Once again – weapons, and with the Syria conflict, the threat of nuclear war are in the news this week. South Korea tries to reassure citizens that U.S. won’t strike North Korea pre-emptively. Meanwhile cautious and problematic negotiations at at U.N. nuclear weapons ban treaty meeting.
The other big nuclear story is the dismal nuclear power industry prospects, after Westinghouse bankruptcy. Toshiba corporation might not survive its nuclear financial crisis.
AUSTRALIA
For Australia, the big issue of the week was, and still is, the Queensland Adani coal mine expansion project – a foolish use of tax-payers’ money. Prime Minister Turnbull actively lobbying for Adani and the coal industry, not without attracting criticism. Adani coal mine could become a massive stranded asset, lawyers warn. Turnbull offers to sacrifice Aboriginal rights to Adani in an act of national betrayal. Adani faces strong Indigenous fight despite court outcome Labor resists pressure for $900 million Adani coal mine loan. Satellite images showed black water flowing to wetlands from Abbot Point Coal Terminal. Big Nobs at Westpac dinner interrupted for 90 minutes by anti Adani protestors. #StopAdani National Week of Action.
Pine Gap critically involved in USA – North Korea antagonism.
NUCLEAR. Australian government about to secretly sign up to participate in developing new “Generation IV” nuclear reactors. Kimba South Australia: Neighbours still opposed to nominated nuclear waste facility sites. ERA boss pushes nuclear power as energy source for Australia.
CLIMATE Australia’s “CATASTROPHIC collapse of life”in some areas, if we don’t change policies on climate change. Insurance companies want big increase in govt disaster mitigation spending. Unprecedented Harm to Great Barrier Reef From Back-to-Back Bleaching.
Farmers For Climate gives a voice for rural Australians. Senate Committee Report recommends market-based carbon trading scheme, but shows idealogical divisions between political parties. Young Nationals split from party policy, now to back emissions trading. Liberal COALition’s answer to global warming – more coal is needed!! Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) backing shonky climate denial book.
ENERGY.
- Port Augusta highlights the energy transformation now happening in Australia. Huge 300MW solar farm begins construction near Port Augusta.
- Record renewable energy production in South Australia: will Liberal opposition support govt legislation to regulate electricity market?
- Broken Hill’s giant leap – from mining hub to solar centre. Rooftop solar now Queensland’s biggest power station
- Huge surge in household solar panel installations. New rules flag big switch in energy markets to cheaper, smarter grid .
- Strong support for renewable energy, by Victorian government.
- Telecommunications company joins Click energy to challenge coal electricity utilities. EnergyLab: Program to accelerate creation of renewable energy start-ups launches in Sydney.
- Turnbull govt in for a shock, with new CEO of Australian Energy Market Operator, Audrey Zibelman.
- New poll shows very high public support for renewable energy. Australia’s Liberal Coalition supporters want quicker shift to renewable energy.
- People self-diagnosing “windfarm diseases” ?
INTERNATIONAL
Pre-emptive strike by USA on North Korea is on the cards, if North Korea conducts nuclear weapons test. North Korea has threatened “nuclear thunderbolts” at the first sign of a US preemptive strike.
Hans M. Kristensen on New START 2017: Russia Decreasing, US Increasing Deployed Warheads. Nuclear history, and the false promises of Generation IV reactors
In a radical change of pattern, Arctic warm water is being pushed to the surface. Global warming hitting Sub-Arctic wastelands, permafrost, more severely than expected.
March For Science 22 April . People’s Climate March 29 April.
CHINA. China warning North Korea against escalating tensions to an ‘irreversible’ stage.
IRAN. Foreign Ministers at G7 declare support for Iran nuclear agreement. US reaffirms Iran nuclear agreement. Overall analysis of the Iran Nuclear Agreement.
USA.
- For the first time, USA drops largest Non-Nuclear Bomb, in Afghanistan.
- Trump’s attack on Syria very good for his shares in missile-maker Raytheon.
- Pentagon’s new killing systems for space.
- American nuclear power industry prospects down the drain, after Westinghouse bankruptcy. Nuclear contractors not turning up for work amid Westinghouse woes. America’s nuclear power operators getting desperate for tax-payer subsidies. Ohio Lawmakers consider bailout for FirstEnergy nuclear plants.
- New radiation detection system begins operations at Port of Los Angeles.
- Geewhiz “new nuclear” lobby will try to hijack the March for Science.
- CLIMATE: California could get catastrophic sea level rise. Florida Emergency Declared as More Than 100 Wildfires Burn Across the State
SOUTH KOREA. South Korea’s nuclear power programme under threat, as Presidential candidates against nuclear or coal expansion.
UK. Toshiba’s financial woes – a bad omen for UK nuclear programme: is Moorside dead? UK’s Ministry of Defence brings in nuclear bigwig to run the £41bn programme for Dreadnought nuclear missile submarines.
JAPAN. IAEA chief urges global support for decommissioning Fukushima plant. Fukushima-linked bullying survey reveals hundreds more cases. Toshiba warns that it might not survive its nuclear financial crisis. Japan’s nuclear technology faces extinction.
RUSSIA. Russia’s plans for nuclear waste ships: but where will they dump the radioactive trash?
SOUTH AFRICA. South Africa’s new Finance Minister all set to rubber stamp nuclear build programme. Eskom says that South Africa has NOT signed any nuclear deal. South Africa’s ‘R1 trillion nuclear deal will guarantee SA ‘junk status’
EUROPE. Problems in Europe with Westinghouse nuclear fuel assemblies
Nuclear Australia 
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