Climate and Nuclear News – week to 15 May

Climate change –   climate crisis might be the more accurate phrase. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New Zealand, said the political will to fight climate change has faded at the same time as it is getting worse for those feeling its effects.

Some videos of this week’s news on the effects of global warming -Arctic Ocean Coastal Temperatures Surge to 84.2 F  11 May https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk4sTnfsVcQ    -Global Sea Ice Plunges to New Record Lows https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ukc7-OVMx_Q . A tiny bit of good news: Rooftop Panels of Tiny Plants Can Cleanse Polluted Air at 100 Times the Rate of a Single Tree.

Nuclear news – the focus this week has been on international politics. While nuclear competition between India and Pakistan is accelerating, Stimson’s South Asia Program offers ways to reduce tensions.  Trump administration’s maximum pressure campaign: paving the way for war against Iran?  Donald Trump likes strutting on the global ‘nuclear summit’ stage, but is not interested in genuine arms control.

AUSTRALIA

Federal election on 18 May. If the climate-denying, nuclear-loving Liberal Coalition gets back in, I reckon that there’ll be wholesale emigration to New Zealand, where they have decent and compassionate policies, and a Prime Minister with integrity!

Australia’s role in the species extinction crisis.

Australia’s major parties’ climate policies side-by-side.  Climate emergency is here, whatever the election result . Missing in action’: hunt goes on for Coalition’s invisible environment minister. Bill Shorten urged to declare climate emergency if Labor wins.

Yeelirrie uranium approval, Adani coal – Australia needs new and stronger national environment laws.

CLIMATE.

• Climate change still key in election social media.  Labor to remove Coalition’s “climate fig leaf”, push funds to clean energy.  Former UN climate leader supports MP Zali Steggall, Kerryn Phelps, Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie, and MP, Julia Banks.  Scott Morrison on “cutting green tape” – commentators respond savagely and sceptically. Scott Morrison’s fib: claims that the Liberal Coalition saved the Great Barrier Reef!!
• Protesters scale Sydney Harbour Bridge to declare ‘climate emergency’ .  CSIRO unsure on Adani coal project’s water plans, but Minister For Coal, Melissa Price gave it environmental approval anyway. Adani project faces another hurdle – another groundwater review.  Wangan and Jagalingou Country The Frontline In ‘Adani’s Federal Election’.
• Port Augusta power station sale to mark final closure of South Australia’s coal. Age of cheap coal power is over for Australia, says Bloomberg New Energy Finance.
• Global fossil fuel subsidies reach $5.2 trillion, and $29 billion in Australia. $571 billion loss by 2030 estimated for Australian property values due to climate change.
• Torres Strait islanders to United Nations – allege Australian government failure to act on climate change. Bill Shorten urged to declare climate emergency if Labor wins.

NUCLEAR. Duplicity of the Australian government on nuclear waste dump (“Temporary” means “Indefinite”)  At last – HENRY COX, a Senate Candidate with the guts to fight the nuclear waste dump plan ! Confident Clive Palmer predicts tax-payer funding for nuclear power.

RENEWABLE ENERGY. Solar’s stunning rise takes big chunk out of coal in daytime market.  Numurkah solar farm, to help power steel works, Melbourne trams, begins production. First turbine completed at Tasmania’s Cattle Hill wind farm.  Western Australia to fund solar farms in six remote indigenous communities.  Rooftop solar kills summer peak demand in W.A., as renewables nudge 50% share.  NSW green-lights 100MW solar farm plus battery for Riverina region. Solar and storage to power disability housing in first of its kind.  Australian mayors want more ambition on climate change, 100% renewables.

INTERNATIONAL

Radioactive fallout could be released from melting glaciers.  Deep ocean animals are eating radioactive carbon from nuclear bomb tests.

Deep divisions between nations as preparations made for next year’s review of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Global paralysis in weapons control agreements as a new arms race begins.

The problematic arrival of Artificial Intelligence for Nuclear Weapons.

The vulnerability of nuclear weapons systems to cyber threats.

Nuclear power is subject to human error. — and that makes it a poor solution to climate change.

The World Blows Over $5 Trillion A Year On Oil And Gas Subsidies: Report

GREENLAND. Greenland Melt off to a Rather Early Start .

PACIFIC ISLANDS. UN chief Antonio Guterres to Pacific islands, warning rich nations about climate impacts.

UKRAINE. Drones find new radiation hotspots near site of Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Investigative journalism –  Chernobyl nuclear accident: how it happened, and the aftermath. The International Atomic Energy Agency itself predicted 4,000 cancer deaths from the Chernobyl nuclear accident.

USA. 

• CLIMATE CHANGE.  Brace yourself: Wildfires are coming. Mike Pompeo enthuses over the ‘benefits ‘ of climate change. Nuclear industry not really prepared for climate change’s impacts on nuclear reactors.   Presidential candidate Joe Biden is only lukewarm about action on climate change.
• POLITICS  Unnecessary to bail out Ohio’s nuclear and coal plants, but a bonanza for FirstEnergy Solutions. As Reactors Shut in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, Nuke War Rages in Ohio and New York.  U.S. Democrats trying to stop funding for US nuclear transfers to Saudi Arabia.  Funds being cut from US Air Force nuclear, space programs. Donald Trump and John Bolton conniving to avoid any effective nuclear arms deal? Trump announces new sanctions on Iran. Iran warns it will step away from nuclear deal.  Donald Trump’s gamble with nuclear negotiations with North Korea – the risk of war if it falls apart.  Nuclear power isn’t needed for Green New Deal.
• WEAPONS and WAR If America launched a nuclear war -335 million people killed within the first seventy-two hours.  The monstrous destructive power of America’s Ohio-class submarine with up to 192 nuclear warheads. A key annual defense bill is poised to serve as a battleground over President Trump’s nuclear weapons policy.
• NUCLEAR WASTES. US Dept of Energy plans changes to definition of “High Level” nuclear wastes: Rick Perry keen, environmentalists not.   USA preparing Hanford vitrification plant to deal with 56 million gallons of radioactive waste. U.S. federal board rejects objections to proposed New Mexico nuclear dump. Environmentalists astounded that panel rules in favour of Holtec’s nuclear waste storage plan for New Mexico.  USA’s federal government is not likely ever to secure local consent for disposal of spent fuel from commercial nuclear reactors.  Long delay before Savannah River Plutonium Disposal can start.  America’s accumulating nuclear trash: new Bill threatens Nevada.
• Three Mile Island nuclear station has licence for 15 more years, but now to close.
• Education as anti-Russian nuclear strategy: USA’s Department of Energy co-opts another educational institution.
• Chelsea Manning released from gaol, – but this could be only temporary.
• Patients not always aware of the risks in medical radiation treatment.

MEXICO.  108 wildfires are burning in 17 states, most in central and southern regions

NORTH KOREA. North Korea is unlikely to ever give up all its nuclear weapons.  Increased tension as U.S. has seized a North Korean ship for sanctions violations,

JAPAN. Fukushima’s mothers became radiation experts to protect their children after nuclear meltdown.  Highly radioactive chimney at Fukushima No 1 plant to be taken apart. New Discovery At Fukushima Unit 3 Provides Clues To Meltdown Severity, Environmental Releases.  Fukushima’s ghost towns. .“Worst Criminality against Humankind” Report from Fukushima by Kazuhiko Kobayashi.   South Korea plans to continue to ban all seafood imports from Fukushima Prefecture and seven other prefectures near Fukushima to protect public health and food safety.

IRAN.  European Union countries face deadline to save nuclear deal with Iran.  Iran Supports Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.  The difficulty in knowing if Iran did start making a nuclear bomb.  Increase in Iran Snap Nuclear Inspections as Tensions With U.S. Rise. Why Iran decided to partially withdraw from the nuclear weapons treaty.

UK.

• UK to become the first major economy to embrace a legally-binding net zero emissions goal.  Majority of UK voters want to slash greenhouse gases to nearly zero by 2050.  UK’s Committee on Climate Change sinks nuclear power in the UK in favour of renewables.  AS Wylfa nuclear project suspended, MPs have called on the UK and Welsh governments to consider a range of low-carbon energy projects.  UK’s Committee on Climate Change urged to consider a carbon tax.  UK’s Conservative govt increases tax on domestic solar, despite its goal to fight climate change.
• The false hope of “Small Modular Nuclear Reactors” being pushed in Wales.  Another nail in the coffin of the ‘integral fast nuclear reactors’ championed by nuclear lobby shills.
• Unease at China’s grip on Britain’s nuclear future.
• Professor Kazuhiko Kobayashi at Sellafield, warns on nuclear radiation and danger to children.

UKRAINE. Drones find new radiation hotspots near site of Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Investigative journalism –  Chernobyl nuclear accident: how it happened, and the aftermath. The International Atomic Energy Agency itself predicted 4,000 cancer deaths from the Chernobyl nuclear accident.

FRANCE. Fraud and falsification regarding nuclear safety in France’s EDF reactors?

RUSSIA. Russia’s upgraded nuclear-powered missile cruisers to get advanced torpedo defense systems.  Rosatom keenly pursuing international nuclear sales, especially nuclear-weapons related.

MIDDLE EAST. Nuclear power completely unnecessary in sunblest Middle East.

ISRAEL. President Kennedy strongly warned Israel against getting nuclear weapons.

SLOVAKIA. Safety concerns by Austria mean delay in Slovakia’s nuclear station expansion.