Pacific islanders are not convinced that the release of Fukushima wastewater is safe
“………………………………………..Selling the water release plan to the Pacific
Nuclear experts from South Korea, which has been hostile to the planned discharge, have this week been given an unprecedented six-day personalised tour of the Fukushima plant.
The prime minister of the Cook Islands and chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, Mark Brown, said there had been an increase in “more intense dialogue” with Japan, and he was presently happy with the level of transparency………………..
Dozens rally against water release
However, a series of public relations disasters by TEPCO have fuelled public distrust in the plan.
There have been numerous cases where TEPCO failed to reveal that tainted water had leaked into the sea.
Local media also exposed that most water storage tanks did contain water still contaminated with dangerous radioactive elements, such as the cancer-causing strontium-90, despite TECPO’s assurances this was not the case.
TEPCO now says about a third of the tanks are ready for release, and water not up to standards will be reprocessed until it is.
“They don’t provide true information,” said Gen Hirai, a protester who gathered outside the company’s headquarters in May.
“It’s a company that blocks information to citizens.”
What do surrounding countries think of the plan?
Earlier in May, the Solomon Islands reportedly rebuked an offer from Japan to step up maritime cooperation, citing the planned Fukushima discharge.
“Japan keeps emphasising the significance of maritime security, they still decided to dump the radioactive wastewater into the ocean,” the Solomon Star reported from a government source.
Whereas Papua New Guinea (PNG) is reportedly softening its stance to accept Japan’s position.
But PNG Prime Minister James Marape couldn’t be drawn on whether the country would support Japan’s plan, saying it was “another conversation.”………….. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-26/treated-fukushima-water-to-flow-into-pacific-oaten/102380592
Thawing glaciers around Everest show critical need to stop greenhouse emissions
Helen Clark – former prime minister of New Zealand: Global temperature
rises mean that Everest, in common with mountains across the Himalayas, is
undergoing unprecedented and irreversible change. The 79 glaciers that
surround Everest have thinned by more than 100 metres (328ft) in just six
decades, and the rate of thinning has nearly doubled since 2009.
Communities at the top of the world are crying out to world leaders for
help. Humanity has a mountain to climb in reaching the aspirations of the
Paris Agreement. The only hope is for concerted global action to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions dramatically to save the world’s snow and ice
before it is too late.
Times 29th May 2023
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/as-everest-shows-action-on-climate-change-is-critical-lswbmvlps
The week in nuclear news (but climate news is Big)
Some bits of good news: What went right this week? The good news you should know about – It was a good week for green energy – money deserting fossil fuels – An English city prepared to host a refugee festival.
Climate. Insurance giant halts sale of new home policies in California due to wildfires. Sea level rise will “disappear” California’s famed beaches . Thawing glaciers around Everest show critical need to stop greenhouse emissions . More than 1,500 arrested at Extinction Rebellion protest in The Hague.
Christina notes: It’s the CLIMATE, stupid!
Nuclear. News on climate is so genuinely awesome – to use the proper meaning of the word – that it really does dwarf nuclear news. But the nuclear lying goes on – the pretense that small reactors will be economic and will solve global heating. THat’s such a distraction from real action.
TOP STORIES
Slowing ocean current caused by melting Antarctic ice could have drastic climate impact, study says. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KlpKq3YEdM
America’s Wars and the US Debt Crisis.
G7 Leaders Falter Over Nuclear Disarmament in Hiroshima.
Sending F-16 planes to Ukraine will create a new Cuban Missile -style nuclear crisis .
Ukraine’s neighbors push for Zelensky to pursue peace as millions of displaced people flow into Europe. ‘Independent’ Ukrainian ‘kill list’ actually run by Kiev, backed by Washington.
Ukraine: Power loss at nuclear plant underscores ‘highly vulnerable’ safety situation.
Atmospheric Testing of Nuclear Weapons in the 1950s and 1960s
AUSTRALIA.
- Australian Prime Minister Albanese refuses to meet with Assange’s wife.
- ‘Cold feet’: Big problems emerge in controversial US-Australia submarine deal. Civil Society faces imposition of an AUKUS military High Level nuclear waste dump.
- An Open Letter to the Australian Government from concerned scholars regarding the AUKUS Agreement. AUKUS nuclear submarine bases in Western Australia will seriously weaken current safeguards against nuclear weapons proliferation . Transferring US nuclear subs to Australia far from smooth sailing. Aukus ‘expensive’ and not ‘easy to replicate’, Australian officials told foreign diplomats. Has AUKUS evolved beyond nuclear-powered submarines? Government introduces Bill to exempt nuclear submarines from crucial environmental protection acts.
- Opposition Leader Peter Dutton touts AUKUS as gateway to nuclear energy industry.
- Property values in Kimba? Not so good, since the town agreed to host a nuclear waste dump. Hundreds rally against South Australia’s state government’s proposed increases to penalties for protesting. Honest Government Ad – South Australia Protest Law https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kecnSHmznic
CLIMATE. Hinkley Point C – Why nuclear power accelerates carbon emissions. A clean energy transition means moving away from nuclear power.
CULTURE and ARTS. Everything’s Getting Way More Dangerous And Way More Stupid.
ECONOMICS.
- Director General Grossi Highlights China as Indispensable IAEA Partner, Leader in Nuclear Energy.
- Nuclear power won’t help Maine reach its clean-energy goals,
- French defense minister opposes American takeover of nuclear firm.
- Point Lepreau nuclear power station – too many expensive shutdowns.
- Damning critique of Rolls Royce Rolls Royce to cut thousands of jobs. .
- Marketing: USA pours $billions into Poland, in effort to market USA’s small and large nuclear reactors to Europe. Romania to be a guinea pig for NuScam’s small nuclear reactor folly. Putin bribes ‘friendly nations’ with use of 24-hour ‘floating nuclear power stations’.
ENERGY. US Electricity From Renewable Energy Beat Electricity From Coal Or Nuclear In 2022. Taiwan Considers Keeping Nuclear Reactors on Emergency Standby.
ENVIRONMENT. China firmly opposes Japan’s discharge of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water into sea. South Korean experts to continue analysis of Fukushima water discharge. South Korean nuclear experts to tour Fukushima plant amid water concerns. Pacific islanders are not convinced that the release of Fukushima wastewater is safe . Nuclear & Toxic Chemicals.
HEALTH. Public health expert says Fukushima waste water release a retrograde step, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_WcZZq9JTU
LEGAL.Court rejects case opposing restart of Miyagi Prefecture nuclear plant.
MEDIA. 60 Minutes Australia Keeps Churning Out War-With-China Propaganda. Review | Netflix drama review: The Days – Netflix Fukushima nuclear disaster series starring Koji Yakusho is an enthralling account of the 2011 event, with strong hints of HBO’s Chernobyl.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQkb7fCr2bQ
NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY. Canadian reactors that “recycle” plutonium would create more problems than they solve. Nuke Power’s “Renaissance 4.0” Has Already Melted. No, There Won’t Be Nuclear-Powered Commercial Shipping This Time Either.
POLITICS.
- New Zealand won’t give up its nuclear-free stance, says Prime Minister Chris Hipkins.
- While Sullivan and Wang build ‘guardrails’: where is Mr Blinken?
- Rishi Sunak ‘turns his back’ on UK’s nuclear test veterans a year after pledging support.
- Israel’s New Minister for Nuclear Absurdity.
- Nuclear power is neither reliable nor ‘green’ and is not suitable for South Africa’s just transition.
- Taiwan Government’s nuclear-free policy remains unchanged: Cabinet
POLITICS INTERNATIONAL and DIPLOMACY.
- Ukraine: Why Negotiations Are the Only Rational Option in the Face of Climate Chaos and Nuclear Dangers.
- Hiroshima Survivor Slams G7 Leaders for Embracing War & Rejecting Nuclear Disarmament. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66tf6Ki7sdM. Elders say – Nuclear states must now act following G7 statement – Mary Robinson. G7 has descended into an ‘anti-China workshop’. Visiting a park is not paying respects:the appalling failure of the G7 to act on nuclear disarmament.
- France holds up EU energy agreement over nuclear power.
- After AP report, Iran’s nuclear chief says Tehran to cooperate with inspectors on ‘new activities’.
- Irony Or What! India “Sidelines” Russia For US Nuclear Tech, But US Remains ‘Critically Dependent’ On Russian Nuke Fuel.
PROTESTS. A Mothers Day protest: Activists blockaded the entrance to the US 2 Navy’s west-coast nuclear submarine base.
RADIATION. Trident: Ministry of Defence confirms more than 50 radiation leaks this year.
SAFETY. Fukushima reactor 1 found to have damaged pedestal supporting nuclear core. Japan Nuclear Watchdog Asks Fukushima Plant Operator to Assess Reactor Risk. World’s Biggest Nuclear Plant Kashiwazaki-Kariwa May Stay Closed Due to Papers Left on Car Roof. Groups Warn Biden that Ukraine War Shows Attacks on Nuclear Plants ‘Could Happen Here’. Nuclear Security: Department Of Energy Should Take Actions to Fully Implement Insider Threat Program.
SECRETS and LIES. Ukraine admits to murdering “quite a few” Russian civilians. Ukraine claims Russia is plotting ‘a provocation’ at nuclear plant, offers no evidence.
SPINBUSTER. Clean energy transition sparks nuclear reaction. Nuclear Turns Fashionable.
URANIUM. U.S. planning test reactor to run on weapons-grade uranium.
WASTES. IAEA team in Japan for final review before planned discharge of Fukushima nuclear plant water. What we know about the federal government’s ongoing nuclear waste plans in New Mexico. Gordon Edwards explains, and comments on. Canada’s policy on radioactive waste and nuclear decommissioning.
Since Cold War. Russia Issues Dire Warning After US Approves Ukrainian Strikes On Crimea. Russia moves ahead with deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. Russia Claims Group Crossed Border From Ukraine In Attack. Russia evacuates nuclear munitions due to incursion from Ukraine into Belgorodoblast-Ukraine’s Intel. Belgorod Attacks | Russia Removes Nuclear Warheads From Grayvoron Amid Attacks
Russian vessel attacked by Ukrainian sea drones off Bosporus. Ex-Pentagon Analyst: Biden Faces Shrinking Options on Ukraine. A grim vision of nuclear warfare in Ukraine. Russia warns about nuclear power war risk.
WEAPONS and WEAPONS SALES.
- US sends largest warship ever constructed to Norway.
- Russia to move newest nuclear sub to Pacific in August.
- Iran Builds an Underground and Possibly Unreachable Nuclear Facility.
- Nuclear umbrella to protect Taiwan could be globally catastrophic.
- A Nuclear Collision Course in South Asia. Can the Pakistan-India nuclear deterrence hold – in the nuclearisation of South Asia in the New Nuclear Age.
- Belarusian president offers nuclear weapons to those willing to join his alliance.
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 