To 22 March – Australia and beyond – nuclear news

Not a lot of remarkable news on nuclear this week . The nuclear lobby is doubling down on its media propaganda, touting nuclear as the solution to climatev change. Also it is determinedly promoting the Tokyo Olympics – the so-called ‘recovery Olympics’, despite the fact that international visitors are banned.

Coronavirus.  Incidence of new cases globally continues to rise, but death numbers are falling. Problems in distribution of vaccines.

Climate.   Developments in global heating are covered each week in Radio Ecoshock, which is a jump ahead of most news media. This week, it’s been about the predicted high temperatures in the world’s cities. Also, it’s a warm\ning that climate tipping points are coming sooner than expected.

A bit of good news.  March 20 was the U.N.’s International Day of Happiness.  For the fourth year in a row, Finland has been named the happiest country in the world, with Iceland coming in second, followed by Denmark, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

AUSTRALIA.

BHP, Rio Tintom  given carte blanche to export uranium to global hotspots .

 Australian Senate vote on Kimba nuclear dump delayed till mid-May, but dump opponents will be fighting on.    Resources Minister Keith Pitt on radio  – same old same old Bluff and Bribery about Kimba nuclear dump plan.

Minerals Council of Australia trying to influence European Commission, to push for fossil fuels and nuclear.

Need for ‘consent laws’, as Australian mining companies trample on Aboriginal rights.

INTERNATIONAL.

Investigative journalism –  Advanced nuclear reactors : Assessing the Safety, Security, and Environmental Impacts of Non-Light-Water Nuclear Reactors.  New science report: advanced nuclear reactors no safer than conventional nuclear plants.  The economics of nuclear power plants are not favorable to future investments.

Nuclear power has become irrelevant — like it or not.   Why the Fukushima disaster signalled the end of Big Nuclear.

New research to determine plutonium pollution and its sources.

Don’t believe hydrogen and nuclear hype – they can’t get us to net zero carbon by 2050

Review of Michael Shellenberger’s book on ”Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All”.

JAPAN.  The nuclear lobby holds too much sway over governments, particularly in Japan.  Serious security lapse at a Japanese nuclear plant.    Japanese regulator decides against restarting Kashiwazaki-Kariwa No. 7 nuclear reactor.

New type of large and highly radioactive particles found in Japan.  Fukushima disaster 10 years on: How long will it take to clean up the nuclear waste?

UK. 

• How the British government reacted to the Fukushima catastrophe – with propaganda promoting the nuclear industry.
• Boris Johnson joins Britain up to a perilous, uncontrollable, nuclear weapons race.  UK should build foreign policy on aid, conflict resolution, not on reversing nuclear disarmament.  UN expresses concern over UK’s move to increase nuclear weapons arsenal.  UK govt – cutting costs on troops as it expands nuclear missile numbers
• New report on human and environmental impact of Hinkley Point C nuclear project. Hinkley Point C nuclear power station ‘could suck up 182 million fish a year’ from Severn Estuary.   Dilemma over plan to dump Himkley radioactive mud off Cardiff coast.  Hinkley Point nuclear reactors with cracks are allowed to resume limited operations.

USA.

• Production of plutonium must cease, for the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty to work.  Plutonium used at Japanese reactor will be glassed, stored at Savannah River Site.
• With ”regulatory capture” of USA’s Nuclear Regulatory Commission, California’s got nuclear fuel buried 108 feet from the sea  .
• Duane Arnold nuclear reactor, same type as Fukushima Daiichi, vulnerable to extreme weather.
• Georgia’s  Vogtle nuclear station likely to yet again miss a deadline.
• Report alleges elevated cancer deaths in Monroe may be result of nuclear plant.
• Sudden death of defendant in Ohio nuclear corruption case.
• Deb Haaland -new U.S. Secretary for Interior, – first Native American in a U.S. presidential cabinet.

RUSSIA.  Russia planning to dispose of highly dangerous nuclear reactor cores of submarines at bottom of Kara Sea.

IRAN.  United Nations nuclear watchdog says it’s possible to return to the Iran nuclear deal.

FRANCE.  France must restructure debt-laden EDF (Electricite de France) and reform nuclear sector by October.  Flamanville nuclear reactor: 3 new welds do not meet safety requirements.

PACIFIC ISLANDS.  Outcry in Tahiti over nuclear fallout study.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. Unitede Arab Emirates $32 billion Barakah nuclear plant poses environmental, safety, and security problems.