Antinuclear

The week that has been in nuclear and climate news – Australia

This week, I’m briefly aberrating, to draw attention to the situation of Julian Assange. No, this is not directly relevant to nuclear or climate issues. But, knowing the corruption and lying ingrained in the nuclear and fossil fuel industries, it’s important to be mindful of the role of whistleblowers. The Australian government, which generously supports Australian convicted murderers and drug dealers in foreign lands, has done nothing to help Australian citizen, Julian Assange.  Assange is in dire danger of extradition to USA, of being locked up, “disappeared” forever, because in 2010 he exposed US war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan.   The branding of this truth teller as “criminal” should be a warning to the world.

On nuclear issues – India and Pakistan came close to the brink.

And the media is awash with propaganda about nuclear energy being essential to combat climate change. Especially propaganda about “new nukes” – small nuclear reactors (SMRs) . The reality is that it’s desperate hubris about a nonexistent technology without a future. Despite heavy promotion, SMRs are too expensive and there are no buyers.

CLIMATE – Climate change threatens millions of Bangladeshi children, warns UNICEF.     Some good news. Dozens of Countries Have Been Working to Plant ‘Great Green Wall’ – and It’s Holding Back Poverty.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIj764m7bys

AUSTRALIA

NUCLEAR. –Port Lincoln the likely thoroughfare for nuclear waste entering South Australia?  Incompetent management of CSIRO’s nuclear waste – used by ARPANSA to promote South Australian Hawker waste dump plan? Where do candidates stand on nuclear waste dumping? Friends of the Earth are finding out.   Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation  (ANSTO) can afford to help China build new reactors, but apparently not to maintain its own building safely.  Australia and Britain’s shameful history of Nuclear Bombing of First Nations Lands .

CLIMATE. March was the hottest month ever recorded in Australia.  Australian voters back Labor to deal with climate change. Coalition signs off with a budget tailored for climate denial.  Labor’s emissions reduction policy: Does it really add up?  How Sky News and Peter Ridd try to mislead Australians about the Great Barrier Reef. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg passes the buck on Adani coal mine to Minister For Coal , Melissa Price.

Australia gets a very bad environmental report for 2018.

Environment Minister Melissa Price confirms Malaysia’s request for Australia to take back Lynas’ radioactive trash.

Australian Greens Platform for equality for First Nations Peoples .

RENEWABLE ENERGY.  Fate of big solar projects could ride on May election, and carbon credits   The shocking regulatory and cultural fail in Australia’s energy transition.   Australia: 100% renewables could be cheaper, quicker and easier than thought. Bank Australia signs up for 100% renewables, calls on business to lead transition.  Pilbara wind and solar will be cheapest power in Asia. Daintree edges closer to Australia first renewable-only microgrid, with help from green hydrogen.  SolarReserve abandons huge solar tower and storage plant near Port Augusta.  Massive 700MW wind farm proposed for Victoria’s south west.

INTERNATIONAL

Before we enter “a new nuclear age” – learn from the newly declassified Chernobyl health records.

Risk of nuclear weapons use is now at a record high.- Nuclear weapons accidents and losses 1950s – 2000s.

Book – “Deadly Dust – Made in the USA: Depleted Uranium Weapons Contaminating the World”

Challenges in Nuclear Verification– IAEA .

Julian Assange, Chelsea Manning, and the campaign to criminalise whistleblowing.

Reflective roofs can reduce overheating in cities and save lives during heatwaves.

April 9, 2019 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina reviews