News is, by its nature, all about bad stuff. Whatever is normal, reasonable, decent, is ordinary, and just not news, – a fact that we need to remind ourselves of, in these uncertain Covid-19 days. There’s a lot of good will for changing society’s trajectory towards ruining our planet. Half of the Earth’s ice-free land is still free from human impact. Post-pandemic packages could green up our energy systems for environmental and economic benefit. Some seemingly small ideas can have surprisingly large successes – for example, fast-growing mini-forests springing up in Europe are helping the climate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZO0IWAgJdlk
Another bit of good news – Elders Around the World in Their 80s, 90s, and 100s Are Bouncing Back From Virus – and Sharing Advice.
AUSTRALIA
Australia’s Environment Laws have no teeth, are in much need of strengthening. Australia’s very bad record on environment: it’s no time to weaken our laws.
NUCLEAR Don’t send uranium to India- Dr Vaishali Patil speaks to Australia. Former weapons chief executive now South Australian Premier’s top advisor. Reviews of two TV shows on Australia’s nuclear history at Maralinga.
National Radioactive waste Dump Plan. Australia’s govt rushes nuclear waste Bill through Lower House, but this story is not over. Labor, Greens and 2 Independents voted against it. The Maritime Union of Australia (SA branch) rejects Nuclear Waste Bill, discusses transport dangers. Is Napandee another Maralinga?
Government -owned Woomera a better site than agricultural land, for nuclear waste dump. MP Rowan Ramsey depicts town of Kimba as failing, desperate to have nuclear waste dump for its survival. Senator Rex Patrick – nuclear waste dump should not go on agricultural land.
Submissions to Senate Inquiry.
- Desmond Menz – Constitutional problems in Nuclear Waste Bill – could lead to High Court case?
- Ivan Quail says –No logic in double handling of nuclear waste, and makes 14 strong recommendations.
- Anne Wharton- appalled at exclusion of Barngarla Aboriginal people from nuclear waste dump decision-making: a national issue, not just local.
- South Australia – Citizens’ Jury rejected nuclear waste dump in 2016. Decision should not be made by a tiny community.
- Azark says: nuclear waste site process unfair and Napandee unsuitable.
- James Shepherdson – no true community support for Napandee nuclear waste dump, and alternative site ignored.
CLIMATE. Australian Government’s Covid-19 advisory body – stacked with fossil fuel big-wigs, but their conflicts of interest kept secret. Australia is one of world’s worst transport polluters: Covid-19 response could change this. Four ways a smart government can create jobs and cut emissions. The latest on Adani and the decline of thermal coal.
RENEWABLE ENERGY. Australia’s best performing wind and solar farms in May. How community-owned renewables could lead Australia’s Covid-19 recovery plans. Western Australia is emerging as the new hot spot for wind energy in Australia. Contracts awarded for Brisbane’s $1b all-electric Metro bus project. Morrison’s $25,000 renovation grant could deliver full energy retrofit for social housing.
INTERNATIONAL
Our existential threat – our extinction.
Cloud studies indicate that global heating may be more alarming than anticipated. Global heating to bring more frequent, more extreme, ocean waves. Seeking ways to remove carbon from the air.
The last major treaty for nuclear weapons control now hangs in the balance.
USA.
- USA’s reckless nuclear spending as coronovirus hits the nation. Bernie Sanders, and moving the money away from militarism. Sanders Proposes Slashing Pentagon Budget by 10% to Reinvest Funds in Communities ‘Devastated by Poverty and Incarceration’.
- As pandemic costs rise, USA plans costly,dangerous nuclear weapons tests. USA – resuming nuclear tests would wreck the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), with no military or strategic benefit. 80 Lawmakers Demand Trump Ditch Any Thought of Resuming ‘Dangerously Provocative’ Nuclear Tests – dangerous brinkmanship. Top Democrats demand answers.
- Trump wants costly armed nuclear ice-breakers – where will the money come from ?
- In U.S. Congress, a Bill to prohibit Trump’s possible plan to use nuclear weapons on hurricanes.
- USA’s International Development Finance Corp will remove its ban on financing exports of US nuclear technologies. Plan for USA’s taxpayers to fund nuclear power exports. USA offers to build Britain’s nuclear reactors.
- U.S. nuclear industry looks for salvation to hydrogen production – clutching at straws?
- USA’s failing nuclear industry will not be saved by new plan to stockpile uranium. Nuclear Regulatory Commission will prepare a full environmental impact statement (EIS) on nuclear license renewal for Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility.
- Continuing court battle against proposed nuclear waste site near Carlsbad.
JAPAN.
- Fukushima’s radioactive waste problem. Fukushima: Japan Must Not Ignore Human Rights Obligations On Nuclear Waste Disposal – UN Experts. Japan extends 2011 disaster recovery agency’s work by 10 years. Evacuation orders to be lifted even before radiation purged.
- Government, nuclear industry badly in need of a reality check. ¥10 trillion reserve to combat pandemic branded Abe’s ‘pocket money’ .
- A housewife will run as candidate for Iwaki City Election 2020: “I want to protect Iwaki’s children”.
- Tepco and Toshiba join forces to upgrade Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant.
- Japan should end its nonsensical effort to recycle nuclear fuel.
- Tracing Individual Perceptions of Media Credibility in Post-3.11 Japan.
- Island of Iwaishima‘s 30 year fight to stop nuclear reactors.
TAIWAN. Taiwan green groups urge Japan not to discharge radioactive water.
FRANCE. Fire on French submarine – luckily its nuclear reactor, nuclear fuel, had been removed for overhaul Risk of fire on a nuclear submarine. France’s lucky escape, due to reactor being removed for overhaul. French nuclear watchdog demands EDF fix faults at 5 reactors.
RUSSIA. Russia: commentary on its nuclear deterrence principles.
EUROPE. Radioactive cloud over Europe in 2017 came from a civilian nuclear reactor.
INDIA. India will follow with nuclear weapons testing, if USA resumes testing.
UK. Investigative journalism – Will Sellafields nuclear waste waft to Ireland? Or waft somewhere else? Why doesn’t debt-ridden EDF cut its losses and close its uneconomic UK nuclear reactors. Sellafield waste will stay on site after 2021, Cumbria County Council agrees. Grave climate risks to Sizewell C nuclear project – all too close to the sea.
NORTH KOREA. North Korea Vows to Boost Nuclear Program, Saying U.S. Diplomacy Failed.
SOUTH AFRICA. South African activists threaten to sue over nuclear plan.
CANADA. Canada’s proposed radioactive waste disposal rules are weak and industry-friendly. Delay to community vote on nuclear waste dump for South Bruce, Ontario.
ARMENIA. Armenia Rejects Russian Funding For Nuclear Plant Upgrade.
BELGIUM. Wallonia rejects nuclear waste disposal suggestion.
LUXEMBOURG. Greenpeace Luxembourg Protests against Belgian Nuclear Waste. No feasible solution found between Belgium and Luxembourg on nuclear waste disposal.
BRAZIL. Brazil government approves plan to complete third nuclear plant.
AUSTRALIA. Australia’s govt rushes nuclear waste Bill through Lower House, but this story is not over.
Nuclear Australia 
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