Snippets of nuclear news this week
Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs
Radiation – new report on danger to young people in risk of brain tumours and leukemia. Aggressive Thyroid Cancers also linked to Radiation Exposure
Japan. Completion of Rokkasho nuclear fuel reprocessing plant postponed for the 21st time due to safety considerations. radioactive cesium detected in pregnant woman in Matsudo city. Japanese doctors intimidated about connecting cancers, illnesses to Fukushima radiation.
Fukushima clean-up. Removal of melted fuel from No 1 reactor postponed. Groundwater level rising around the crippled nuclear reactors.
Taiwan wants ‘radiation-free’ certificates for tea and other foodstuffs from Japan.
China: Financial risks of China’s nuclear power programme are examined.
USA. Decommissioning of San Onofre nuclear power plant – a sobering example of the huge cost and time taken . Nuclear power gets privileged status in US universities. In the interests of the nuclear industry, both USA and Russia try to block European nuclear safety standards.
UK: fears on the safety of Sellafield’s decaying nuclear fuel storage pools. Nuclear thorium lobby buys its way into UK university.
France: numerous mystery flyovers of drone aircraft over nuclear power plants
USA’s nuclear lobby buys universities – Cambridge UK is the latest, touting thorium
Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs
The nuclear industry has a grip on USA’s Department of Energy (DOE) – they work together to promote nuclear power. It’s not hard to find academics who will pretty much advertise nuclear power- especially nuclear physicists and engineers. After all, where else will they get a high-paying prestigious job?
A global tactic of DOE is buying academia. Universities like the funding. We have some of this funding in Australia, at Flinders University, for example.
The latest from the UK is Cambridge University – very happy indeed to be funded by USA to promote the pipe-dream of thorium nuclear powered reactors – as “safer nuclear power”. Note that it’s not “safe” nuclear power – just a bit less dangerous than conventional uranium-powered nuclear power. And considerably more dangerous that wind or solar power, of course.
The week in nuclear news
Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs
Japan. Authorities exercise tight control over public meetings held to persuade communities to back nuclear power.
In brief: Nuclear and Climate News
Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs
Climate Change. The People’s Climate March in New York, and in cities world-wide was a huge success. Political leaders also gathered at UN for the climate Change meeting. BUT – a note of caution. The very powerful nuclear lobbyimmediately used mainstream media to push nuclear as the climate solution. And – worse – President Obama’s proposed carbon rules count nuclear power as a clean, low-carbon energy option, and include subsidies, incentives and financial backstops for nuclear power.
Big businesses are becoming aware of the need for climate action. Rockefellers are dumping oil and investing in renewables. Still the Koch brothers use their massive wealth against climate action, and the fossil fuel utilities fight back, with successful lobbying.
Japan. It‘s doubtful that Japan’s nuclear reactors will ever restart.
Fukushima. Secrecy and poor working conditions in the nuclear plant cleanup. TEPCO dumps their failed plan for an ice wall to contain radiation. The radioactive waste problem in the prefecture persists, clean-up is slow and very expensive.
USA. Obama raises the permissable levels of radiation in drinking water! Is USA again using depleted uranium weapons in Middle East?
Russia – with the Ukraine crisis, things are getting messy in regard to Russia’s nuclear export business in Europe.
Finland. doing a murky deal with Russia’s nuclear corporation Rosatom – secret, full of problems, and may never be completed.
South Africa. Lots of problems in the government’s secret nuclear deal with Russia.
New book. Crisis Without End , Much awaited report from the 2013 New York Symposium The Medical and Ecological Consequences of the Fukushima Nuclear Catastrophe
Nuke news this week
Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs
Japan. the Nuclear Regulatory Agency is standing firm on the need to close the Tsuruga nuclear reactor that is sited above an active earthquake fault. They are also pushing to permanently close a quarter of Japan’s 48 ageing nuclear reactors. Meanwhile, Japan is reluctant to sign up a nuclear technology deal with India,as there is no certainty that India will not use this to make weapons. Another pesky woman speaking up when she shouldn’t? Akie Abe, wife of P.M, has once again politely voiced her opposition to nuclear power.
Russia. In the heat of the Ukraine conflict, one Russian general is pushing for Russia to adopt a pre-emptive nuclear strike policy. (America already has that policy)
Ukraine. Well, at the moment there’s a pause in conflict between separatists and Ukraine government. It is on the cards that peace will break out. For one thing, war is just too damn dangerous: Ukraine has 15 nuclear reactors, including Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. Imagine the radioactive pollution of Europe that would result if rockets or bombs happened to hit Ukraine’s nukes!
Planet Earth. I have got tired of concentrating on the nuclear issue. It’s just one symptom, the worst though, of the human specie’s trashing of the planet. Geologists are saying that we are in a new Epoch – the Anthropocene Age. We have indeed changed the planet, and we’d better do something about it, before the human species joins the mass of other extinctions that it has caused.
Scrutiny on the methods of pro Thorium Twitter trolls
I am constantly the victim of Twitter trollism because I campaign against the nuclear industry. It is ironic that these trolls use climate change as their argument for nuclear power, – and accuse me constantly of being in the pay of the coal and gas companies. That’s despite the fact that I repeatedly write and publish on websites on the critical need for action to address climate change
Thomas Huxley @thjr19
Noel Wauchope: Please! Fossil Fuel Shill Manager: No! NW: Please! FFSM: OK, every 2nd tweet. NO MORE, hear me
Thomas Huxley @thjr19
Noel Wauchope, fossil fuel industry shill, has been told to lay off coal. How long to get permission again?!
This week’s nuclear news
Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs
Nuclear targets. With international heightened tension over Ukraine, Iraq, Gaza, Syria – the dangers of nuclear war and nuclear terrorism increase, which is why attention should be going to the risks posed by all nuclear facilities – as targets for terrorism, whether it be by missiles, bombs, computer malaware, external or internal sabotage. https://nuclear-news.net/
I note that a Belgian nuclear reactor has just been shut down until next year, due to sabotage. In UK 3 French made nuclear reactors have been shut down, due to design flaws, raising questions on the safety of France’s own EDF -made nuclear reactors.
Japan: Hiroshima and Nagasaki Mayors made their moving Peace Statements on the anniversaries of the atomic bombings. For a variety of reasons, the nuclear power restart is just not happening.
Fukushima: New research is revealing the harmful consequences to plants and animals, of the Chernobyl and Fukushima radiation. Dissolved radioactive particles have bound to organic matter, meaning that they could be long-lived in the environment, and in the food chain. The release of radioactive water from the crippled reactors remains uncontrollable. Meanwhile, it is found that Japan is still exporting some “hot ” cars.
USA. In the month when we recall Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a respected nuclear weapons expert spoke out against nuclear weapons proliferation, and was promptly sacked. So much for freedom of speech in the nuclear culture.
UK. Scotland’s referendum (18 September) -on independence will decide whether or not the Trident missile system base stays in Scotland. Moving it would add somewhat to its multi-billion pound cost, but is affordable, and would remove a dangerous target from Scotland.
Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMRs) – a new report shows them to be a financial boondoggle – costing even more than large reactors.
Nuclear news snippets this week
Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs
Ukraine I cannot yet find information on what the airline tragedy might mean for nuclear power in Ukraine – and sanctions perhaps on Russia.
Iraq. ISIS insurgents seize nuclear materials
USA – Radiation Safety Standards The Environment Protection Austhority (EPA) is calling for comments on its planned update of “Environmental Radiation Protection Standards for Nuclear Power Operations.” The nuclear lobby is of course very keen to weaken those standards. Sophiticated and disingenuous arguments are being pushed towards that aim. This is acomplcated and difficult matter. I would hope that the EPA is concerned first for the public, and second for the nuclear industry, but I doubt this.
Japan. Even with safety clearance Japan’s nuclear reactors might not restart. Big protest in Tokyo against nuclear restart.
Fukushima. Now available first hand witness: The Yoshida Testimony. The Fukushima Nuclear accident as told by plant manager Masao Yoshida The ice wall plan to stop leakage of radioactive water is not working
TEPCO workers leaving Fukushima for better paid, clean, safe jobs in solar energy projects. $1 billion in loans for Japan’s solar energy.
Iran Diplomacy struggles on, as the nuclear talks between Iran and the West are extended until November
Renewable Energy. International Renewable Energy Agency estimates that there are now 6.5 direct and indirect jobs in renewable energy. 10 top USA corporations call for renewable energy
Today’s tweet attacks from pro Thorium Nuclear trolls
For your entertainment? 
These tweets are in response to news items that I have tweeted about problems with thorium nuclear reactors, and the benefits of renewable energy. These pro thorium tweeters make no attempt to answer that information. Their response is to repeatedly attack me personally. But in my opinion not very intelligently. I note that they use sexist and ageist language and pictures. (The pictures are taken ftom ny own graphics, but changed so as to insult me. I wouldn’t bother about all this – but I think it is good to expose the nuclear lobby’s tactics.
Look carefully at Noel wauchope’s DISHONEST tweets “It rained today. I got wet. No to #thorium” Really?!
That the person Noel Wauchope is MURDERING with her FUD was NOT exposed to #thorium is irrelevant to this DISHONEST person!
Noel Wauchope is STUPID. Using the MOST EXPENSIVE #nuclear power plant as reference, German solar is STILL 4 times as expensive! #thorium
Noel Wauchope is not more a critic of #nuclear power than my dog. All she has to offer is IGNORANT BIGOTRY!
Be carefiul of Noel Wauchope. Kills Japanese with glee [ ??? Editors exclamation] but cries boohoo when exposed. NO TO HER DISHONESTY!
Let’s be clear: Noel Wauchope aka @ChristinaMac1 is a Fossil Fuel Industry shill. People have died because of her actions.[ again ???]
Noel Wauchope cannot read let alone understand Science. Her IGNORANT BIGOTRY is all she has. STOP the #GrannyFUD!
brendan @totterdell91 Bwhahaha Noel Wauchopes sock puppets constantly defame everyone else, then have the hide to whine #whataloaofcockycrap #thorium
Pro Thorium Twitter Trolls cannot stand any criticism
Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs
I suppose I should be feeling flattered, finding myself the subject of abuse from the nuclear lobby, in the same way as
the well known and highly regarded Dr Helen Caldicott and Dr Chris Busby.
Nevertheless, I find their constant abuse rather tiresome.
I note that @thjr19 was the Twitter address of a John Randall. When I reported John Randall to Twitter for abuse – his tweets then stopped. Now there’s a Thomas Huxley tweeting abuse about me on that same Twitter address.
For the record, my real name is Noel Christina Clare Wauchope. I blog at http://www.noelwauchope.wordpress.com
I use the name Christina Macpherson (and ChristinaMac1 as Twitter address) I am particularly worried about the big con going on in favour of Thorium nuclear reactors. To tweet specifically on that pont, I use the Twitter name Clare Egan @NoThorium
Like this website – none of my efforts get any funding from anybody. But that doesn’t stop the the Thorium Twitter Trolls from repeatedly accusing me of being paid by the coal, gas, oil lobbies.
Here are just a few of today’s samples of their efforts – they make these in response to my tweets about the costs, safety, and waste problems of thorium nuclear reactors. Note the sexism and ageism :
Noel Wauchope cannot read let alone understand Science. Her IGNORANT BIGOTRY is all she has. STOP the #GrannyFUD!
All Noel Wauchope can come up with is lies, misdirection. strawmen and IGNORANT BIGOTRY. Stop the #GrannyFUD
Thomas Huxley @thjr19 12 July Let’s be clear: Noel Wauchope aka @ChristinaMac1 is a Fossil Fuel Industry shill. People have died because of her actions. #nuclear #thorium
Has Noel Wauchope no shame? Exposed as a shill for the Fossil Fuel Industries, she persists in spreading her despicable FUD. NO! #thorium
Tweeple, beware Noel Wauchope & her sock puppets Paid by the Fossil Fuel Indurstries to spread FUD No to shills! #nuclear #uranium #thorium
Tweets on the #thorium hash tag feed from Noel Wauchope aka @ChristinaMac1 aka @NoThorium but NO attempt made 2 disguise she shills for FFIs
brendan @totterdell91 #thorium no wonder Noel Wauchope uses #sockpuppets no one would want those tweets linked with their real identity #auspol #climate #nuclear
THIS WEEK in nuclear news
Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs
Fukushima. A new critical problem – as the cooling system at nuclear fuel pool 5 is not working.
USA. Wisconsin town faces economic disaster, with the closing of Kewaunee nuclear power plant, and the prospect of 60 years of clean-up – the first of many tons to have to cope with the nuclear power aftermath. As USA’s nuclear industry declines, renewed efforts to beat China, Russia, France, South Korea, in selling nukes to Vietnam.
Underground danger, and continuing radiation release from USA’s crippled Waste Isolation Pilot Project (WIPP) in New Mexico
Escalation in nuclear armed submarines, their $100 billion costs now amplified with associated costs to $347 billion.
UK. Quakers speak out against Trident nuclear missile program. The proud Scottish peaceniks, of the 32 years’ campaign to shut down Trident nuclear weapons, renew their drive, in view of the coming referendum on Scotland’s independence. Did you know that Last March, two Peace Campers, Heather Stewart and Jamie Watson, broke into the naval base and climbed on board a nuclear powered Astute submarine? That feat of civil disobedience did not get into the news, did it? A security failure too, wasn’t it?
National Archives release a chilling list of nuclear targets in the cold war – perhaps the same targets today?
Ukraine. Continued conflicts there raise a very real danger of attack or accident to their 19 nuclear power plants.
India did a very bad nuclear deal with USA, Russia and France, in order to engage in international nuclear commerce, despite its status as a nuclear weapons state outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Indian govt is nowcriminalising nuclear and environmental dissent.
This week in nuclear and climate news
Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs
Japan. A high proportion of deformities in migratory birds. Nuclear-news ‘ own co-editor, Sean 
McGee, exposes the pro nuclear publicity campaign by Toyota, and Ogilvy and Mather, to discredit the scientific research on this.
Japan’s restart of nuclear power is far from a done deal, as municipalities object, and evacuation plans are inadequate. P.M Abe is ignoring public opinion, and stiff opposition to nuclear power. Meanwhile, Japan’s nuclear utilities are mired in problems. In energy policy, it is apparent that Germany is now winner, and Japan on a losing trajectory
Germany is achieving record levels of energy from solar and wind power (74% on one day) The State of Schleswig-Holstein is close to 100% renewable energy, from starting just 8 years ago.
Fukushima Japan Gov’t-funded Study: Fukushima has released up to 120 Quadrillion becquerels of radioactive cesium into North Pacific Ocean — Does not include amounts that fell on land — Exceeds Chernobyl total, which accounts for releases deposited on land AND ocean. Plutonium has been found in soil around Fukushima, including in a children’s playground.
India, with 4 big projects going, is on the way to a renewable energy revolution. India struggles to find a way toinsure nuclear power plants, as France renews its nuclear sales pitch to India. But at home, France adopts a vigourous pro renewable energy policy, and downgrading of nuclear power.
Climate Change. USA In what might be a very important precedent A federal judge has blocked a coal project in the wilds of Colorado because federal agencies failed to consider the future global-warming damages from burning fossil fuels.
Renewable Energy records set in California and Texas
Australia special: Aborigines win out against nuclear waste dump plan
Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs
Well, for a few weeks, the Australian media has been happily occupied titillating us all with matters legal – the court cases of Oscar Pistorius and of Rolf Harris.
Meanwhile barely noted by the media, a 7 year legal battle was over this week – one that has far more significance for all Australians. And especially for indigenous Australians.
The Aboriginal Traditional Landowners of the Muckaty station area, (Northern Territory) fought against nuclear waste dumping on their land, and following the last weeks of this case, that plan has been scrapped. It has been a very unequal fight, yet those proud indigenous people have won out, against the legal forces of the Australian Government, and the Northern Land Council, which first signed up to the dump plan.
Background. The global nuclear lobby is happy to have a research reactor at Lucas Heights, in Sydney. This reactor was envisaged, way back, after World War 2 as part of a push to get a nuclear bomb. It remains there as a way in for the nuclear industry in Australia. The medical isotope production was tacked on later – to make the reactor look more respectable, but medical isotopes can be made in alternative ways. Australia sent the high level nuclear reactor wastes overseas is legally bound to take them back.
2004 The Australian government first attempted to site a nuclear waste dump in South Australia, but South Australia resisted this and won. A Territory has less power and that is why the Government targeted the Northern Territory. The Northern Territory Government passed the Nuclear Waste Transport , Storage and Disposal Prohibition Act 2004
2005 . A government expert team investigated and selected 3 sites suitable for burial of the returned high level nuclear wastes. All of these sites were on Commonwealth land. The Muckaty area, which is seismically risky, as well as being on Aboriginal land, was not selected. Nevertheless, the Howard Liberal government passed a draconian Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act 2005 , over-riding environmental and Aboriginal heritage laws, and State and Territory laws and selecting Muckaty for the site
2010. The Labor government repealed that Act in 2010, and promptly replaced it with an equally draconion Radioactive Waste Management Act 2010.
The medical waste deception. The argument that a Northern Territory waste dump is needed for medical wastes is disingenuous. “Waste from nuclear medicine procedures, the majority of which is for diagnostic services rather than treatment, is low level and short term waste can be stored on site and safely disposed of locally. The small amount of higher level waste from nuclear medicine can also be stored locally, as it is currently” –Public Health Association of Australia,
The future. The relatively small amount of high level waste from the Lucas Heights reactor could be stored at Lucas Heights, and the reactor could be shut down, to stop further toxic production. The Australian government, lik ethe rest of the world, does not know where to put the ever accumulating collection of radioactive trash.
My bet is that our not very bright, and totally unethical government will try it on Aboriginal people again – with blackmail or bribes – ‘whatever it takes’.
Australia’s fossil fool Prime Minister Abbott let loose
Dear oh dear! It’s such an embarrassment!
Australia, (population 23 million, about the size of one city in Asia) has a Prime Minister who confidently lectures the whole world against taking any effective action on climate change. Tony Abbott’s on a whirlwind trip to Canada and USA to preach his gospel of promotion for fossil fuel industries
US President Barack Obama speaks out forcefully on the need to act, on carbon pricing as the most effective action, and has introduced significant action to cut greenhouse gases. China has started 6 regional emissions trading schemes.The World Bank’s survey found that 39 countries and more than 23 States and provinces have adopted emissions trading schemes or a carbon tax. No worries. Abbott pronounces that there is “no sign” that such schemes are being adopted.
The Australian tragedy of all this is that – Abbott is probably not lying. He is ignorant. He got into power via the money of the fossil fuel lobbies and the propaganda of the Murdoch media. Abbott gave a wonderfully informed and authoritative description of the theory of man-made climate change. He said it is “absolute crap” Yes, we have a fool for a PM, and it’s a national embarrassment.
Wait to see the blackly funny side of this. Tony Abbott is a firm supporter of the nuclear industry. When he has destroyed all action on climate change in Australia, and when he has stopped renewable energy development there – watch Abbott suddenly believe in climate change ‘action’. That’s when Tony Abbott will come all out in favour of nuclear power as the ‘solution to climate change’ – Christina Macpherson, 11 June 14
Round-up of nuclear and climate news
Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs
Japanese court rules against the restart of two nuclear reactors. Deception by Tepco and government revealed on what really did happen in the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Japan has started dumping radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean. Fukushima’s children’s thyroid cancer rates have risen. Japan soon to build massive ice wall in ground around Fukushima nuclear plant, – at massive cost
Finland’s Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant has long been touted as the poster child for magnificent huge new nuclear power. With ever more delays, costs, legal problems, it’s turning out to be a super-expensive white elephant.
Canada. Federal court denies approval for 2 new nuclear reactors, due to safety and environmental factors.
USA continues to thrash out insurmountable problems in nuclear waste and closing down reactors, (but they still keep making the stuff!) Nuclear industry’s costs and delays cast a gloom on chance of “new nuclear’. Small Modular Reactors are part of the problem, not the solution. At least 8 USA nuclear plants expected to be swamped by rising sea levels.
Climate change – In USA The Energy and Policy Institute (EPI) in a new report ‘outs’ the front groups and individuals who attack renewable energy on behalf of the fossil fuel industries. Meanwhile a new progressive (and non-profit) group NextGen Climate now campaigns to elect politicians who support climate change action. An evangelical Christian group declares that action on climate change is a pro life issue, and petitions Florida government accordingly.
India’s new Prime Minister Modi aims to bring solar power to every home by 2019. Opposition parties increase their fight against nuclear power.
Ukraine. Westinghouse, not Russia, now to supply nuclear fuel rods to Ukraine, even though they are not suited to the Russian made fuel assemblies.
Uranium market. A call to cut production, as uranium price is in free fall, below cost of production. Bad lookout for new uranium mines.
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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