10 June – Assessing Canada’s Investments in Small Modular Nuclear Reactors – https://zoom.us/meeting/register/IiqHA5feRhaEBycOLNTJlA#/registration
Cuba Is Not a Failed State – It Is a Besieged State
PETITION: “Global Appeal to Endorse Palestinian Right of Return of Refugees”
of the week– Nuclear Reactor Information Task Force
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity – go to https://nuclearinformation.wordpress.com
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