The global corona virus – deaths nearly 1.5 million. Global heating moves on – Arctic events affect the world. BUT- the nuclear threat is also still with us, always there, and must not be forgotten.
With the assassination of Iran’s top nuclear scientist, the world is yet again teetering on the brink.
Some bits of good news – Britain Helps World’s Most Remote Inhabited Islands to Establish Biggest Marine Sanctuary in the Atlantic.
AUSTRALIA
Investigative journalism – Australian children targetted for propaganda by the weapons industry. – Australia’s Department of Defence captured by foreign weapons makers Thales, BAE.
The Australian government”s intimidation of whistleblowers – the torture of Julian Assange.
Kimba nuclear waste dump plan What next as the Senate rejects the mandatory selection of Napandee as nuclear waste dump? Exposing the deceptions of Keith Pitt, Minister for Resources, on the failed nuclear waste dump plan. Exposing the deceptions of Samantha Chard General Manager of the National Radioactive Waste Agency. “Traceability” and Nuclear waste on agricultural land? Can a new mine save BHP’s loss-making Olympic Dam? .
Victoria’s law banning nuclear activities. Victorian Parliament: Legislative Council Committee finds that nuclear ban should stay. Victorian Government Inquiry confirms that there is no future in nuclear power. Inquiry confirms nuclear energy’s ‘proven risks’. Victorian Inquiry finds nuclear power costly and risky.
Uranium.Can a new mine save BHP’s loss-making Olympic Dam? .
Australian government’s Bill to weaken Environmental Law will be rejected in the Senate. Corporate vested interests win as Australian Government weakens Environmental Laws. Australian government is rushing to weaken Environmental Laws.
INTERNATIONAL
Today’s Google headlines on nuclear issues – weapons and Iran dominate the stories.
The global energy revolution.
Correcting 5 wrong opinions about the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Living with the Nuclear Prohibition Treaty: nuclear weapons states would be unwise to attack it.
Nuclear power hinders fight against climate change.
Standard nuclear reactor designs are still too costly, and safety features are only a third of nuclear costs.
Solar energy is bullish in the market; the same can’t be said for nuclear.
The creeping carbon costs of digital communication.
Book review: The Case for Degrowth.
Extradition hearing of Julian Assange – defence witnesses destroy myths, demonstrate his integrity
JAPAN. Japanese local governments depend on “nuclear money”. No. 2 reactor at Tohoku Electric Power Co’s Onagawa nuclear power plant for restart, despite problems. Surveys to identify nuclear waste disposal site begin in Hokkaido.
Fukushima. Destructive potential of over a million tons of radioactive water into the Pacific. Fukushima nuclear reactor no.1 – debris prevented from falling into fuel storage pool. Nuclear disaster: Fukushima schools frozen in time. Survey finds that most Fukushima evacuees do not intend to return.
TAIWAN. Taiwanese protest plan to dump water from Japan nuclear plant into sea.
UK
- Depressing news for the nuclear lobby in UK, Western Europe – Boris Johnson’s government adding nuclear power to its long list of failures. UK government losing enthusiasm for new nuclear power stations, as grim financial realities set in. British MP’s continue to botch it in the ever more costly saga of Britain’s “old” nukes and “new” nukes. Inaccuracies in Boris Johnson’s document supporting nuclear power development. Britain’s enthusiasm for nuclear power stations is waning.
- Large and small nuclear reactors should not be included in UK’s ‘clean, green’ 10 point plan. British govt’s foolhardy plan to pay up for non existent Rolls Royce small nuclear reactors. UK government wastes tax-payer money on small and large nuclear reactors that will never be cheap or safe.
- Sizewell C nuclear plant ‘not value for money’, and would sabotage the govt’s pledge for nature. Destruction of habitat, Coronation Wood to be felled, for Sizewell C nuclear project, British govt produced no evidence that nuclear plants are essential, in secret deals for the convenience of the nuclear industry. 30-day public consultation about UK’s Sizewell nuclear reactor project. Bankrupt AREVA, resuscitated as ‘Framatome’, joins the the Sizewell C nuclear build Consortium. £525 million pledged to build UK small nuclear reactors, no funding package yet revealed for £20 billion Sizewell plant. UK government’s plans for Sizewell and Wylfa nuclear stations are wavering, with doubts about costs.
- Decommissioning and wastes. Hazardous plan for Peel Ports to take over the decommissioning of Britain’s dead nuclear submarines . Hinkley Point B nuclear reactor offline now, and will be shut down earlier than planned. Both Hinkley Point B and Hunterston B nuclear power stations will close early due to cracks in graphite cores. £132billion and counting – Britain’s nuclear decommissioning mess could take 120 years. UK tax-payers foot huge bill for incompetence of Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). UK’s beautiful Lake District – no “final solution” for the nuclear waste problem.The Irish sea – plagued by dumped munitions and radioactive trash.
- Cheap and effective, but solar energy is omitted from UK govt’s 10 point plan. Mayor of London announces solar and energy efficiency projects funded by ‘Green New Deal.
USA.
- Could a mad, unhinged US president, push the nuclear button? Trump still has the awesome power to launch America’s nuclear arsenal. It is likely that Trump gove the nod for assassination of Iran nuclear scientist. European security officials fear that Trump may trigger a war against Iran. Trump’s Impact on Nuclear Proliferation, Treating Foreign Policy as a Business. Trump administration pulls out of Open Skies treaty with Russia.
- Investigative journalism – Joe Biden’s ” transition team”includes men with strong links to the weapons industry– Beware the “madness of militarism” – Biden likely to appoint war-loving Michèle Flournoy as Defense Secretary. For Joe Biden – an early trial problem – the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
- With Joe Biden in Charge, No More Flashy Kim Jong Un Summits. –The Biden- Harris administration can change nuclear weapons policy, make it safer, and much cheaper. President Joe Biden will have just 16 days from Inauguration Day to rescue the new START Treaty
- How a nuclear weapons officer came to support the Treaty Prohibiting Nuclear Weapons.
- A New U.S. Missile Defense Test May Have Increased the Risk of Nuclear War. Closer to nuclear war – as USA tests ICBM intercept. Resuming nuclear testing is unnecessary — and unsafe
- Prison, big fines, for Catholic anti nuclear activists. Anti-Nuclear Pacifists Get Federal Prison Terms for Nonviolent Protest. A mock B61-12 nuclear bomb dropped for the first time.
- USA revives plan for fast reactor, despite terrorism risks .
- USA looks to get $18billion now, maybe $40billion later, in flogging off nuclear reactors to Poland.
- Former CEO of failed V.C. Summer nuclear project pleads guilty to fraud charges. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has filed a second lawsuit to stop bailout of nuclear reactors. Ohio likely to require nuclear reactor audit before renewing bailout.
- 30 more years for Wisconson’s old nuclear power station? Is this a good idea?
- Dismantling Duke Energy’s Crystal River nuclear plant.
- Unanswered questions cloud the future of NuScam’s Small Modular Nuclear Reactor project. Concerns in Utah cities about costs and safety of NuScam’s small nuclear reactor scheme.
- The intractible problem of San Onofre’s, and indeed, America’s, nuclear waste.
- NRC approves financially dodgy sale of Indian Point Nuclear Station to Holtec.
- Lack of safety documents in Los Alamos National Laboratory’s handling of radioactive wastes. Waste Isolation Pilot Plant – building of ventilation shaft is halted, due to Covid-19 and planning problems. Danger to San Onofre nuclear waste, from ocean’s king tides. Why we shouldn’t be talking about nuclear waste “disposal”.
- Slowly moving lawsuit on the health impacts of a national nuclear laboratory.
INDIA. Cybersecurity breach at Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) undetected for over 6 months.
EUROPE. The effect on Europe of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
FRANCE. Orano, formerly Areva, targeted by judicial investigation for corruption. Corruption investigation into AREVA’s sale of Nigerian uranium. New comic book investigates the dilemma about France’s nuclear wastes.
Extended shutdown for work on Flamanville nuclear reactor build. Greenpeace launches legal appeal against French nuclear safety authority allowing extension of lifetime of nuclear reactors. Concern in France over lack of expert inspection of nuclear sites.
CANADA. Canada’s environmental groups join to oppose experimental Small Nuclear Reactors (SMRs). Small Modular Nuclear Reactors, the nuclear industry’s latest pipe dream. Canadian government’s misplacing funding into unviable small nuclear reactors for North West Territories. Safety dangers of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs). In the face of public opposition, Ottawa delays small nuclear reactor plan. Ontario could get clean renewable energy from neighbouring provinces, with no need for nuclear power.
IRAN. Architect of its nuclear programme assassinated – Iran vows retaliation. Tehran’s UN ambassador says rival Saudi Arabia is looking for an excuse to build nuclear weapons and blaming Iran. Iran admits breach of nuclear deal discovered by UN inspectorate. Iran slams European criticism on expanding nuclear programme. What’s behind the assaisnation of Iran’s top nuclear scientist? UAE, Jordan Condemn Killing of Iranian Nuclear Scientist, Call for Self-restraint.
BANGLADESH. Bangladesh draws up a nuclear disaster response plan.
GERMANY. Uranprojekt –The Nazi Nuclear Program.
RUSSIA. Russia’s latest nuclear icebreaker had to abort maiden Arctic voyage. Russia claims to have successfully tested an “unstoppable” nuclear missile.
UKRAINE. First canister of used nuclear fuel loaded into Chernobyl storage facility. Comprehensive research now shows that irradiated areas near Chernobyl have fewest mammals.
SAUDI ARABIA. Saudi minister says nuclear armament against Iran ‘an option’.
NORTH KOREA. North Korea sparks new nuclear weapons fears.
ROMANIA. European Commission approves Romania’s purchase of nuclear reactors.
RWANDA. Growing opposition to nuclear power in Rwanda.
Nuclear Australia 
Leave a Reply