To 22 May – climate and nuclear news

With bewildering rapidity, opinions on climate change action are shifting.   Corporate America is calling on Congress to pass big climate policy , while President Trump outright dismisses climate change as a serious issue.  Climate change action is a top priority for UK’s moderate Conservatives.  France is setting up a Citizens’ Convention
for the Climate. Despite record hot summer, in  Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s remorseless focus on costs outweighed climate concerns, and his climate-sceptic government was re-elected.

The media is, as usual, awash with articles about the “need” for nuclear power – to solve climate change. It’s like a religious belief for journalists to mention “zero carbon” or “clean” nuclear in otherwise well-researched articles.

International politics’ nuclear news can be scary.    Chilling similarity between out-dated nuclear weapons policies and world of Game of Thrones.    The escalating danger and unpredictability of nuclear weapons.   Border tensions continue between India and Pakistan.  Trump and Kim “in love”, but have few options now that discussions have collapsed. Donald Trump making belligerent statements on Iran. Danger of war – Israel vs Russia – could lead to nuclear war.

AUSTRALIA

News Corpse – a propaganda machine for the mining industries.

NUCLEAR.  Warren Mundine, nuclear stooge, loses Gilmore election – the only Liberal loss in the country. PM Scott  Morrison would not rule out nuclear power.    Resources Minister Matt Canavan has failed to comply with an order to process information about the nuclear waste dump plan.  Why is UK govt covering up the records on nuclear bomb tests in Australia in the 1950s?

CLIMATE.–

• From Australian Conservation Foundation’s Dave Sweeney – – a few thoughts after a bruising election. Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is adamant that there will be no increase in climate action from this government. Environmentalists shocked at election result, but resolute. Independent candidate Zali Steggall’s win in Warringah is a message about need for action on climate change.   What to expect from Coalition: Coal, coal, coal and a battle over National Energy Guarantee . Crossbenchers put climate on agenda.
•  Denial and confusion live on, as energy hopes turn to states and Australian Energy Market Operator .
• Western Australia’s taskforce to plan the state’s exit from coal.  Melissa Price – Australia’s Minister For Coal – but don’t we need a Minister for the Environment?  Coal industry lobbying Morrison govt to build new coal plants.   Adani coal mine is a proxy climate war and campaigners need to focus on energy transition.  Environment markets suffer as Coalition win kills emissions, renewable targets.
• Distinguished Australians, and over 60 scientists press the government for immediate action on climate change.
• Pacific leaders have voiced frustration over Australia’s failure to curb its emissions.

RENEWABLE ENERGY.  Australian Electric Vehicle industry faces 12 month policy wait

 

INTERNATIONAL

Ionising radiation as a cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Women poorly represented in, and disparaged by, the nuclear security “priesthood”.

AUSTRALIA. Morrison’s reelection is a disaster for the future of the country — and the world.

PACIFIC ISLANDS. Distress in Pacific Island governments, over climate change, and Australia’s inaction on this.

NORTH KOREA. “Denuclearization” has different meanings for North Korea and USA.

IRAN. Iran officially ends some of its nuclear deal commitments.  Iran’s top diplomat presses efforts to save nuclear deal,

USA .

• Investigative journalism – How the USA military co-opts nature conservation, and promotes the extinction of species. 
•   Illness and death legacy of employment in America’s nuclear weapons business.
• Former Nuclear Regulatory Commission chairman now sees nuclear power as harmful.
• U.S. national security adviser, John Bolton and his quest for war against Iran. With belligerent John Bolton as National Security, Trump could take USA to the brink of war with Iran.   Eight in Ten Support Nuclear Arms Control with Russia, Disagree with Trump Decision to Withdraw from Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
• Proposed nuclear bailout for Ohio.  Delay in vote on bailing out Ohio’s nuclear reactors.  Ohio’s Nuclear Plant Subsidy Proposal, Should Be Rejected – 5 Reasons Why.  “Dark money” bankrolling advertising campaign to keep Ohio nuclear plants open.  Legal challenge to stop New Jersey bailout for nuclear power.
• Iowa Residents Overwhelmingly Want Presidential Candidates to Share Views on Nuclear Weapons.
• $Billions spent on attempt to clean up USA’s most dangerously toxic nuclear sites, but it’s no getting very far.     US Congress ‘s continued search for nuclear trash dump – but they still let ’em keep making it!  USA government gives Piketon community no chance to resist hosting a radioactive waste dump. Opposition to nuclear waste in Nevada, but some impoverished communities see $$.
• Chelsea Manning will not testify against Julian Assange, so it’s back to jail for her.

UK. UK’s Committee on Climate Change makes an urgent call for action.  Scotland increasing its commitment to act on Climate Emergency.    Outages extended at EDF’s Hunterston nuclear plant.    Sweden Requests Detention of Assange as WikiLeaks Accuses U.S. of Illegally Seizing His Property .  UK Labour Party’s plan for a Green Industrial Revolution.  UK Labour’s bold energy policy on nationalising the grid.

JAPAN. Rice planting resumes in Fukushima town.  TEPCO conducts test to halt water injection into crippled reactor. Tokyo 2020 – The Radioactive Olympics.

OCEANIA. USA’s nuclear waste dome ‘leaking’ radioactive sludge into the Pacific.

FRANCE. Flamanville nuclear reactor – EDF must repair welds or reinforce new reactor – ASN.

UKRAINE. Ukraine’s present nuclear reactors – “time bombs” – at risk of another Chernobyl.

SWEDEN. Vattenfall determined to close 2 aging nuclear reactors.

MIDDLE EAST. Preparations for Middle East peace plan for June conference.

MALAYSIA, In Malaysia renewables are replacing nuclear energy.

CHINA. Chinese public’s trust in government means that nuclear power better able to go ahead in China.