Nuclear and Climate News for the first week in January

I’ve made my New Year’s vows –  to keep this newsletter shorter, and to include good news – good things happening. I am mindful of Greta Thunberg’s dictum – “Look for action – then the hope will come”   Climate change: six positive news stories you probably missed in 2018

All the same, climate change’s drastic and rapid impacts must not be ignored. Paul Beckwith keeps us up to date on developments, especially in the all-important Arctic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIbVpgejDo4&t=303s

I wish that I knew the Russian language, and had access to Russian information, because climate change in the very Northern region is profoundly affecting Russia – its business, agriculture, and especially its operations in the Arctic. It is a chilling thought (no pun intended) that Putin has now put the nuclear industry in charge of shipping safety in the Arctic.

Russia certainly has toxic nuclear sites. This, along with Putin’s fervour for nuclear imperialism, means that, without media coverage, the world is ignorant of Russia’s nuclear health, environmental, and safety toll.

Then there’s the reality of escalating nuclear weapons tensions. While there is hope, in The U.N. Nuclear Ban Treaty, the Doomsday Clock  (monitoring the risk of nuclear war) is at a record 2 minutes to 12.

AUSTRALIA

CLIMATE. With heatwaves like this, what sort of future do we have in store? Australia’s wide swathe of mid-40 degree heat breaks records, and there’s more to come.   Over 20 years of Australian governments failure to act on climate change. The Howard government started the hypocrisy on climate change. Victoria’s bushfires could burn for weeks

Adani’s attack on Aboriginal leader morally reprehensible.

NUCLEAR  Dave Sweeney reflects on the achievements of Australia’s nuclear-free movement in 2018.  ANSTO’s worrying history of covering up releases of radioactive gases from Lucas Heights nuclear reactor.    Dept of Industry (DIIS) “rules out” Woomera as nuclear waste storage site, despite much waste already there. Facebook commentators not impressed with nuclear toady Australia’s Department of Industry Innovation and Science (DIIS).  The global nuclear lobby co-opts academia- now they’ve got University of Tasmania.

Caloundra, South East Queensland, an ionising radiation hotspot.

What’s the radioactivity level of Lynas’ refinery thorium wastes?

ABORIGINAL ISSUES: The biggest porky pies: How fake news has shaped our history.

RENEWABLE ENERGY Despite Tony Abbott, renewable energy investment has been successfully promoted by Labor and the crossbench.

INTERNATIONAL

Weather – perhaps our best hope of bringing home the urgent message of climate change.

Between USA’s John Bolton, and Russia’s nuclear hawks – the fragmentation of nuclear arms control spells global danger.

The nuclear power industry is moribund.

Brave environmental journalists face increasing threats and dangers.

Climate change brings a boom in jellyfish, and a threat to nuclear reactors.

ARCTIC. Tons of methane being released into atmosphere by melting ice sheets.

UK. Academic whitewash of leukaemia incidence near Sellafield nuclear site. The nuclear lobby will be delighted with this knighthood, earned for obscuring the cause of leukaemia.  UK govt offers up to £2.5million to prospective “nuclear dustbin” communities, but not to communities endangered on nuclear transport routes. UK govt now prevents any one local council from pulling out of plans for a vast underground nuclear waste dump in Cumbria.

USA.

• USA’s new Speaker in Congress, Nancy Pelosi states climate change as ‘The existential threat of our time’.
• Longtime NBC News reporter slams Pro-War Posture of Corporate Media.
• Donald Trump should negotiate with Kim Jong-un, who may be willing to limit nuclear production capability.
•  New Mexico could get more nuclear waste, and perhaps high level nuclear waste.
•  High-Paying Jobs in Nuclear Power Aren’t Looking So Safe Anymore.
• Trump’s done one good thing – stopped the Bill Gates- China “new nuclear power” push.
• Arrests at the Pentagon, of 4 peaceful Catholic protesters against nuclear weapons.

JAPAN. Fukushima prosecutors demand TEPCO execs get 5 years for negligence that led to nuclear meltdown.   Japan losing hope for having a nuclear export industry. Japan abandoning ambition to sell nuclear power reactors to Turkey. Costs for scrapping 79 nuclear facilities estimated at 1.9 tril. Yen. Farmers struggle to keep cows left behind near Fukushima plant.

RUSSIA. President Vladimir Putin’s new secret weapon –NUCLEAR drone which sends 1,640ft high WAVES.

NORTH KOREA. Earthquakes still being set off due to North Korea’s September 2017 nuclear test.

INDIA. Uranium mining brings disease, deaths, deformities to Jharkhand, India.

GERMANY. Renewables beating coal energy in Germany.

CHINA. Chinese state media boasts nuclear weapons escalation, in response to Trump.

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