The week in nuclear news, Australia and international

Coronavirus. I can’t keep up with pandemic news – but it’s not going to go away –   for a long time.It’s still looking like vaccination as everyone’s best hope.

Climate. G7 environment ministers have agreed that they will deliver climate targets in line with limiting the rise in global temperatures to 1.5C.

All quiet on nuclear developments this week. One news item from the UK (Hinkley project delays)  clearly illustrates that very real, but rarely acknowledged connection between the coronavirus pandemic, and the fizzling out of activity in the ”peaceful” nuclear industry.But nothing stops the weapons makers and the Pentagon from pushing for more $billions for nuclear weapons. No doubt Russia, China then follow suit.

AUSTRALIA

Federal Government’s budget details indicate increased nuclear waste storage at ANSTO, Lucas Heights, rather than a rush for a nuclear waste dump at Kimba South Australia. Time to question the authorities on the nuclear waste dump mess, the incompetence of ANSTO, and the ?inactive role of Kimba nuclear waste staff . South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal rules  that information on the Kimba nuclear waste dump can be made public

 It’s not acceptable to ignore Aboriginal land owners, in order to impose high level nuclear waste on their land.   Safety issues in nuclear waste dump proposal. Indigenous rights issues in Kimba nuclear waste dump proposal. 

Australia has another go at cleaning up decades old pollution from old uranium mine Rum Jungle. New research on the complexity of particles from plutonium resulting from British atomic bomb tests at Maralinga. Plutonium ”hot particles” are not as stable as we assumed. 

 Australia has another go at cleaning up decades old pollution from old uranium mine Rum Jungle.

Research on contaminated landscape, plutonium particles,  around Maralinga in outback South Australia. 

 Morrison’s ‘unconstitutional’ crackdown on charities. Senator Rex Patrick challenges Scott Morrison’s special arrangement to protect his government from public scrutiny. 

  Australia’s mining lobby exaggerates by $45 billion the taxes and royalties they pay.

INTERNATIONAL

The effects of radioactive waste water released into the ocean.

Scaling back missile defense could prevent a nuclear attack .

A world based on 100% renewable energy by 2035 is technically and economically feasible.   Both Germany and Britain are decarbonising while nuclear production is greatly reducing.  We already have 95% of the technologies and know how to slash emissions, remove air pollution and provide energy security and jobs.

“Advanced” isn’t the answer — New reactors as an answer to climate change are an illusion.

Scientists turn a blind eye to the fraud that is the ITER nuclear fusion project.

Should Bill Gates be viewed as a man of character and a trusted adviser to world leaders?

Tesla’s Bitcoin about-face is a warning for cryptocurrencies that ignore climate change.  

Uranium Film Festival – Online for free from May 20 to May 30.

We already have 95% of the technologies and know how to slash emissions, remove air pollution and provide energy security and jobs.

JAPAN. Discharging Fukushima radioactive waste water to the ocean would violate Japan’s legal and environmental obligations. Nuclear emergency guidelines on thyroid radiation exposure under review in Japan . Flaws found in anti-terror measures at Fukushima No. 2 nuclear plant .

UK. 

•  Plans to raise cap on Trident nuclear warhead stockpile may breach United Nations treaty. Boris Johnson’s plan for more nuclear weapons in Scotland ‘breaks international law‘. How many nuclear weapons does Britain have? Non-Proliferation explained .
•   New study on children, wives and widows of UK nuclear test veterans. 
•   Rolls Royce plans fleets of small nuclear reactors. At approx £2billion per reactor (that’s approx $2.8billion) how much will each fleet cost? 
•  Anxieties on the impact of pandemic on the Hinkley Point C nuclear power project, -major delays could result.
•  “You can forget about the protection of an area of outstanding natural beauty because if Sizewell C nuclear goes ahead nowhere is safe” Suffolk County Council not happy with present plans for Sizewell nuclear power project. Sizewell nuclear project will harm Suffolk’s tourism industry. Conservative Suffolk MP Therese Coffey warns of “some large environmental impact changes”in the Sizewell C nuclear project. 

•  EDF’s Sizewell B nuclear station: steel components wearing out. EDf to close Hinkley Point B in Somerset and Hunterston B in Scotland early. 
•  Over 440 safety incidents have been recorded at Scotland’s nuclear bases over the last three years. 
• Weatherwatch: does nuclear power really keep the lights on? 
• Dalgety Bay – 20,000 tonnes of radioactive material from the area to screen, – clean-up begins at last.

EUROPE. Poor outlook for the nuclear industry in Europe.

GERMANY Despite Germany’s nuclear phaseout, the secure supply of electricity in Germany will remain guaranteed at the current high level for the foreseeable future.

USA. 

 Senator Bernie Sanders pushes resolution to stop $735 million in US military sales to Israel. Senator Bernie Sanders unveils Bill to force Pentagon to pass audit, citing “fraud” and “waste”. Pentagon hypes up the ”China threat’‘, in its deceptive propaganda to get more $billions from Congress. A trillion reasons to scrutinize the US plan for more than $1.5 trillion spend on nuclear weapons.  

United States considered nuclear strike on China over Taiwan in 1958, classified documents reveal   
 Biden must end sanctions against North Korea — and finally end the Korean War. 

U.S. tiptoes through sanctions minefield toward Iran nuclear deal .  

White House environmental justice advisers express opposition to nuclear .

Yet more delays in USA’s costly, troubled Vogtle nuclear project.  

 Renewable energy cheated in uneasy coalition with Exelon nuclear, in Illinois. 

 The dark legacy of a nuclear meltdown – The Santa Susana Field Laboratory.  

Early atomic bomb research – the ‘demon core’ that killed physicist Harry Daghlian .  

Changes to Waste Isolation Pilot Plant could hide plan to expand this nuclear waste facility.  Alabama hospital installs radiation-free spine imaging tool.

RUSSIA. Russia’s Arctic Council leadership now facing up to the problem of nuclear reactors dumped in the ocean.

UKRAINE. Chernobyl is showing signs of a possible new nuclear accident.

ISRAEL. Mossad co-operating with Saudi Arabia in devising military action against Iran? Israeli public opinion makes a US-Iran nuclear deal urgent .

IRAN. Talks in Austria with UK, France and Germany head towards nuclear agreement. Iran says IAEA access to nuclear sites images has ended.

NEW ZEALAND. Pacific Nuclear test veterans encouraged quest for apology will succeed  

CHINA. Japan slammed for not addressing nuclear wastewater dumping concerns. China building uneconomic closed fuel cycle nuclear breeder reactors – for plutonium for nuclear weapons?.

GREENLAND. French mining company Orano stops all uranium exploration in Greenland,.