Antinuclear

Pandemic, climate, nuclear – very bad news, and some good news

Well, all news, by its very nature is likely to be bad. (Good behaviour is pretty ordinary, not news.) But there’s  bad news, and there’s very bad news.  And this has been a week for the very bads.

Start with the pandemic. The global death toll exceeds 957,000. cases nearly 31 million.  India’s coronavirus cases pass 5 million as hospitals scramble for oxygen. A second wave grips Europe.  UK cases could grow exponentially, if no action taken. Most of the US is headed in the wrong direction again with COVID-19 cases as deaths near 200,000.

Climate. Weather extremes are more frequently with us now, and as with the pandemic, the longer term future is unceetain:  abrupt changes could bring interconnected tipping points.

Economics. The FinCEN files: Dirty little secrets of the world’s banks revealed in mass US government leak.

BUT – some good news. East Asian countries – China, Taiwan, Vietnam, South Korea, Singapore Malaysia -have learned, through their previous SARS epidemic, how to structure their health systems to plan for and manage pandemics,  mount particularly effective responses to COVID-19, and reduce the death rate.

Why harsh COVID-19 lockdowns are good for the economy. 

World’s Biggest Rooftop Greenhouse in Montreal is as Big as 3 Football Fields – Now Can Feed 2% of the City.

AUSTRALIA

CORONAVIRUS. The State of Victoria has achieved remarkable success in bringing down the infection rate to 11 in one day, death toll 2.  This is the result of the strict lockdown regime imposed by Prmier Daniel Andrews, despite vicious attacks on him by the opposition party. You know the good result is true, when even the Murdoch Press has to admit it, and its opinion poll  backs the Premier.

NUCLEAR

• Not welcome, not needed: Community alliance united in response to divided Senate report on Kimba radioactive waste plan.    Senate inquiry recommends passing nuclear waste site at Napandee, South Australia.  Critical mass in Canberra puts nuclear dump in doubt.   Did she lie to the Senate? – Samantha Chard, Chief of National Radioactive Waste Management Facility Taskforce.  Words Before Waste: South Australians Call for More Consultation on Federal Radioactive Waste Plan.  Call to Australian Labor Party to state its position on Napandee nuclear waste dump plan.  Broad support for nuclear waste dump at Napandee? Senate report shows that is a lie.  The process for selecting Napandee nuclear waste site – flawed and divisive.  Australian Nuclear and Science Organisation distancing itself from the Napandee nuclear waste dump?
• Australia is to develop new small nuclear reactors in partnership with China (does Parliament know?).
• A mixed blessing – the sudden departure of Australia’s nuclear high priest, Dr Adi Paterson.

CLIMATE.  Young Australians call for COVID-19 recovery plan with climate jobs.    See this graphic exposure of the coal, oil, gas, corruption in Australian government.  Scott Morrison turns to socialism, with his new religion, not coal, but “gas-led recovery”.  Morrison thinks gas is the new coal, and it’s just as big a climate threat.  ‘Gas-led recovery’ may actually deter energy investment: Experts.  Australia’s mainstream media dutifully parrots out Government spin about gas.

Australian government never intended to follow the advice of the review on environmental law.

Killing the virus comes at enormous cost — doing nothing will cost more.  News Corp, Facebook and disinformation about climate and pandemic.

Coalition to divert renewable energy funding away from wind and solar.

INTERNATIONAL

Julian Assange was offered a pardon, if he would name a source.  Julian Assange exposed “a very serious pattern of actual war crimes”.  Assange insisted on not revealing names of informants.  Julian Assange case: Witnesses recall Collateral Murder attack: “Look at those dead bastards,” shooters said. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNFEXvyZdyU  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYaxBVzHJHs

David Attenborough now wants us to face up to the state of the planet.  In tropical areas, increasing heat and humidity will make life almost unbearable.  Importance of the ocean’s biological carbon pump.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4aQkyJrlWs

What Frogs Can Teach Us about the State of the World.

53 million tons of plastic could end up in rivers, lakes and oceans every year by 2030.  The persistence of plastic.

The coronavirus pandemic and the increased safety risks for nuclear reactors.

Nuclear exposure standards discriminate on the basis of sex .

Why NuScam and other ”small” nuclear proposals just don’t make any sense.

The hidden stumbling block to progress on nuclear weapons.

BHP betrays international safety efforts.

September 21, 2020 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina reviews