Australia – Nuclear news this week

You’ve seen the TV series, now understand that  the Chernobyl catastrophe is far from over.

It’s difficult for me to stick just to nuclear news, as the enormity of the climate crisis becomes more apparent. While extreme events might not be caused by global heating, climate change is exacerbating them and increasing their frequency. Millions of people displaced by floods – India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Tropical Storm Barry spares New Orleans but fuels fears of floods and tornadoes.  New research – climate change is worsening wildfires.

Of course, there is a nuclear connection, too. Both floods and fires are potentially disastrous to nuclear power plants. You don’t hear much about this, but the nuclear industry is very worried about floods.

“Climate distress,” “climate grief,” “climate anxiety” – psychological effects on people.

AUSTRALIA

NUCLEAR.

• Robert Parker of Australian Nuclear Association identifies 20 sites for nuclear reactors. Barnaby Joyce jumps on the Australian extreme right wing pro nuclear bandwagon. For Australia – the prohibitive cost and time involved in constructing new nuclear reactors. A warning to Australia on the nuclear cycle of destruction.
• New South Wales Deputy Premier John Barilaro sucked in by slick propaganda from “New Nuclear” lobby.
• Dr Jim Green analyses the Australian super funds’ views about nuclear power.  Union push to union trustees to formally exclude nuclear energy from industry super investments.
• The unlikely and unwise process towards Australia getting nuclear weapons.  The cost if Australia were to get nuclear weapons – and it’s not only financial. Australia’s security and self-reliance – there’s a better path than getting nuclear weapons.  A counterview to Hugh White’s book in favour of nuclear weapons for Australia.
• France’s latest nuclear-powered ‘Barracuda’ class submarine: why did Scott Morrison send Australian Defence Minister Linda Reynolds to France, for the launch.
•  Campaigners vow to continue the fight to stop Canberra dumping nuclear waste in South Australia. South Australian communities DID NOT voluntarily enter into process for hosting nuclear wastes.   Bangarla Aboriginal people’s Statement on court decision regarding ballot on nuclear waste dump site. Federal court rules against Aboriginal group who wanted inclusion in nuclear waste dump ballot.
• Sydney Morning Herald article provokes Australian pro nuclear troll’s vicious attack on Dr Helen Caldicott.

URANIUM. Huge volumes of water gulped by Olympic Dam uranium mine – even more with expanded mine. BIRDS VS BHP: Evaporation ponds at BHP’s Olympic Dam mine are killing hundreds of birds.     Hasty, secretive federal approval of Yeelirriee uranium project shows contempt for the scientific environmental evidence.

.CLIMATE CHANGE. Country towns close to reaching ‘day zero’, as water supplies dry up in the drought.   Australia’s military well aware of the security dangers of climate change.   Adani demands names of CSIRO scientists reviewing groundwater plans.

RENEWABLE ENERGY –Wind and solar cut rather than boost Australia’s wholesale electricity prices.  Wind energy sets new record output in Australia’s main grid.   Victoria government resists calls to rein in rooftop solar rebate.  Abbott era advisor  Maurice Newman re-emerges to oppose Crookwell wind farm.

INTERNATIONAL

U.S., Russia to discuss nuclear arms limits in Geneva.

Heat waves, rising seas, – climate change threatens France’s and UK’s nuclear plants.  Even the nuclear industry itself is pretty pessimistic about its future.  Recycling nuclear waste still itself produces nuclear waste.

HISTORY. Cuban Missile Crisis 1962 – how close we came to World War 3

JAPAN. Fukushima – a nuclear catastrophe that continues.  Fukushima Prefecture Council election: both candidates campaign on anti-nuclear platforms.  A Fukushima Ghost Town Seeks Rebirth Through Renewable Energy.

IRAN. Iran still committed to the nuclear accord, but will decrease its commitment if other signatories cannot help.

USA.

• Space is “new domain of military operations” – nuclear weapons enthusiast Gen Mark Milley , Trump’s choice to head Joint Chiefs of Staff.  General Mark Milley wants low-yield nuclear missile warheads, doctrine of a “winnable” nuclear war. War with “small” nuclear weapons – No Such Thing As a ‘Small’ Nuclear War. U.S. Congress setting a more reasonable course for nuclear weapons policy.
• Investigative journalism – The first victims of the first atomic explosion might have been American children.
• Unrepentant, Catholic anti-nuclear activists face gaol for breaking into a nuclear base. Intruders jump fence at U.S. nuclear reactor that uses bomb-grade fuel .
• Kim and Kourtney Kardashian join the fight to clean up Santa Susanna nuclear site. Nuclear clean-up agreements broken for the Santa Susanna Field Laboratory (SSFL) site.
• Maine Bill for grants to local governments to offset costs of STRANDED nuclear wastes.  Dangerously unacceptable nuclear waste dump plans for Texas.   Wyoming lawmakers quietly see $billions in storing   spent nuclear fuel.  For 6 years, Potentially Dangerous Nuclear Waste Was Shipped to Nevada as Low Level Wastes.    Earthquakes and the danger of Southern Nevada as a nuclear waste dump site.
• Army Corps to test groundwater at nuclear waste dump.
•  Ohio Senate not keen to subsidise FirstEnergy Solutions nuclear power stations.  USA nuclear industry in the doldrums – desperate efforts to revive it.  Bill Gates now glum about the prospects for his nuclear power company TerraPower.
• As cost of climate crisis grows, climate movement escalates.  Investigative journalism –Private Notes Show How Big Oil Spread Climate Science Denial.

UK.  Future of the nuclear industry in Britain is far from clear.  UK’s energy industry plans, especially nuclear, stalled while waiting for new Prime Minister.  UK’s new nuclear funding model would leave taxpayers liable for rising costs or delays. Safety breaches at Sellafield nuclear waste plant.   UK’s Sizewell C nuclear project not likely to provide many local jobs. Sizewell B nuclear plant ammonia leak closes part of beach.   Huge carbon footprint of Hinkley nuclear project, and itself threatened by climate change.   Prioritise growth, or prioritise life. We can’t do both.

MARSHALL ISLANDS. Alarmingly high radiation in soil, ocean sediments and fruits from Marshall Islands.

TAHITI. Tahitians remember atomic bomb tests and withdraw from France’s propaganda memorial project.

RUSSIA. Planetary catastrophe – was not likely from the Russian nuclear submarine accident.    Tax-payer funding absolutely critical to Russia’s nuclear industry.  The Russian Orthodox Church just might cease its blessing of nuclear weapons.   Russia’s new Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier? Just all talk?

ARMENIA. Illegal transport of thorium at Georgia’s border with Armenia.

UKRAINE.  The dangers of Chernobyl nuclear site being turned into a tourism mecca.

INDIA. India’s tigers and other endangered species now threatened by uranium mining in Amrabad Tiger Reserve.

CANADA. A generation of children were given radiation treatment without warning of cancer risks  .

ARCTIC.  Nuclear Waste In The Arctic.

TAIWAN.  Taiwan about to close second nuclear reactor.