nuclear-news

Today’s movement towards a healthy non nuclear planet – theme for October 14

The world-wide People’s Climate March on September 21st showed that Climate Change is recognised as a huge global threat.  The mainstream media glossed over this as quickly as they could, focusing on terrorism and matters military. Nevertheless, people have woken up, as never before, to the global nature of problems of environment and public health.  Like a slow dawning, even political leaders are starting to see important connections, like for example, the safety threats of nuclear power plants situated in another country, but near their borders.

As always, politicians, beholden as they are to their corporate funders, are the last to want to act in the public interest, for a healthier planet.

Fortunately more and more people are realising that wonderful aim of Friends Of The Earth – “Think globally, act  locally “.

Many of those who marched in September had no connection with organised groups. Many others were members of groups like Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, The Sierra Club, Beyond Nuclear and hundreds of others – too many to list.

The corporate and political sociopaths who run government, business and mass media do not want  you to know that environmental groups have made much progress. Not only the visible activism of Greenpeace exploits, and of protest marches, but the quieter actions of lobbying, and of alternative media have brought about changes in law, and curbed the onslaught of rapacious polluting industries.

What’s happening now includes the recognition that renewable energy and energy efficiency are economically successful, as well as universally ever more popular.  Despite the powers that be, the world is realising that the “nuclear renaissance” is a stillbirth, and that the Fukushima nightmare is not over.

The task for those who care about the future of this planet is to keep on in the movement for the local and global public interest.

It’s good to join positive groups.  But just look out for the charlatans. There are plenty of these, with important sounding names and important sounding members. Some American examples are-  The Breakthrough Institute, Americans For Prosperity, American Enterprise Institute, Competitive Enterprise Institute,  Heartland Foundation, Heritage Foundation, and of course, nuclear information groups like Nuclear Matters.  America is the great leader in these dishonest industry front groups, but all other countries have some, too, along with journalists like George Monbiot, who have been sucked in.

The best way to detect corporate anti-environment propaganda is, if possible, to “Follow The Money” – who is funding them? This applies to academics, too – as polluting corporations increasingly fund universities.

September 28, 2014 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's themes | 2 Comments

The nuclear industry’s role in our general trashing of the planet- theme for September 2014

The nuclear industry is the epitome of the whole process of human society destroying its own essential environment. While so-called “primitive” societies function on a culture of spirituality, and respect for the land, unfortunately the “developed” society has the upper hand in this sad world, and seems bent on mindless destruction.

I do single out nuclear power and nuclear weaponry, because this toxic industry has special features that do not apply in anything like the same degree, to our other toxic industries. These features are:  secrecy, deception, false propaganda, invisible cancer-causing radiation, dangerous wastes lasting for thousands of years,  weaponry that could quickly annihilate millions, astronomic costs to be paid by present and future generations.

This nuclear nastiness is symptomatic of the malaise affecting the world. The dominant culture of endless growth and endless consumption has now brought about global warming, and frightening climate change with extreme weather, sea level rise, and acidification of the oceans.  The focus is now on climate change –  but it is not the only disaster befalling our planet.

And all these disasters are related to each other – and to the race for to grow, consume, and sell. Where to start?  – over-population, chemical pollution, deforestation, over-fishing, scarcity of clean water , destruction of habitats – loss of biodiversity, loss of arable soil,  – just  a few aspects of our truly disastrous world culture.

An alien space traveller might be bemused – observing how the world’s technocrats come up with “solutions”.  Things like geo-engineering – an example of yet again trying out  grand chemical fixes, which would make an awful lot of money for  a few, and an awful lot of misery for many.

The trashing of our world is the background to the distrust between ethnic and religious groups, and to violent and criminal clashes.  That in turn, feeds the greedy weapons industry, which, while making a few people rich, sets the scene for military destruction of the world environment.

My favourite silly solution is the push to set up a colony on Mars. Never mind that Mars average temperature is 51F, but can reach – 184F on cold nights, that there’s not enough oxygen, that there’s no magnetic field to protect us from cosmic radiation, there’s intolerably low atmospheric pressure …..etc.  Never mind that the astronauts would probably die on the way there anyway.

There IS NO PLANET B.

August 29, 2014 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's themes | Leave a comment

Nuclear power commercial and military – the perfect terrorism targets – theme for August 14

We know what a suicide plane crash can do to buildings. We know what missiles can do to planes. But what about the radioactive devastation that terrorist missiles, bombs, computer hacking could do to nuclear facilities?

While the nuclear nations ramp up their nuclear weapons – supposedly for “security” “defense” –  they are in fact increasing their vulnerability – setting up targets for terrorists.

Nuclear reactors, nuclear fuel pools, nuclear waste containers, nuclear transports – these are indeed the perfect targets for terrorist attack.  Meanwhile the nuclear lobby spins out its guff about “energy security” blah blah. Governments worry about earthquakes, floods, tsunamis – and well they should.

The “twin towers” attack of September 2011, the missile attack on a civilian plane over Ukraine –  surely these are indications of why it is time to get rid of those even more terrible targets – the world’s nuclear facilities.

July 26, 2014 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's themes | Leave a comment

Women’s part, or lack of it, in nuclear industry decisions – theme for May 2014

Decisions on nuclear power, nuclear weapons, nuclear wastes are almost exclusively made by men.Yet the brunt of nuclear-caused cancer is suffered by women and children, as is the brunt of nuclear war, and of depleted uranium spread.

Opinion polls over many years, and in many countries, consistently show that women are opposed to nuclear power and nuclear weapons.

More women than men are concerned about health and environmental effects of the nuclear industry.

Yet they are consistently reassured by narrowly educated nuclear physicists, and other technocrats, that nuclear power is safe, and that they have nothing to worry about in regard to ionising radiation.

Decisions on nuclear power and ionising radiation. The nuclear power heirarchy is almost uniformly male, though the nuclear lobby tries hard to pretend that they have equal rights credentials by getting a few token women to show off. And, a favourite male trick, – put a woman in an untenable position .

A good example would be Maria Korsnick, who was made Chief Nuclear Officer, by Exelon Nuclear –  the poisoned chalice given to a woman in these troubled times for the industry?

May 12, 2014 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's themes | 1 Comment

Nuclear power and Civil Liberties – theme for January 2014

Japan leads the way, with its new State Secrets Law enacted to punish whistleblowers. politicians leaking secrets. anyone publishing information designated as “secret”.  It allows the government to cover up issues such as corruption in the nuclear industry. It punishes journalists who speak out, and effectively censors nuclear news in the media

It is well known that the USA encouraged Japan to adopt this law. As the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe becomes ever more of a global problem, the nuclear industry (?too big to fail) and its servant governments increase in suppression of civil liberties

With uranium mining, nuclear power, nuclear wastes, and nuclear weapons,  –  civil liberties are increasingly eroded.  They must be, even when all seems to be going smoothly. Nuclear reprocessing, with plutonium as fuel, would necessitate taking away even more civil liberties.

A police state would develop, even with “peaceful” nuclear reprocessing.  But imagine how fast we would lose civil liberties, in the event of yet another nuclear mishap – theft of plutonium, terrorist strike, accident. For a start, the public would not even be informed, (for fear of public panic). Very quickly, that police state would be turned into a martial law state.

December 17, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's themes | 2 Comments

Nuclear Power and Civil Liberties in China – theme for January 2014

China is now the world’s (only) poster boy for the nuclear industry. But what about Nuclear Power and Civil Liberties in China? The world, even Greenpeace, is curiously silent on this.  No doubt because of the fate that would befall Chinese Greenpeace members, if they did get active on this.

China dumps its nuclear wastes in the lands of its ethnic minorities, such as Tibetans, and Uyghurs, with scant regard for their health. Chinese nuclear facilities are located in earthquake zones, in rural provinces. Swift repression follows any protest. There is no freedom of speech about China’s highly secretive nuclear industry.

December 17, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's themes | Leave a comment

Peace on a Nuclear Free Earth – theme for December 2013

Peace on Earth to people of good will

But what is good will? How is it shown?   The answer is in respect for one another.  Respect means listening to the other’s point of view, and clearly saying your own point of view. It means discussion, argument – communication.

It can be difficult and time consuming.  It often seems easier to just hit someone, show them who’s boss, as we have seen in countless Hollywood films – where might is right.

Communication is the alternative to war  – and people use communication to get along, and resolve differences – at home, in the community, the region – and nationally and internationally.

The world is pretty much at the crossroads now.  Some Israeli and USA politicians threaten military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Iran threatens retaliation. North Korea continues to be  a nuclear weapons worry and China, India, USA, Russia, UK ramp up their nuclear weapons. Threats,  decisions for violent action – it all seems simpler quicker, easier –  easier than communication, negotiation, diplomacy.

November 16, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's themes | 1 Comment

China and nuclear power – theme for November 2013

 The global nuclear lobby looks to China as its saviour. The World Nuclear Association(WNA)  boasts that China has  17 working nuclear power reactors and 30 under construction,  They are less enthusiastic about the safety concerns about China’s nuclear reactors, nuclear wastes, and  growing nuclear arsenal – as well as about the increasing popular resistance to nuclear power. See the sidebar at right, for the negative side of China’s nuclear power – and reasons why China might not fulfil the nuclear lobby’s dream.

While the Chinese government is trying to crack down on corruption , in fact, corruption is entrenched  in both public and private businesses – graft, bribery, embezzlement, backdoor deals, nepotism, patronage, and statistical falsification. No surprise that this goes on on the very secretive operations of nuclear power and nuclear waste management.  And the world does not get to hear of any nuclear whistleblowers in the closed totalitarian State of China.

The  danger and security issues of nuclear power make China deal more forcefully and secretly with nuclear power. For China, as with its neighbour, India, nuclear power leads to suppression of civil liberties.

As China has in fact slowed down its nuclear power programme, it has, like Japan, looked to export nuclear technology, as a way to make the industry financially viable.

November 3, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's themes | 1 Comment

Nuclear power – Asia and Middle East – theme for November 2013

The original and greatest nuclear power country – USA – now finds nuclear power costly and dangerous,  The imperative is to somehow make money out of this mess. The answer? – just as with asbestos and cigarettes – sell it off to Asia and the Middle East.  France and Russia join in the nuclear marketing frenzy – as does Japan, too (desperate to pretend that all is well at Fukushima.)

And why do Asian and Middle Eastern countries want this poisonous industry?   I can only suppose that, along with fashion, consumerism, cars, etc – everything Western is perhaps seen as ‘progress’.

And there’s that other factor, too. It would perhaps be nice to have the option of nuclear weapons.  If you want nuclear weapons, you must first have nuclear power.

And you might just think that  nuclear weapons might be a good idea.  (After all, would Iraq have been invaded if it had nuclear weapons?)

October 29, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's themes | 3 Comments

Denial of science, economics, history – Pandora’s Nuclear Propaganda – October 2013

As stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant continues to spew radioactive water, and teeters still on the brink of a new catastrophe –   the nuclear lobby comes up with a new campaign.  It is spearheaded by this propaganda film – “Pandora’s Promise”.

This is a good occasion for the usual suspects –  pretend environmentalists, vested nuclear interests (Bill Gates, Paul Allen), mainstream cinema reviewers , to praise this nuclear advertising “documentary”.

This film’s lies go beyond its deceptions about ionising radiation, and about safety, and about nuclear waste disposal.

The main selling point – “nuclear power as cure for global warming”  is absurd, as the world would need 11,000 nuclear power plants quickly set up, to have any impact on global warming – and that would in fact take decades to set up.

Other lies – the denial of nuclear power’s costs, and of the costs of nuclear waste disposal, and of the costs of security. Also denial of the complete impracticality and cost of setting up thousands of mini nuclear reactors.  http://www.beyondnuclear.org/storage/pandoras-false-promises/Aug23_2013_Pandora’s%20False%20Promises.pdf

October 4, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's themes | 1 Comment

WOMEN and NUCLEAR POWER – theme for May 2014

A woman is at significantly greater risk of suffering and dying from radiation-induced cancer  than a man who gets the same dose of ionising radiation.

This is news because data in the report  on the biological effects of ionizing radiation published in 2006 by the National Academy of  Sciences (NAS) has been under-reported.

It is more often acknowledged that children are at higher risk of disease and death from radiation, but it is rarely pointed out that the regulation of  radiation and nuclear activity (worldwide) ignores the disproportionately greater harm to both  women and children. http://www.nirs.org/radiation/radhealth/radiationwomen.pdf

It is scandalous that these facts are not generally known. It is scandalous that the so-called “permissable levels” of ionising radiation are based on the “normal person” –  that is, a 30 year old male.  Foetuses, children and women are far more susceptible to radiation harm than men are.

Women are consistently reassured by narrowly educated nuclear physicists, and other technocrats, that nuclear power is safe, and that they have nothing to worry about in regard to ionising radiation.

April 21, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's themes | 2 Comments

Health and Environment – post Fukushima – theme for March 2013

In New York, international doctors and scientists met to apply a searching light into the medical and environmental consequences of the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe.   This symposium has been many months in the making, in the organisation of gathering experts on every aspect of this important issue.

Some of these scientists are experienced nuclear physicists and engineers.  But many are from other disciplines – genetics, biology, ecology, marine biology, climatology and even some from  from other areas, like economics, social science areas, such as gender studies.

These are the disciplines that are ignored by nuclear lobbyists  who would have us believe that these are “soft” studies, not “hard” science, like nuclear physics.   “Soft” science doesn’t matter , (except for climate studies, which suddenly matters because they can con us that nuclear power is the solution).   Nuclear lobbyists ignore “soft” science like genetics and ecology:

A. because if these issues were taken seriously – that would spell the end of nuclear power, the end of their industry.

B. because they don’t know anything about these sciences, anyway.

The New York symposium had the task of exploring and explaining to the world, the meaning of the Fukushima disaster – in its effects on human, other species, and the land, air, water and plants, on which we all depend for our health. They also explained the importance of these effects for our children, grand-children, and future generations.

Soft stuff? Trivial?  ”Fukushima is over” – the global nuclear lobby would have us believe.    as though the Fukushima event is now over and done with.

The informative lectures from the New York symposium are already reverberating , – in video, print and film,  to counter the lying propaganda of the nuclear lobby

March 16, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's themes | 4 Comments

2013- the struggle for a nuclear free, liveable, world

It might be too late to prevent heating of the planet,  the upheavals of climate change, and the horrors of nuclear accidents, wars, and the slow spread of ionising radiation.

But it surely is too early to give up on trying.

I am not optimistic. We know that cigarettes and asbestos cause painful, fatal cancers. The Western world is learning to abandon these killers. Yet the tobacco and asbestos companies are thriving, selling these to the “developing” nations – a pernicious form of 21st Century colonialism.  So the slow killer of fossil fuel pollution continues.  The fast killers of nuclear accident, nuclear war become more likely, as well as the slower killer of spreading ionising radiation. The over-developed world is all too happy also to sell these killer technologies around the world.

2013 is the pivotal year.  In the words of Redgum, an old Australian band  – “If you don’t fight, you lose”

December 16, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's themes | 1 Comment