nuclear-news

TODAY. Yah wouldn’t know it was happening. USA military might and toxic nuclear waste quietly infiltrating Australia?

I think that you’ve got to give credit to the corporate media, especially the Australian media.

I dunno about the rest of you, but I am pretty much numbed by the blanketing of all news for weeks on end, with coverage of the Olympics. Former Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser wished that politics should be relegated to page 3,with sport at the front page. He would be delighted with today’s situation where sport occupies about the first 37 pages of the news.

In Melbourne, we are about to come up for air after being submerged in Olympics news, only to face the next inundation, which is of course Australian Rules Football.

But the media here will dutifully make an exception for news about an enormous weapons industry fest now being held in Melbourne. No doubt there’ll be condemnation of those evil protestors who want to stop this wonderful industry – that brings in the dollars in weapons sales to places like Israel and Ukraine – so good for the Australian economy!

There are bits of news that just do not surface at all.

There’s a government Review going on – that just about nobody has heard about –  https://www.defence.gov.au/about/reviews-inquiries/review-woomera-prohibited-area-coexistence-framework .

It’s all about how the government uses a large stretch of land in South Australia – almost certainly a quiet introduction to the idea of dumping USA’s AUKUS nuclear waste there. They very quietly called for Submissions by September 6th.

So pretty much nobody knew anything about that. (One investigative nuisance – David Noonan actually managed to get a Submission in)

Australians are pretty much conditioned now, to know that the only important news is sport, preferably with Australia winning, – (because it’s the only thing we’re good at, isn’t it?). Some Aborigines might be anxious to learn that South Australian land, already polluted by British nuclear bomb tests in the 1950s, is going to get another burst of nuclear weapons pollution from our “friends” the UK and USA.

But last year, the Australian media managed to kill off any plan for the Aborigines to have a Voice to Parliament. This year, media silence on the AUKUS nuclear waste plan will probably be even more effective in removing any Aboriginal objection from the process.

September 9, 2024 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

TODAY. The Anglophone nations ganging up to dominate the rest of the world, mindlessly obeying the USA

What is it with this sychophantic obedience and grovelling to the USA? Does it come from memories of World War 2, or more likely, memories of how Hollywood portrayed World War 2? Many a Hollywood film, over the decades, told the glorious story of how America won the war, and saved the rest of us. In reality, that just was not true at all, for Britain, but partially true for Australia.

Then there was The Bomb – hastily dropped on Japanese civilians – despite Japan about to surrender anyway. But that wasn’t to save us, to end the war. It was done to intimidate the Russians.

Anyway, 79 years later, the danger is not the evil foreigners who don’t speak English. The danger is above all, the existence of nuclear weaponry itself. And this danger is now being landed especially on the Anglophone nations.

In the UK , only 3 weeks after Keir Starmer and the Labour Party took over, Labour  amended the Eisenhower-era 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement (MDA) that is crucial to Britain’s Trident nuclear missile system. Officials deleted a long-standing sunset clause that required it be renewed every ten years. All references to an “expiry date” have been removed “to make the entirety of the MDA enduring, securing continuing cooperation with the US”

This change, quietly made, with no discussion in Parliament, let alone any public information, ensures that Britain will continue to host American nuclear weapons technology , and as always, slavishly follow the USA into its next military adventure, whatever that may be.

The UK’s most dangerous sites would include Lakenheath , the UK’s largest American air force base , and the Clyde Trident nuclear base. What enticing targets for America’s enemies in time of war!

If the USA is using Britain (and Europe) to position these dangerous nuclear targets, its moves into the whole continent of Australia are even more breath-takingly bold. There’s always been the secret 5 Eye base at Pine Gap – but now – increasing military bases in Northern and Western Australia, and the nuclear submarine sage unfolds -with its potential to turn Australia into a USA/UK nuclear military waste dump.

What these Anglophone peoples don’t seem to “get” – is that nuclear military technology – if it ever was for “defence” has now become the biggest threat to our safety.

September 5, 2024 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Nuclear news and more -this week

Some bits of good news:  How Indigenous Peoples are safeguarding Earth’s biodiversity   Federal Court recognises four-nation clan’s 95,000-square-kilometre native title claim in Western NSW, Australia.      French schools to have a long ‘digital pause’

TOP STORIES. 

A Looming Nuclear Catastrophe. Democratic Party platform a catastrophe for world peace.

Fears of ‘serious consequences’ if ‘extremely exposed’ Russian nuclear plant is attacked.

Atomic Tragedy? Plutonium Levels Near US Nuclear Site In Los Alamos Similar To Chernobyl – New Study.

That time when Canada cancelled its nuclear submarine order. 

Recent Events Prove Western Nations Are Highly Vulnerable To Cyber Calamity – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0oZA1B3ooI

Climate. Surging seas are coming for us all, warns UN chief.

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AUSTRALIA

.David Noonan confronts Australia’s politicians with critical unanswered questions on the AUKUS agreement – will they pretend not to hear this?      The AUKUS submarine deal has been exposed as a monumental folly – is it time to abandon ship?

Dutton’s nuclear vision is distorted by ignorance (or worse) Opposing a USA-led international nuclear agreement that is bizarrely unfair to Australia. More Australian nuclear news headlines at https://antinuclear.net/2024/08/27/australian-nuclear-news-from-26-august-to-1st-september/

NUCLEAR ITEMS

September 2, 2024 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 1 Comment

Countering the nuclear lobby spin this week

Some bits of good news.     How Copenhagen cleaned up its harbour. Renewable energy consumption hit a record high. The US finally supported a global plastics treaty

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TOP STORIES. 

How US Big Tech monopolies colonized the world: Welcome to neo-feudalism. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf1wQ9QeaKM 

The heroes who saved the world from Chernobyl Two. 

‘Very serious’ nuclear situation could happen ‘at any moment’ in Ukraine, says IAEA chief. 

Donald Trump and Nuclear Weapons. 

Molten salt reactors were trouble in the 1960s—and they remain trouble today.

From the archives. A new French fairy tale: “Cheap” nuclear electricity in France is not what it appears.

Biodiversity. Capitalism is killing the planet – but curtailing it is the discussion nobody wants to have. ALSO AT https://nuclear-news.net/2024/08/20/2-b1-capitalism-is-killing-the-planet-but-curtailing-it-is-the-discussion-nobody-wants-to-have/ 

Climate. Climate scientist says 2/3rds of the world is under an effective ‘death sentence’ because of global warming. Think we don’t have a choice when it comes to saving the planet? Think again– ALSO AT https://nuclear-news.net/2024/08/20/2-b1-think-we-dont-have-a-choice-when-it-comes-to-saving-the-planet-think-again/ Project 2025: The right-wing conspiracy to torpedo global climate action. Meeting 1.5C warming limit hinges on governments more than technology, study says.

Plastic pollution. Human brain tissue made up of 0.5 per cent microplastics, study reveals.

Noel’s notes. A whole new way of thinking about nuclear weapons – THEY’RE SILLY! “Churnalism” – that is a timely word that we all need to consider.

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AUSTRALIA. Is the USA now considering withdrawal from AUKUS? Australia offers U.S. a vast new military launchpad in China conflict. AUKUS 2.0: Albanese Drives It Like He Stole It, and Then Gives It Away to the US. Civil Society faces imposition of an AUKUS military High Level nuclear waste dump. The anti-renewables groups pushing the nuclear option to rural Australia – ALSO AT  https://antinuclear.net/2024/08/26/the-anti-renewables-groups-pushing-the-nuclear-option-to-rural-australia/ Too big to fail? Who cares if there’s no accountability – the Nuclear Lie. 

NUCLEAR ITEMS.

ARTS and CULTURE. The lost world of Chornobyl: inside a nuclear disaster zone – in pictures. The UK nuclear lobby’s festival of joyous propaganda.

CLIMATE. Why Nuclear Energy Is Not the Solution to the Climate Crisis. Why the big push for nuclear power as “green”?

ECONOMICS. Atlantic Canada’s only nuclear power station is offline, again.

Final investment decision on new nuclear plant Sizewell C is delayed. “Final Investment Decision (FID) ” in Sizewell C nuclear station might never happen. Nuclear unicorn Newcleo to move holding company from UK to France to tap EU funds.

China keeps door firmly closed to Japanese seafood imports.

SMRs and nuclear renaissance: Learning from past to avoid over promising on low costs.

ENERGY. AI’s insatiable energy demand is going nuclear.

Global disappointment with the most promising energy: ‘The dream is dead’, and we are in ‘big trouble’

ENVIRONMENT. Sizewell C seeks permit for ‘water vole displacement activities’ ALSO AT https://nuclear-news.net/2024/08/24/1-b1-sizewell-c-seeks-permit-for-water-vole-displacement-activities/

EVENTS. 1 September, Ontario WALK AGAINST NUCLEAR WASTE  https://www.facebook.com/nonukesontreatylands

August 27, 2024 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 1 Comment

TODAY. A whole new way of thinking about nuclear weapons – THEY’RE SILLY!

I’m grateful to Ward Hayes Wilson for giving me this idea. He has noted that Kamala Harris and co have changed the tone of discussion about Donald Trump – from being about fear of Trump, to laughter at Trump.

Then he turns to discussion about nuclear weapons. Why haven’t they been used over almost 80 years of warfare? Because – like Trump, they’re not useful – they’re weird.

Ward Hayes Wilson does not minimise the danger of nuclear weapons. He knows his stuff, and has an impressive record as a writer on matters nuclear. It’s just that he can write clearly about this, without the jargon.

“The truth is nuclear weapons are too big to use on battlefields”

“The truth is that using nuclear weapons to fight a long-range war where you target your adversary’s homeland is simply suicidal.”

“The truth is that nuclear deterrence is fatal over the long run because it’s run by human beings — creatures who make mistakes and are prone to folly.”

“the most important truth about them: they’re ludicrous weapons………….. Their non-use is the result of nuclear weapons being blundering, bumbling, poison-spreading, lousy weapons.”

In the laborious progress towards genuine democracy (we haven’t got there yet), there has been one breakthrough – over a century ago. That is that the political leaders not only have to get voted in – they have to wear more or less “ordinary” clothes. This attire is a very visible symbol that the leader – President, Prime Minister – whoever he (even she!) is called – is not a god, not divinely inspired, but just an ordinary fallible human being.

This type of breakthrough insight has not yet hit the military. In their god-like smart uniforms , bedecked with buttons, ribbons, insignia, jazzy hats – the military, naval, airforce bigwigs look like they are special creatures – super-knowledgeable angels who know what’s best for us, and that the killing of lotsa people is OK, (even if we have to go, too).

Actually, this isn’t really fair. Often you get more sense out of the military toffs that you do out of the politicians, who are beholden to the weapons-making corporations.

Still, tax-payers spend an exorbitant amount not only on nuclear weaponry, but on the whole hierarchy of “experts” of all kinds involved in developing, managing, teaching, publicising and extolling nuclear weapons, and preparing for war.

Much less is spent on genuine diplomacy.

Genuine diplomacy is different from the smarmy hypocrisy of those “diplomats” who swan around a world preparing for nuclear war, and pretending that all will be OK, underneath the American “nuclear umbrella” – that the USA has everything under control.

We don’t need this silly trumpeting about nuclear deterrence etc. It’s time for those more down to earth methods – genuine diplomacy, negotiation, compromise …….

We can swap our fear of nuclear weapons for making fun of how silly the whole thing is .

August 24, 2024 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 1 Comment

TODAY “Churnalism” – that is a timely word that we all need to consider;

The days of independent investigative journalism as a well-paid job – are pretty much over .

We get our “mainstream” news from journalists who are toeing the line of the corporate media owners, and of government.

I’m grateful to DES FREEDMAN, who today introduced me to that lovely word “churnalism”. How beautifully it expresses all the joyous news that bombards us, about the wonderful world of militarism, and its exciting new devices for killing! Such a glorious use of our taxes!

However, I’m not all that thrilled to learn of the horrible deaths to be inflicted upon Russian and Chinese human beings, as some kind of compensation for my own horrible death in World War 3. Indeed, I’m quite puzzled at the prevailing patriotic view that belligerence and confrontation are the way to go , with these other countries, whom we are somehow obliged to hate.

Of course, the really hard tasks are apparently just too hard to contemplate – those difficult things like negotiation, diplomacy, compromise……….. Especially if it’s dealing with people whose native language is not English. We barely tolerate the Europeans, (but of course, we make an exception for the Ukrainians as they are willingly sacrificing themselves in the cause of American hegemony).

A few brave souls are still doing objective journalism, either openly, or sort of “between the lines” as they write about political tensions, about international conflicts, – and they hope to hang on to their jobs in the “respectable” media.

Meanwhile – where the real journalism is now happening, where questions are really being asked, is in the “alternative ” media – that depends on the generosity of volunteers, giving their time, some voluntary subscribers – but no funding from government and corporate advertising .

I’m not sure that these alternative voices are going to cut through the miitaristic handouts that are regurgitated in the prevailing churnalism, as well as in the jungle of “social” media.

The questions that need to be asked and answered are so simple and obvious – that somehow by some magical veil thrown over our eyes – they are just never allowed to be seen:  

• is it a good idea to provoke Putin?  
• is it a good idea to attack China About Taiwan?
• why is our tax-payer money going into ever more terrible weapons? 
• why is it not going into healthcare?
• why is it not going into education? to helping the homeless? to preserving the environment?

So – the military juggernaut rolls on. Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon etc now censor links to the irregular media, where such questions are asked. So I don’t know whether sensible thinking will ever rise to the surface above the churnalism.

If it doesn’t – we are all doomed.

August 22, 2024 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 1 Comment

Nuclear news -the other side of the stories this week.

Some bits of good news.  UNICEF for every child – what we do.Baby beavers born in urban London for the first time in over 400 years. UK riots spark ‘love’ campaign for refugees 

TOP STORIES. 

Humanity on a knife’s edge. 

The Price of the Sentinel Nuclear Weapons Program Keeps Going Up—But the True Costs Are Even Higher.  

Amazon Vies for Nuclear-Powered Data Center .

From the archives. Radioactive waste danger at St Louis, USA – new film ‘Atomic Homefront’

Climate. How Close Are the Planet’s Climate Tipping Points? How climate change has pushed our oceans to the brink of catastrophe.  When glaciers calve: Huge underwater tsunamis found at edge of Antarctica, likely affecting ice melt.

Mature trees offer hope in world of rising emissions. 

Heat aggravated by carbon pollution killed 50,000 in Europe last year – study. Half a billion children live in areas with twice as many very hot days as in 1960s. 

Noel’s notes. Low dose ionising radiation as a cause of illness and death.

AUSTRALIA. Resisting AUKUS: The Paul Keating Formula.
 Australia blasted for new Aukus deal over nuclear waste fears – ‘blow to sovereignty’ . Albo’s Trojan Horse. Nuclear waste dump debate heating up over AUKUS, Coalition plans The West Report – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JVfESp-A3Q          Forced Posture: has Australia already ceded military control to the US?      A whole lot more Australian nuclear news at  https://antinuclear.net/2024/08/14/australian-nuclear-news-headlines-13-20-august/

NUCLEAR NEWS

ARTS and CULTURE. NFLA’s send ‘very best of luck’ to Peace Museum on reopening in historic Salts Mill.

ATROCITIES. The Fajr massacre: Every 70 kg bag of human remains is considered a martyr .

CLIMATE. EDF cuts nuclear production in reaction to soaring temperatures.

ECONOMICS. Sweden Considers Borrowing $28.5 Billion to Finance Nuclear. Sizewell C funding decision may not be made this year. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Antiques Roadshow. German ministers told there’s no more money for Ukraine – media.

ENERGY. Data centers want to tap existing nuclear power. Is that good or bad? Tech Companies Are Racing to Harness Nuclear Power.

POLITICS.

• The two faces of Kamala Harris on Israeli genocide in Gaza. Gantz warns of a civil war in “Israel”.
• Ukraine’s plan to buy Russian-made nuclear reactors sparks uproar.
• Rebranded SNC-Lavalin seeks as much as $75M in taxpayer dollars to build more powerful Candu nuclear reactors.
• Revealed: UK ministers’ doubts over nuclear plant at Torness. Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) welcome developments to move forward to an early poll in Theddlethorpe.
• Peace Is Not On The Ballot In November https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqaPrRP5rZk Congressman Garamendi Asks “Why does America need nuclear weapons?” California legislators break with Gov. Newsom over loan to keep state’s last nuclear plant running.
• South Africa halts plans for nuclear power

POLITICS INTERNATIONAL and DIPLOMACY.

• Iran to Israel: Ceasefire in Gaza war, or retaliation for Haniyh murder will proceed. Iran’s future FM says nuclear deal broken, favors military-diplomatic path .
• China urges US, UK and Australia not to advance nuclear submarine cooperation.
• South Korea’s Yoon seeks dialogue with North, path to unification.

SAFETY.

• Map reveals nuclear fallout that would happen if Europe’s biggest plant explodes. IAEA warns of heightened security dangers facing Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. IAEA says safety at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant deteriorates.
• What Happens if Ukraine Seizes the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant?
• Incidents. Safety at Ukraine nuclear power plant deteriorating after blast, watchdog warns.
• Fukushima nuclear plant detects 25 tonnes of radioactive water leak. Latest leak accident in Fukushima ‘once again exposes management chaos of TEPCO’.
• Fire sparks Georgia nuclear plant alert, but officials say no safety threat as reactors unaffected

August 19, 2024 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

This week’s nuclear news- miles too long- sorry!

above – Julian Assange – home with his familySome  bits of good news – People power changes lives – Six months of wins for human rights. Anti-corruption strategies in Nigeria are working.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are having a positive spillover effect.

TOP STORIES

The Impact of Nuclear Weapons on Children.79 Years After Hiroshima & Nagasaki: A Grim Reminder of Nuclear Annihilation. 

Mutually assured destruction is an outdated nuclear deterrence doctrine.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVunlJOyfB0

World-Ending Maneuvers? America’s Nuclear Weapons Quagmire. Inside the Nuclear-Weapons Lobby Today.

AUKUS Revamped: The Complete Militarisation of Australia. 

Why US nuclear waste policy got stalled. And what to do about it.

UK’s most dangerous nuclear site pleads guilty after endangering national security.
Germany may take another 50 years to find final repository for waste from shuttered nuclear power.

Climate. Extreme heat in South Korea kills 11 and decimates livestock. ‘It made me cry’: photos taken 15 years apart show melting Swiss glaciers.

Noel’s notes.  Relief – Hiroshima Day is over – now to our glorious $2 trillion nuclear weapons “modernization”!    6th August – a day of respectful remembrance, and a day of absurd nuclear hypocrisy   World “experts” are kicking the nuclear waste can down the road – to our great grandchildren.

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AUSTRALIA. 

• The AUKUS operations are stalled because Australia cannot meet the nuclear waste disposal requirements of the non-proliferation treaty regime.   Australia, US, UK sign nuclear transfer deal for AUKUS subs – AUSTRALIA RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SPENT FUEL WASTES.   Australia is still finding out what it doesn’t know about its secretive AUKUS deal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H8_vQkKkgA       Australia being turned into ’51st US state‘ – former Prime Minister.     Australia makes undisclosed ‘political commitments’ in new AUKUS deal on transfer of naval nuclear technology.   
• Peter Dutton’s nuclear lies – ALSO AT https://antinuclear.net/2024/08/12/peter-duttons-nuclear-lies/    
•  Australian Conservation Foundation’s X account suspended after apparent ‘report bombing’ .  Lots more Australian news at https://antinuclear.net/2024/08/09/australian-nuclear-news-headlines-8-12-august/

NUCLEAR NEWS ITEMS

SPINBUSTER. A DUBIOUS PROSPECT? Rolls-Royce looks to sell stake in small nuclear reactor business.

URANIUM. While Cumbrian MPs Blindly Agitate for More Uranium Mining to Feed More Nuclear New Build, Indigenous Australians are celebrating Halt to Poisoning of their Lands 

WASTES. Too short, ill-timed and clumsy: Welsh Nuclear Free Local Authorities critical of Trawsfynydd radioactive waste consultation. Lake District’s Coastal Nuclear Waste Dump Screw Tightens. Radiation monitoring keeps track of nuclear waste contamination. Anti-nuclear Group Criticizes Short Consultation over Trawsfynydd Lake Radioactive Contamination.

WAR AND CONFLICT.

Ukraine war briefing: Main fire at Russia-controlled nuclear plant in Ukraine extinguished. IAEA chief calls for restraint as fighting remains ongoing ‘in the vicinity’ of Russia’s Kursk Nuclear Power Plant.

 Israeli policy means ‘difficult to know’ how close world is to nuclear war, warns International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). Shin Bet said to prepare bunker for Netanyahu, senior leadership amid Iranian threat. Majority of Americans Oppose Using US Troops To Defend Israel .

Nuclear weapons can never bring peace or security – only mass death.

Modernizing Nuclear War’

WEAPONS and WEAPONS SALES.

• Desperate for escalation, did Zelensky bomb Zaporozhye Nuke Plant in Frustration ? US to send more military aid to Ukraine, as Ukrainian drones target Kursk and the Kursk Nuclear Power PLant
• The United States is launching a new nuclear arms race: to catch up and outsmart Russia and China.
• The Space Force can require private companies to cut off service to their other customers.
• Iran Is Better Positioned to Launch Nuclear-Weapons Program.
• UK’s Astute nuclear submarines stuck in port waiting for maintenance. ALSO AT https://antinuclear.net/2024/08/07/uks-astute-nuclear-submarines-stuck-in-port-

August 13, 2024 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

TODAY. World “experts” are kicking the nuclear waste can down the road – to our great grandchildren

From  https://theaimn.com/world-experts-are-kicking-the-nuclear-waste-can-down-the-road-to-our-great-grandchildren/ 10 Aug 24

The latest news from Germany really shows up this problem. IF conditions are ideal – a decision on a site for Germany’s underground nuclear waste repository could be made by 2074.

• That’s – 50 years to find a site. 
• Then 20 years to build the underground dump. 
• Then many decades for transporting and storing thousands of casks .

That’s just for Germany, which took the courageous decision to just shut down this filthy industry. Germany is not creating any more radioactive trash!

This is a comforting situation for today’s “nuclear experts”

Why is it comforting? Well, because they don’t need to worry about producing ever more of this toxic trash. They’ll be dead and gone long before it all has to get fixed. They can flummox around bleating about the marvels of deep disposal, enjoying their fat salaries, and leave it all for future generations to face.

II have previously written about the concept of “rolling stewardship”, advocated by Dr Gordon Edwards. This is a system whereby high level nuclear waste is kept above ground, in very strong containers. The containers are sited away from waterways, and are regularly monitored and repaired. This system, combined with the closing down of all nuclear reactors, would be a practical and honourable way to address the global radioactive waste threat. Expensive? Yes. But no more expensive than the current grandiose “expert” plans for deep disposal.

August 10, 2024 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

TODAY. Relief – Hiroshima Day is over – now to our glorious $2 trillion nuclear weapons “modernization”!

August 7th. Hiroshima day is over. We can all breathe a sigh of relief. No need to be sad any more , about nuclear bombing. (Oh wait – there’s Nagasaki Day on the 9th. No matter, there’s very little coverage of that, and the people who count – the smart young people, probably have neder heard of it,

The good thing is – industry races on! Especially the USA nuclear weapons industry. Ain’t that great! They’re going to spend $2 trillion on “modernizing” nuclear weapons. And if Donald Trump gets in, backed by the Heritage Foundation, well – it will be more than $2 trillion.

I mean – think of the jobs jobs jobs! Think of the return to shareholders!

(Think of the American national debt – Nah – don’t go there. That is communist -style thinking and negativity)

No we don’t need negativity. Some people moan about not spending enough money on combatting climate change, on cleaning up plastic pollution, on preserving biodiversity, or even on feeding the world’s refugees and the hungry second-rate peoples.

No – positivity is the way to go. A positive approach to later on having a war against the evil Chinese and the evil Russians.

August 8, 2024 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

TODAY. 6th August – a day of respectful remembrance, and a day of absurd nuclear hypocrisy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVunlJOyfB0

Respectful remembrance of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima is happening – in places world-wide, and especially in Hiroshima.

But at the same time, the reality is that the nuclear nations, led by the USA, are all busy spending the taxpayers’ money on nuclear weapons. And the tax-payers don’t seem to care much – Nuclear-weapons -making provides jobs – doesn’t it?, and shares in it provide financial security don’t they? And nuclear weapons provide security and safety from the evil other people, don’t they?

And people continue to believe the spin. The spin that has gone on ever since that evil decision to atomic bomb Hiroshima, and that next evil decision, to atomic bomb Nagasaki.

Now – while pious statements about Hiroshima abound – the world’s leaders are gearing up for the next bombing. There’s a load of nonsense about “tactical nuclear weapons”, and a “limited nuclear war” – as if, somehow it would be OK to annihilate just a few billion civilians, rather than the whole 8 billion.

The hypocrisy about it being OK to bomb civilians is equalled by the hypocrisy that believing in increasing nuclear weaponry will deter wars. It sure has not prevented them over the past 79 years.

The “Western” World leaders seem fine with the idea of gearing up for a war against China and Russia. And now gearing up for a war against Iran? And Israel, led by a fanatic Zionist clique, looks ready to get that started.

It is hard to believe that Mutually Assured Destruction is still an accepted policy. ( I always thought it was a strange idea – that knowing of the deaths of billions of the “others” would be any consolation to us as we were ourselves annihilated.)

So – the whole nuclear weapon thing is a load of hypocrisy spun by imbecilic macho men.

But the next load of hypocrisy is the pretense that the “civil” nuclear industry has any real purpose beyond supporting the nuclear weapons industry. (Yes, nuclear medicine has a role, but it’s a two-edged sword, being itself a contributor to cancer)

Which brings me to that ultimate lie – that “nuclear power will solve climate change”

Amongst the many global threats to human and animal life, the big one is global heating.

Nuclear energy’s role in dealing with global heating has just one purpose- to stop the development of renewable energy and energy conservation.

The breath-taking hypocrisy of it all

August 6, 2024 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | 1 Comment

This week: The other side of news on nuclear and related issues

Some bits of good news–    Trees Reveal Climate Surprise: Bark Removes Methane from the Atmosphere

    Global population predictions offer ‘hopeful sign’ for planet, UN says.      UNICEF and UNWRA work together in Gaza.

TOP STORIES. 

79 years since the unthinkable. 

The Great Global Computer Outage Is a Warning We Ignore at Our Peril . 

Eastern Europe’s purchase of US nuclear reactors is primarily about military ties, not climate change. 

How Many Nuclear Bombs Has The US Air Force Lost?

Climate. Extreme ‘heat dome’ hitting Olympics ‘impossible’ without global heating. Largest wildfire in US grows to cover area bigger than Los Angeles

Noel’s notes. “People of a generally nervous disposition” worry about mishaps with nuclear bombs.        Who will honestly face up to the problem of nuclear wastes? Rolling Stewardship as a practical option.

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AUSTRALIA.   Nuclear is a toxic idea … here’s why.        Australia should avoid small nuclear reactors until 2040s, engineers warn.       AUKUS servility just one facet of poor governance.      Israel lobby ramps up scare campaigns in fear of truth.        America’s war machine: Unless Australia acquires nuclear weapons, why acquire AUKUS subs?   Lots more Australian nuclear news at https://antinuclear.net/2024/08/01/australian-nuclear-news-headlines-29-july-5-august-2/

ECONOMICS. 

• Point Lepreau nuclear station – a heavy financial burden that keeps getting heavier-ALSO AT https://nuclear-news.net/2024/07/30/3-b1-point-lepreau-nuclear-station-a-heavy-financial-burden-that-keeps-getting-heavier/  
• NuScale Power plunges after report says it is under SEC investigation. 
• U.S. company HOLTEC approaches South Yorkshire with £1.3bn offer to start Small Nuclear Reactor production.
•  Rolls Royce – the “burning platform”?         Rolls-Royce to sell stake in mini-nukes arm ALSO AT https://nuclear-news.net/2024/08/05/1-b1-rolls-royce-to-sell-stake-in-mini-nukes-arm/ 
• Government partnership is needed if Dutch pension fund PME is to make “risky” nuclear investment.
• ‘Ultra-cheap energy for every household’: could a different kind of tariff change everything?.

MEDIA. Mass Media Goons Are Still Reporting That Biden Is Getting Tough On Netanyahu.

 The Hidden Ties Between Google and Amazon’s Project Nimbus and Israel’s Military.

OPPOSITION to NUCLEAR . Japan, U.S. urged to work for nuclear abolition at symposium. 

Blackwater Against New Nuclear Power Group (BANNG)campaigners say company’s claims over Bradwell B are false.

PERSONAL STORIES. 

‘True horror’: Japan’s Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor campaigns for a nuclear-free world. 

Canada and the Atom Bomb: Remembering As an Act of Resistance.

WASTES. Burying radioactive nuclear waste poses enormous risks. 

Is Manitoba willing to accept nuclear waste risks?  

Japan continues search for its first nuclear waste disposal site by screening tiny rural town.

WAR and CONFLICT.

• US Will ‘Certainly’ Defend Israel If Attacked By Iran In Wake Of Haniyeh Killing.     US deploys 12 warships to Middle East as Israel escalates attacks in region. 
• Iran vows revenge after Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh killed in Tehran.   Major escalation’: Israel bombs densely populated area of Beirut, Hezbollah says commander survived the attack. 
• Israeli Forces Have Killed 366 UN Workers and Family Members in Gaza: Leaked Report. “Unspeakable”: Doctors Back from Gaza Say Death Toll “Much Higher,” Push Harris, Biden for Ceasefire. 
• Where Is the Biden Plan to End the War in Ukraine? 
• Putin often cites Russia’s ‘nuclear doctrine’ governing the use of atomic weapons. But what is it? 
• The US might lose a war with China, congressional commission says.

WEAPONS and WEAPONS SALES. 

First NATO F-16’s delivered to Ukraine  (nuclear capable). 

Replacing the UK’s nuclear deterrent: The Warhead Programme–  without appropriate Parliamentary scrutiny.

 ‘Nuclear weapons money could tackle climate change‘- Martha Wardrop, Scottish Greens.

August 5, 2024 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

TODAY. “People of a generally nervous disposition” worry about mishaps with nuclear bombs.

I just couldn’t resist that little quotation from an article today about an undetonated nuclear bomb lying at the bottom of a river. To be fair, I think that the writer might have been being sarcastic. He also mentions that “bomb-enthusiasts” worry, too.

Nevertheless, his statement is symptomatic of the comfortable attitude of the authorities to the whole subject of nuclear weapons – in this system, quaintly called deterrence. We’re all a bit worried that someone, like Putin, for example, might actually use one, some day.

But, in the “normal” course of events, nuclear weapons provide good, reliable jobs, and all sorts of government benefits to the community, and something to be proud of- “my strong country” etc. Don’t they?

So, it’s a bit annoying, when someone kicks up a fuss about the nuclear weapons that get accidentally dropped, and lost. They have all sorts of safety features, so they can’t easily explode. well, the land-based ones are supposed not to, anyway. The Atomic Archive lists for the USA 32 “Broken Arrow” nuclear accidents. Of course, that’s only the American ones. What about the others – French, British, Russian, North Korean, Chinese nuclear weapons? Russia was known to have 45.000 nuclear weapons up to 1986 – most of them on submarines – how many got lost undersea? Can they explode, undersea?

But that’s the thing. We are comforted by the reassurance from the experts, that explosion of a lost nuclear weapon is extremely unlikely. We are safe.

What they don’t talk about – is corrosion, leakage of radioactive materials. Over time, increased radioactivity in water and land will affect millions of people, – but don’t worry – of all those millions, only a few million will get cancer from this. So you see, a few million cancer deaths is nothing much really, to worry about. Or so the experts would have us think.

The nuclear lobby has achieved a wonderful global brainwashing. The only thing to worry about is a dramatic event, – an explosion with high levels of radiation released.

If you worry about those less dramatic millions of cancers, well, you must be “a person of a generally nervous disposition”. Hell – it’s your fault – you need psychiatric care, you poor thing.

August 2, 2024 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Counteracting the nuclear spin, and more – week to 29 July

Some bits of good news. The Gambia’s decision to uphold ban on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) a  critical win for girls’ and women’s rights.   Oceana Canada Celebrates Major Conservation Victory: Underwater Mountains off the Coast of B.C. Now Permanently Protected, under indigenous guidance.   Great Green Wall has revived Africa’s degraded landscapes

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TOP STORIES. 

What the top UN court’s ruling means for Israel.   Netanyahu Commands, US Obeys. 

Rolling stewardship of nuclear waste. 

Young Changemakers Advocate for Nuclear-Free Future through Educational Journey in Kazakhstan.

Climate. Severe heatwave in Iran forces shops and public institutions to close

Noel’s notes. Militarism: How NATO is co-opting women and young people – with a veneer of peace and fun.         The digital system threatens the nuclear industry – it’ll get worse with AI.          Absolutely fed up with Facebook and Google’s censorship of nuclear issues.

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AUSTRALIA. Dutton’s nuclear delusion an exercise in stupidity. Czech nuclear deal shows CSIRO GenCost is too optimistic, and new nukes are hopelessly uneconomic. Aussies react to Dutton’s Nuclear Policy – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o4S335dXM4 

Canada rejects AUKUS nuclear submarine deal. AUKUS and the pride of politicians. 

From the archives. Gina Rinehart’s threat to the proud independence of Australia’s Fairfax newspapers.

 Respect and responsibility: Jabiluka safe as uranium mining lease for Kakadu site not renewed8. 

Lots more Australian news at https://antinuclear.net/2024/07/23/australian-nuclear-news-headlines-22-29-july/

NUCLEAR ITEMS

CLIMATE. Hungary to allow nuclear plant to exceed Danube water temperature limit. Huge wildfire rips into California.

ECONOMICS.

• Critical AUKUS contract doubles in price and now a year late.
• ‘ Regulated Asset Base’ system mulled in Japan to add nuke plant construction costs to rates.
• Point Lepreau nuclear station down till at least September, costing utility extra $71M ALSO AT https://nuclear-news.net/2024/07/24/3-b1-point-lepreau-nuclear-station-down-till-at-least-september-costing-utility-extra-71m/ A New Brunswick reaction to the exorbitant costs of Point Lepreau nuclear power station.
• Spain: Nuclear Industry Reels After Tax Increase.
• UK / New Energy Minister Underlines ‘Absolute Support’ For SMRs, But Less Certain On Wylfa Plans.
• French nuclear giant ORANO slips into the red following Niger-French breakup.  EDF looks towards future projects after flagging tough second half.

EVENTS. 30 July Webinar: Halt Holtec – the Nuclear Mafia Atomic People will be broadcast on Wednesday 31 July on BBC Two and BBC iPlaye 6 August WEBINAR. Never Again! Remembering the Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

OPPOSITION to NUCLEAR . Nuclear energy not the way to go: coalition Taiwan. UK Nuclear Free Local Authorities back joint statement condemning AUKUS nuclear proliferation. Nuclear Free Local Authorities congratulate marchers on Lakenheath protest.

July 29, 2024 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment