Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items

Sad to see National Geographic promoting the nuclear industry , and with Flinders University support!

National Geographic joins nuclear propagandists — the Australian connection, Independent Australia 

A new documentary series is nothing more than a propaganda tool for nuclear power, writes Noel Wauchope.

IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR, National Geographic will launch the documentary series, Wild Edens. It’s all about wilderness areas and is also a soft sell for the nuclear industry. And there’s a proud Australian connection, with the Global Ecology Lab of Flinders University, South Australia. Their energy researcher, Ben Heard, was master of ceremonies at the premiere in Spain in April…….

By 2018, things have changed. The argument that nuclear power is cheap has fallen apart. As for the “peaceful atom” and “no connection with nuclear weapons”, that one has fallen through, too. Recent research in UK and the USA make it clear that nuclear energy and developing new reactors are necessary for the continued development of nuclear weapons.

Hans-Josef Fell, president of the global Energy Watch Group, states in the brief titled ‘The disaster of the European nuclear industry’:

‘The driving force behind the UK government’s affinity to nuclear technology is the cross-subsidization of the military nuclear program

In the 21st Century came changes in technology and in the content of propaganda. Enter the “new nukes” — modern designs, especially small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs — they leave out that unpopular word “nuclear”). After much soul-searching – or, rather, much complex research on public opinion – the proponents of new nukes have now finally settled on environment, climate change and also a nod to space travel as the reasons why the world must embrace SMRs.But it’s not only the content of their propaganda which has changed. It’s the style. It’s the copious wrapping around this 21st Century nuclear birthday present.

And here’s where National Geographic comes in — their new documentary series Wild Edens will be gorgeous:

‘…filmed in the world’s most stunning untouched places and their inhabitants — wildlife and fauna alike, endangered by the effects of climate change.’

The PR for nuclear power will be introduced so slightly and subtly you’d hardly notice. This is the strategy of the SMR propagandists. They also do lobby business and government with sophisticated technical arguments. But for the public – us, the great unwashed and especially the young – it is all beautiful touchy-feely stuff ……..

Ben Heard’s speech, on opening the premiere of Wild Edens, talked about climate change but then moved on to a longer panegyric on nuclear power:

…this beautiful and important film from National Geographic, brought to us with the help of Rosatom, represents…recognition that nuclear technologies are crucial to the protection, restoration and expansion of our natural world.

…it is particularly nuclear technologies that will help us find energy at a global scale, without super-charging the climate change of tomorrow.

And one of the greatest, most hopeful signs I have seen that this can happen, is to see a major corporation like Rosatom step boldly forward in this way and claim this issue on behalf of nuclear technologies.

Wild Edens will surely be very beautiful, informative about wild places and worth watching. Just be aware of the underlying propaganda about:

June 8, 2018 - Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, spinbuster

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