To 7 September – Climate, nuclear, pandemic news – Austra;ia and more

 

It’s September, and supposed to be getting cooler in the Northern Hemisphere. But global heating rolls on inexorably. For September, my websites are focusing on the Poles, and on the cryosphere (yes, it’s a word that I’ve only just learned.)  Surprisingly, both the Arctic and the Antarctic are seriously involved in nuclear as well as climate, issues.

On the nuclear scene – well, the news media is awash with unashamed handouts from the Bill Gates- Terra Power – GE-Hitachi – SNC-Lavalin etc  propaganda about Small Modular Nuclear Reactors.  Sadly, these articles do not examine the claims made about “fighting global warming”. I guess that journalists need to keep their jobs.

Coronavirus live news: India reports global one-day record of over 90,000 cases.

A bit of good news – Mirrar Aboriginal people at last have control of Jabiru, as Ranger uranium mining set to end operations. 

Some more good news about the pandemic –Dr. Fauci Reveals Some ‘Good News’ About COVID.

AUSTRALIA

Morrison government rushing to make Austraia’s environment laws even weaker: a recipe for extinctions.  Australian government, masks its anti-environment action under the cover of Covid-19.   Environment Law: Scott Morrison’s government shows its disdain for ZaliSteggall and the cross-benchers.  Aussies call for tougher environment laws.

Murray-Darling River system; mysterious loss of more than 2 trillion litres of water.

CLIMATE.  Parliament Covers Up Australia’s True Carbon Footprint .  The Energy Security Board puts “coal exit strategy” at centre of energy market shakeup.  Battle lines drawn over future of CEFC, as Taylor gets wires crossed on gas.

RENEWABLE ENERGY.

• GreenPower seeks to revive interest, launches refreshed brand.  Cheaper, cleaner, more reliable: How renewables are winning energy trifecta.
• Victoria says new transmission vital as second wind and solar tender attracts “strong” interest.  Rooftop solar charts second-best month of 2020, despite Victoria Covid plunge. Victoria seeks 600MW wind and solar to power hospitals, schools and trains.
• Approved inverters and agents named for strict new rooftop solar controls.
• N.S.W. Goulburn community solar farm cuts ties with Siemens over Adani coal connection.
• South Australia.   Tesla VPP expands to add virtual Big Battery to South Australia grid.
• Queensland Foresight says Queensland solar problems to be resolved soon, falling prices take toll.
• Western Australia. Repower WA with Renewables: 90% by 2030. Rooftop solar: W.A. sets new record low for grid demand, two other states set winter lows.
• Northern Territory. NAIF backs 10MW solar and battery plant in Northern Territory.

INTERNATIONAL

Julian Assange due in court in latest stage of fight against US extradition. ‘He won’t survive’: Julian Assange’s partner pleads for his release.

Sea level rise from melting ice sheets matches worst-case climate warming scenarios.  Six Portuguese youth file ‘unprecedented’ climate lawsuit against 33 countries .  Viruses could be harder to kill after adapting to warm environments.  Geoengineering to counter global heating? It’s a risky gamble.

Low Dose Ionizing Radiation Shown to Cause Cancer in Review of 26 Studies.

The atomic bombing cover-up and the reporter who revealed it to the world.  Students unaware of nuclear weapons and the existential threat that they pose.  It’s time to be fearful of nuclear war again.   Two excellent new books on a nuclear-weapons -free world.

Risks of cyberattacks on nuclear reactors.

Renewable energy can save the natural world – but if we’re not careful, it will also hurt it.

ARCTIC. Arctic melting permafrost a serious problem (and they want to put Small Modular Nuclear Reactors there!) Sea ice at its lowest state in 5,500 years in Bering sea . The Arctic’s slow-moving underwater nuclear disaster – Russia’s radioactive trash.

Extreme Weather

SOUTH KOREA.  Typhoon Haishen batters South Korea after slamming Japan.

SUDAN. Sudan declares state of emergency as record flooding kills 99 people.

PAKISTAN. Pakistan floods leave dozens dead and people angry at lack of help.

AFGHANISTAN. Afghanistan flash floods and mudslide buries homes, kills 160 as search for bodies continues.

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RUSSIA. Investigative journalism  – The threatening presence of highly radioactive material in Russa’s sunken nuclear submarines.  Russia facing huge problem to recover radioactive sunken nuclear reactors, but Putin still plans new ones in the Arctic.

CENTRAL ASIA. Investigative journalism– Central Asia’s toxic nuclear legacy.

CANADA. Northern Canada and Arctic indigenous areas targeted for Small Modular Nuclear Reactors.

FRANCE.  Global heating – low water rate affecting France’s Saint-Alban nuclear plant. France’s President Macron joins the global nuclear lobby’s push to export nuclear reactors.

UKRAINE. Radiation from Chernobyl spreads far away, as global heating exacerbates widfires.

INDIA. Investigative journalism – The dangerous and deadly toll of uranium mining, on Indian communities.

UK.

• The biggest nuclear site in Europe is at risk of blowing up.
• EDF’s Economic Statement on impact of Sizewell nuclear project – gives unproven, misleading evidence. EDF trying to scam UK gvernment to back uneconomic Sizewell C nuclear project.   Kildare opinion sought on new British nuclear plant.  Campaigners call on all Suffolk residents to submit comments on Sizewell C.
• More of Britain’s ageing nuclear power stations are likely to close early. Britain’s nuclear industry faces sharp U-turn – renewables a better bet.
• Petition against dumping ‘nuclear mud’ off Cardiff reaches 5k threshold for Senedd debate.
• Climate protestors stop Rupert Murdoch’s press in Britain.

USA.

Climate Hundreds rescued from fires by helicopter as heatwave bakes California.  Increasing climate risks threaten nuclear reactors.   3 unplanned shutdowns- Turkey Point nuclear station vulnerable to climate extremes.

• The nuclear industry a big winner from U.S. election as Democrats and Republicans embrace this toxic industry.
• Over 800 coronavirus cases among workers at Vogtle nuclear project, may increase costs and delays.
• Small modular nuclear reactors.Members of Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS) should get out of NuScam small nuclear project -NOW!  Fluor could improve its finances by abandoning NuScam, as some cities pull out of ”small” nuclear reactor scheme.  Small nuclear reactors – NuScam looking dodgy as parent company Fluor shares sink?. Small nuclear reactor NuScam’s parent company Fluor – shares tumble afterdisclosure of accounting probe.
• Workers and families sue U.S. Department of Energy contractors over illnesses from work at Piketon-area nuclear plant.
• Ohio  Nuclear Workers Sue Over ‘Creeping Chernobyl’ in Ohio.  Nuclear corruption in Ohio: HB 6 was never about jobs and communities by keeping nuclear plants open.    Ohio lawmakers wrangle over how to repeal crooked nuclear bailout law.  Republicans And Democrats Clash Over How To Repeal Nuclear Bailout.
• Nuclear economics  Exelon’s threat to Illinois – aiming to get more tax-payer funding.  Santee Cooper and Westinghouse Electric to sell off equipment at the failed $9 billion VC Summer nuclear site.  Duke Energy Has Squandered Billions in Failed Natural Gas and Nuclear Projects.
•  Safety. Despite the undoubted danger of USA’s gigantic new plutonium pit production, USA safety officials won’t bother with a new environment study.  Top official at USA nuclear safety agency resigns. Nuclear Regulatory Commission bans TVA executive over whistleblower retaliation.
• Nuclear waste – another great injustice to indigenous people, and people of color.  Renewed concerns about safety as dig starts for new shaft at New Mexico’s nuclear Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. Nuclear waste project proposed near Carlsbad sees mixed response in final public hearing.
• U.S. Court finds that mass surveillance program exposed by Snowden was illegal.
• Vatican representative calls on U.S. to sign nuclear-test-ban treaty.
• How to educate American children about nuclear weapons?
• Plowshares’ Clare Grady, longtime Catholic Worker and peace activist, may face 21 years in gaol,
• Renewable Energy: The Decentralized Grid Comes to California Apartment Complexes.

IRAN. Iran claims it’s identified saboteurs behind blast at nuclear site. IAEA inspectors gain access to one of two Iran sites.   Iran Nuclear Deal Parties ‘United in Resolve’ to Preserve Agreement.

MIDDLE EAST. The hazards of nuclear reactors in the Gulf region, and Saudi Arabia’s ambiguous energy program.

NORTH KOREA.  South Korea adviser calls for ‘six-party security summit’ to discuss North Korea nuclear issue. North Korea’s nuclear activity still a ‘serious concern’: UN watchdog .

JAPAN. Tokyo Olympics will be most costly Summer Games, Oxford study shows. Japan should leave radioactive water in current storage tanks.  Japan pushes forward with plans to dump radioactive water into ocean, despite public opposition.  ICAN chief: Japan sabotaging nuclear disarmament.