Nuclear news to 22 September – Australia and beyond

Huge clean-up tasks face areas affected by Super Typhoon Mangkhut and Hurricane Florence. In the many reports of these extreme weather events, climate change is rarely mentioned. Also played down is the effect on the nuclear industry. Thankfully, there seems to have been no big nuclear disaster. But there is little or no coverage of the effects on hazardous radioactive waste dumps.

Investigative journalism: Authorities deceive the public on radiation from Fukushima Daiichi

Sea levels could rise by up to 30 feet, due to Antarctic melting.

AUSTRALIA

NUCLEAR The Australian govt’s plan to dump Lucas Heights nuclear waste near a small rural community in South Australia is surely the precursor to a plan for importing the world’s nuclear waste. Submissions to stop this nuclear waste “foot in the door” can be sent to the govt by 24th September. It’s not hard to do.

Feasability Study found Radioactive Waste Dump UNSUITABLE for Flinders Ranges and Kimba regions.

Radon gas leaked from Woomera’s radioactive waste drums.

Greenpeace takes legal action against Australian nuclear waste transport to Cherbourg, France.

Changing acceptance of nuclear to DEMAND for nuclear- Australian propagandist Ben Heard to join new global spin?

Defence officials become military lobbyists.

‘Welcome’ to Steve Ciobo, the new Australian Minister for the Arms Trade.

Australia won’t get the nuclear bomb – these are the reasons why not.

CLIMATE.  Labor holds meeting with industry, on emissions reduction, as COAL-ition holds private dinner with coal-nuclear lobbyist Trevor St Baker. Australia’s Minister For The Coal Lobby, Angus Taylor’s false statement about carbon emissions.– Oh dear! Coal-loving Angus Taylor’s electorate wants action on climate change.- Australian financial watchdog hones in on climate risk, warns companies to lift game. Scott Morrison’s lump of coal not enough: he needs a fairy tale on climate change.

Sydney takes global climate fight to the next level

Adani’s Carmichael coal project massively downsized, but still a climate threat. Adani mine site to remain under native title until finance confirmed, Minister says. Traditional owners call on Qld Government to never extinguish their native title: they announce Adani court appeal.12.5b litres of water for Adani coal project – no environmental impact statement needed.

RENEWABLE ENERGY. Australian government ‘won’t be replacing’ renewable energy target – Angus Taylor, (Minister For Fossil Fuel Energy). Angus Taylor attacks renewable energy. Clean Energy Regulator counts 9GW in big solar and wind pipeline. Solar takes centre stage in South Australia, becoming No 1 energy source in middle of day .

INTERNATIONAL

U.N. looks forward to more countries signing and ratifying nuclear ban treaty.

Civil and military nuclear industries locked in dependence on each other.

Heavy radiation effect on astronauts to Mars – now can be measured.

The big lie of ionising radiation hormesis.

NORTH and SOUTH  KOREA . Peaceful agreement between North and South Korea – but little of substance on denuclearization.  North Korea is willing to allow outside inspectors to check its closed nuclear weapons test site.

IRAN and ISRAEL. UN is being pressed by Iran and Israel – each wanting action against the other.

JAPAN. Tepco to build finally extra sea wall to reinforce Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.  Fukushima United Nations OHCR report update 18th September 2018 IDP. Japan tries to dilute tritium danger. Massive flow of money into Japanese coal and nuclear power.

CANADA. The second nuclear industry stillbirth – Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMRs). Canada’s Brookfield in talks with Toshiba, about buying British new nuclear init NuGen.

EUROPE. Big companies including Facebook, Google and Microsoft not supporting EU’s plan for more ambitious climate change goals.

USA.

• Trump to address U.N. on nuclear non proliferation (pardon my mirth) $13 billion space military force for USA?
• Trump keen to have Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman of Saudi Arabia to speak at UN nuclear meeting.
• USA Democrats’ Bill to ban new low-yield nuclear weapons.
• Effect of Hurricane Florence on nuclear power stations – ruins the Trump administration’s case for supporting nuclear power.  Electricity being restored to Brunswick nuclear power station in North Carolina flooded area. As flooding recedes around Brunswick nuclear power station, NRC considers when it can restart.  Emergency lifted at Brunswick nuclear plant.
• The danger in transporting nuclear wastes to just a “temporary” nuclear morgue.  EnergySolutions wants exemption from Utah law restricting import of depleted uranium.
•  Cost of Georgia’s Vogtle nuclear power project is becoming a big worry to law-makers. Vogtle Nuclear Power plant – last hope of the industry, might not be completed: opposition grows. U.S.Cogress seeks funds to compensate communities affected by nuclear power plant shutdowns.
• USA Bill to allow private-public partnerships for new nuclear power technologies.
•  California law to protect workers, community and environment, as Diablo nuclear power plant to close.
• Exploding Michael Shellenberger’s extraordinary sales pitch for nuclear weapons.
• Hanford: Plutonium a risk to humans and environment for thousands of years.
• Renowned Uranium Film Festival 2018 headed for the American SouthWest.
• Radiation oncologists and conflicts of interest.

FRANCE. French nuclear industry in turmoil, – inadequate welds at Flamanville nuclear reactor. The EPR, France and EDF’s nuclear nightmare.

French court orders EDF to release risk analysis about Hinkley nuclear project. It’s not too late to stop it. Financiers desert France’s EPR nuclear power plan for UK’s Hinkley Point C project.

UK.

• UK’s fleet of nuclear submarines: infrastructure supporting it is no longer “fit for purpose”.– UK Government delayed scrapping potentially unsafe nuclear submarines in bid to cut costs.-
• “I’ll fight tooth and nail” to salvage Moorside nuclear power project – says NuGen chief.
• Britain’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority partnering with Japan Atomic Energy Agency.
• Scottish peace campaigners pressing big financial institutions to divest from nuclear weapons.
•  Judge calls for developers to clarify whether Hinkley radioactive mud dumping is covered by an environmental impact assessment (EIA).  UK: Labour parliamentarians raise concerns about Nuclear plant mud dumping. EDF subsidiary NNB Generation Company (HPC) Ltd argued that Hinkley nuclear station mud dumping near Cardiff did not need an environmental impact assessment.
• Frazer-Nash, engineering consultants, going for new nuclear power in a big way.

INDIA. Community in Madhya Pradesh protest against proposed nuclear plant .

BELGIUM. Engie warns on profit following Belgian nuclear outages. Five Out of 7 Nuclear Reactors in Belgium Halted – National Regulator.

MALAYSIA. A good move – Malaysia rejecting nuclear energy.    Theft of radioactive materials.

CHINA. Typhoon Mangkhut headed straight for 2 Chinese nuclear power stations.

SLOVAKIA. Several nuclear reactors in Slovakia are out of operation.