To 15 April Nuclear-Climate News- Australia and beyond

On the surface, not much seems to be happening in nuclear news. Tensions between Pakistan and India have pulled back from the brink.  USA and North Korea remain at a nuclear stalemate, while South Korea tries for moderate progress. The mainstream media continues to regurgitate nuclear lobby propaganda about solving climate change, especially by developing small nuclear reactors.

The optimistic picture that’s often given of Chernobyl’s supposed recovery from the 1986 nuclear catastrophe has been thoroughly contradicted, as three new books reveal.  Manual for Survival: A Chernobyl Guide to the Future by Kate Brown– details the dedicated research done in Belarus and Ukraine, on radiation effects, and draws attention to the pervasive and growing effects of ionising radiation, globally.  Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World’s Greatest Nuclear Disaster– by Adam Higginbotham  describes the course of the disaster and investigates  the propaganda, secrecy, and myths that have obscured the truth on its effects. Chernobyl: The History of a Nuclear Catastrophe– by Serhii Plokhy dramatically reconstructs the meltdown, and condemns the  USSR’s bureaucratic dysfunction, censorship, secrecy and mismanagement that preceded the disaster, and hindered the Soviet’s response to it.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRu-Xs4U2r4All point to the danger of ionising radiation to the world, as nuclear activities continue, and the radioactive wastes accumulate.

Once again the twin threats of climate change and ionising radiation come together. As glaciers melt, ionising radiation, (from nuclear bomb testing) is released from ice surface sediments. Good news : how we could get (almost) all our energy from the sun by 2050.

AUSTRALIA

Police drag Julian Assange from Embassy. Scott Morrison says “no special help“, Bill Shorten pleads ignorance of the matter.  ‘He uncovered war crimes’: Greens leader urges government to protect Julian Assange

CLIMATE Emergency experts issue climate warning .  Liberal seats held by vacating and conservative MPs have extremely high levels of concern for climate change.    “Grey Power” Queensland activists protesting against Adani coal mine, demanding action against climate change.  Traditional Owners fighting Adani coal mine mount fresh legal challenge .

RENEWABLE ENERGY. Queensland enacts new solar rules, as stunned industry warns of investment standstill.  Large scale solar developers warns of cost blowouts, job losses.  Electric vehicles: Could this be Scott Morrison’s Prince Philip moment? Revolutionary Australian Clean Energy Startup Wins Global Award.  Elon Musk says “no question” Australia can meet 50% electric car target by 2030 .

INTERNATIONAL

The Threat of Nuclear War Is Still With Us,

Police drag Julian Assange from Embassy.  –Extradition of Julian Assange must be opposed. USA govt wants to silence all reports of govt atrocities.  Wikileaks has won many awards for fine journalism.  What Does Julian Assange’s Arrest Mean for Journalists?

EUROPE. Youth climate change protests across Europe.

JAPAN.

• Will the Japanese people agree to their government welcoming American nuclear weapons inside Japan?
• World Trade Organization upholds South Korea’s right to ban Fukushima seafoods.  50 countries ban Japanese seafoods from Fukushima region, South Korea will maintain the ban,  Japan promotes Fukushima food exports.
• Impossible at present to remove all fuel debris from stricken Fukushima nuclear reactors.  Tepco makes first effort to remove nuclear fuel debris from Fukushima’s No. 3 reactor.
• Okuma residents reluctant to return : much of the area still highly radioactive.

PAKISTAN. PAKISTAN’S Prime Minister Imran Khan issues warning on conflict with India, the nuclear danger. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFU_ez_naak&t=9s

USA. 

• U.S Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says that Russia complies with the New START nuclear arms control treaty. Pompeo avoids questions on ending waivers permitting Iran’s ongoing nuclear work.
• USA Dept of Labor’s program changes delay health care for Cold War nuclear workers (hoping they die first?)    Mesothelioma Compensation Center to the rescue of nuclear workers affected by mesothelioma.
• Revised Ohio nuclear ‘bailout’ bill could still exclude wind and solar from clean air credits.  Ohio’s FirstEnergy Nuclear Bailout Bill designed to cut funding from renewables and energy efficiency.
• Nuclear energy and Price Anderson Act – too risky for insurance companies – just too dangerous.
• Indian Point nuclear station shut down for nearly two weeks: electricity maintained by gas and renewables.
• Fluor lays off nuclear workers – those involved in the Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project. (MOX)
•   General Electric avoids class action from Japanese homeowners and businesses affected by the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.

CANADA. SNC-Lavalin nuclear contracts at risk if it’s convicted.

CHINA. China opens fourth border crossing with North Korea, complete with radiation detectors.

FRANCE, The Flamanville EPR risks a new delay , catastrophic for EDF.

FINLAND. Finland’s Olkiluoto 3 nuclear reactor – another delay after delays.