To 22 February, Covid-19, climate, and nuclear news

Coronavrus update:

• Global Tracker: Cases exceed 111.2 million; deaths pass 2.4 million
• Vaccine Tracker: More than 202 million shots given worldwide
• Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine reduces transmission by 89%, study shows

Climate;  disinformation is rampant.   –”we have allowed governments around the world to throw away the time when we could have stopped the endless killer heat waves, fires, rising seas, superstorms, dying coral, dying everything. We let governments from Monarchies to Oligarchies to alleged Democracies endanger life on this planet, including our kids future.

If we can’t change that, we really are doomed.” – Alex Smith, Radio Ecoshock.

Nuclear – it is disappointing to me to listen to interviews with Bill Gates-  he is not questioned on his statements pushing nuclear power for climate. It seems that being a billionaire entrepreneur qualifies him for a kind of reverent belief and trust . Meanwhile, a real climate expert , Michael Mann, has just published an authoritative book on the subject.

Hunting for good news – but it’s tricky. Lots of good news on things like individuals being kind to homeless people. But there’s a dearth of news about public, government, action to provide homes for the homeless.

AUSTRALIA.

Wise warning to Australian government to withdraw embarrassing Nuclear Waste Dump Bill.

Nothing clean about nuclear, coal or gas – Australian Conservation Foundation.  Australian Liberal National Coalition enthusiastic for nuclear power.  Nationals add nuclear enthusiasm to the government’s energy bill.   Australia a renewables leader – or the ‘‘Saudi Arabia of nuclear energy”– Queensland neeeds job-supplying, clean, renewable energy, NOT antiquated nuclear power.  News Corpse fervently promoting nuclear power to Australia.

 Solar, storage to take over from Ranger uranium mine.  Mediation continuing over rehabilitation of Range uranium mine.

‘Clean coal’ is nothing but a marketing scam: Energy experts.

Federal energy and emissions reduction minister Angus Taylor wants to include dirty energy in Clean Energy Finance Corporation.

INTERNATIONAL

Nuclear lobby planning to take over the U.N Climate Change Conference.

Living longterm in radioactively contaminated areas damages our health.

On nuclear power as climate solution, Bill Gates shows alarming ignorance.  Bill Gates’undemocratic approach to climate crisis.  New books on climate change; Michael Mann versus (nuclear promoter) Bill Gates.

The “negaWatt” – the best energy is the energy you don’t use.

JAPAN.    ICAN chief urges Japanese govt to attend UN Nuclear Ban Treaty meeting.  Japan town mayor OKs restarting nuclear reactor over 40 years old– A decade after the Fukushima meltdown, this Japanese region faces a new nightmare — radioactive water in the sea. Water leaks indicate new damage at Fukushima nuclear plant.  New highly radioactive particles found in Fukushima .

EUROPE.  Nuclear industry very nervous about EU evaluation of its’green’ claims.

CANADA.  Community fights Canadian govt’s slick propaganda pushing for high-level radioactive waste dump.  Canada’s nuclear waste storage ”“cannot and will not go forward without the informed and willing consent of potential host communities”

UKRAINE.  New documentary explores Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.

USA.

• Investigative  journalism. -‘Medical Scientific’ committee, stacked with nuclear executives, promotes nuclear power in space.
• Biden Must Take Immediate Action to Reduce the Risk of Nuclear War.  USA to join in multilateral talks with EU and Iran, on return to nuclear deal.  The world came much closer to nuclear war than we realized in 1983. Nuclear weapons — they’re illegal.
•  There Were Doomsday Ships Ready To Ride Out Nuclear Armageddon Before There Were Doomsday Planes.
• USA to join in multilateral talks with EU and Iran, on return to nuclear deal.
•  Beyond Nuclear files suit to stop massive radioactive waste dump .
• Keep the public vote on nuclear energy in Montana .  Big trouble ahead, on regulation issues, for countries desperately trying to export small nuclear reactors.
• EPA awards $220 million for uranium mine cleanup on Navajo Nation.
•   Green energy sources are not to blame for the winter storm power blackouts in Texas. Lies in Texas, as Republicans blame renewable energy for cold weather traumas.
• The ”New Yorker” sinks to sloppy sentimentalpraise of pro nuclear advocates.   I am appalled at the idea of ‘‘Mothers For Nuclear”.

BRAZIL.  Global nuclear industry – rotten to the core: it’s not just Brazil.

UK.

• The Children with Cancer UK conference: nuclear power and nuclear weapons are two sides of the same coin.
• Lancaster City Council will call on UK to join nuclear weapons ban.
• Is this the end of the road for UK’s Bradwell nuclear project?  Relief that Bradwell nuclear project has stalled.
• Over 100,000 people sign petition to stop Sizewell nuclear, save nature reserve. City giant Legal and General will not be funding Sizewell nuclear project.
• Lobbyists from West Cumbria Mining appointed to Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM).
• Residents fear nuclear waste is buried beneath land being earmarked for development.

IRAN.  Iran foiled series of assassinations planned by Israel – says Iranian Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi.  Iran vows to limit nuclear inspections if partners fail to act.

POLAND.  Germany concerned about Poland’s nuclear energy plans.

BULGARIA.  Bulgaria prosecutes former energy ministers over mismanagement of Belene nuclear power project.

SOUTH AFRICA.  South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa ignores nuclear his State of the Nation Address.  South Africa: an example of how nuclear waste costs are passed on to later generations.

ISRAEL.  Israel expands Dimona nuclear facility previously used for weapons material.

FRANCE. Significant safety incident at EDF nuclear power plant in Flamanville.