The climate is a common good, belonging to all and meant for all.
What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?
It is time to acknowledge that light- hearted superficiality has done us no good.
We need to be alert to one sad sign of the “globalization of indifference”: the fact that we are gradually growing accustomed to the suffering of others, as if it were something normal
We are confronted with a choice which cannot be ignored: either to improve or to destroy the environment. – Pope Francis
As I write, the Paris Climate Change Summit COP21 gets underway. There is one important message about COP21 –IT’S A START – NOT A CONCLUSION. UNICEF reports that the greatest harm from climate change will be to children. Impetus for action should come from COP21, but corporations are geared up to undermine climate agreements.
I am happy to report that it looks very much as if nuclear power is off the table as an energy source to be chosen at the Paris summit – too dangerous, and more significantly, too expensive.
AUSTRALIA
Melbourne kicked off the global wave of rallies with a huge climate march. Rallies will follow in capital and other cities. Firefighters will march for climate action: global warming increases their dangers. Strong contingent of young Australian activists attending Paris climate summit. Rural Australia will be represented in Paris. The head of the UN climate talks confirmed that videos of our marches will play on a huge screen as Heads of State walk into the Paris climate conference on Monday! Can’t say our political leaders will be much use there. Same pro corporate policies as old PM Abbott, – just said more slimily.
NUCLEAR ISSUES: Lack of space here to detail the numerous protests going on against setting up a national waste dump, supposedly for medical wastes, but really for nuclear reactor wastes, returning from overseas.
New report rules out nuclear power for Australia, on economic grounds.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA:
Deadly bushfires (a dangerous place to locate a nuclear waste dump) . South Australian govt has already ruled out nuclear power. South Australia to aim for zero emissions by 2050.
Nuclear Royal Commission:
- Expert Dr Mark Nutt Nutt on waste storage showed up the reality of untested, in fact non existent solutions for radioactive trash disposal.
- Dr Edwin Lyman said Direct nuclear waste disposal is best: pyroreprocessing has dangers, and discussed the dangers of transporting radioactive wastes.
INTERNATIONAL
Pope and Muslim leaders in call for climate action.
Declaration of the World Nuclear Victims Forum in Hiroshima.
The unmentioned apocalyptic ISIS terror – attack on nuclear reactors. Nor do world leaders talk about the terrorism possibility regarding nuclear weapons. Increasing risk of sabotage by extremists working in the nuclear industry.
EUROPE. European Commission in-depth investigation into Hungarian investment support for Paks II nuclear power.
INDONESIA‘s fires – enormous output of greenhouse emissions.
FRANCE‘s new energy law to drastically limit electricity from nuclear power. EDF removes employees, fears radicalisation at nuclear facilities.
USA Dead nuclear reactors still leave an intractable wastes problem. USA’s nuclear operators want to extend reactor lives to 80 years! New York Opposes Big Easy Nuclear Relicensing Near New York City. USA anxious about nuclear proliferation, but keen to market nuclear technology to South Korea.
JAPAN. Fukushima: pressure of groundwater is causing underground wall around reactors to lean and crack. Japan to step up radiation protection, as worker’s leukaemia attributed to radiation
RUSSIA now plans to store nuclear wastes on Arctic islands ! Russia’s plan for a Nuclear-Powered Data Centre. Russia keen to market nuclear power to impoverished Cambodia. Sale of nuclear reactors to Egypt entails big debt to Russia.
INDIA again tests a Nuclear-Capable Missile. India opposes deal to phase out fossil fuels by 2100 at climate summit.
UK govt allout for nuclear power, discriminates against solar in tax system. Londan Mayor Boris Johnson scathing about£18bn cost of Hinkley nuclear plan. Hackers could shut down UK’s £31 billion nuclear weapon system – warns defence expert.
CHINA Did China dump nuclear trash in Northern Sudan?
Nuclear Australia 
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