Antinuclear

Nuclear news to 19 August

The repercussions of the Russian explosion at a missile test centre continue. However, the radiation release was brief, and did not extend beyond the region, and not to neighbouring countries. There was confusion and secrecy following the explosion and Russian doctors were kept in the dark about patients being nuclear accident victims.

Attention has moved to questioning the missile project, – a mystery new nuclear weapon, dubbed Russia’s ‘flying Chernobyl’. What is clear, is that, in the month when we commemorate the nuclear tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,  – the world, led by Donald Trump, is ripping up arms control measures, and ramping up nuclear weapons development.

I haven’t been able to keep up with the news on climate change –  extreme weather events in various countries, the UN report including humanitarian effects, the costs, injustices, and inability to meet the goal of confining temperature rise to 1.5 C. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHdcpxmJ6vg   In a powerful symbol, Iceland holds a funeral for the first glacier lost to climate change.

A bit of good news: a win for Aboriginal people in the abandonment of uranium mining in Australia’s Northern Territory. Mirrarr people to lead the Kakadu region’s transition.

AUSTRALIA

Australians need to rally in support of Julian Assange.

Time that Australia stopped blindly following USA into wars.

$40 billion a year needed for infrastructure to catch up with our population growth.

NUCLEAR. False statements on nuclear power by  Federal Liberal National Party MP Keith Pitt. Victoria parliament decides to hold its own nuclear power inquiry.  DELAY is the most salient reason why Small Modular Nuclear Reactors can’t work in Australia.

Nuclear waste:  21 August Senator Matt Canavan to hold closed meeting , then 2 open ones, in region designated for nuclear waste dumping.   Kimba committee even discussed transitioning out of the site selection process. Why is the Australian government planning a nuclear waste dump in an earthquake zone? Nuclear waste dump: Barngarla group says indigenous ballots won’t fix its worries over vote discrimination,

CLIMATE. Pacific islander nations fed up with Australia’s inaction on climate change. Australia tells Pacific Islands to “reflect” on climate action, dial down “crisis” talk. Australia demands Paris targets be removed from Pacific Islands communique.

South Australian students plan more climate action -“No jobs on a dead planet”.  Reserve Bank issues another warning to companies to take climate risks seriously. Bankrupted traditional owner vows to keep opposing Adani.

Investigative journalism:  Australian investigative journalist Mark Davis explodes the myths around Julian Assange. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZkyLoaMvRg

RENEWABLE ENERGY.  Solar investors give Australia wide berth, thanks to Morrison’s lump of coal.

INTERNATIONAL.

Climate change killing nuclear power? nuclear reactors can’t cope with water needs, as temperatures rise.

Cyber wars – as dangerous and deadly as nuclear wars ? Warning of  10 year totally dark Earth. – after a nuclear war between the US and Russia.

The Anthropocene is not an epoch. It’s a passing blink in geological time.

August 19, 2019 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina reviews