Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items

Nuclear news to 27th January

Of course, the big world news is the coronavirus. Climate is as always, the vital second issue.

There was much favourable reaction to the nuclear ban treaty coming into force last week. The critics and sabotage from the nuclear weapons nations will no doubt come later.

Apart from the ban treaty, nuclear news has been very much in the background.  The global nuclear industry is not wasting this ”quiet” time, but instead is ramping up and reorganising for a 2021 propaganda blitz.

Some bits of good news –   Arctic Oil Drilling Plans Suffer ‘Stunning Setback’ as Almost ‘No One Shows Up’ For the Sale. UK Prioritizes Climate Crisis By Supporting Sustainability in Developing Countries With $4 Billion Plan.  Startup Builds 3 Huge Indoor Farms in Appalachia Turning Coal Country into Agricultural Hub

AUSTRALIA.

Morrison government gets in early to disparage nuclear ban treaty, but Labor supports it.   Australia could sign the Nuclear Ban Treaty and still keep its military co=operation with America. Australian Capital Territory politicians join calls for Australia to sign nuclear ban treaty.  Get nukes out of our Super funds!

Nuclear weapons ban treaty: more than a symbolic victory.  Australian government complicit in nuclear weapons, silent on Nuclear Weapons Ban TreatyRed Cross celebrates Nuclear Ban Treaty- an incremental process towards elimination of nuclear weapons.

Kimba’s cosy nuclear corruption.  The nuclear dump for Kimba propaganda continues in 2021.

INTERNATIONAL.

International Physicians for the Preve.ntion of Nuclear War comment on “The great evasion “.    Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons – a major step towards a safe world. Praise from United Nations, Pope Francis, for nuclear ban treaty coming into force.  5 nuclear activities that are now Illegal under international law.  Nuclear Ban Treaty obligates countries to assist nuclear victims and remediate environments.

Russia and USA exchange documents to extend the NEW START nuclear weapons agreement.

Quietly, under the brouhaha of the pandemic, the global nuclear lobby prepares a propaganda onslaught.

Pro nuclear publicist James Conca made a very big gaffe about Fukushima disaster.

January 27, 2021 Posted by | Christina reviews | Leave a comment

Will Australia join the global nuclear lobby’s propaganda onslaught?

‘If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. A lie told once remains a lie but a lie told a thousand times becomes the truth ” – Joseph Goebbels 

With the sudden mysterious departure of Australia’s high priest of nuclear spin, Dr Adi Paterson, and the flummoxed and failing government push for a Kimba nuclear waste dump, – the nuclear lobby in Australia seems paralysed at present.

But the world-wide nuclear industry is anything but paralysed, and, while everyone is agonising, (justifiably), over the pandemic, it is gearing up for a big publicity spin. So I’m guress that it won’t be long before a new nuclear champion takes up the nuclearv religion role in Australia..

This month, I’ve concentrated my efforts on the ground-breaking and historic UN Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons coming into force. Of course, the nuclear weapons states will try to destroy that Treaty.   Failing destruction, they will aim for pooh poohing and rubbishing that Treaty. Finally they’ll go for a favourite strategy – ignoring it, and hoping that the world will just forget about it.

I don’t think that the world will forget about it. The challenge will be to help those workers and communities that depend on nuclear-weapons-making to be helped out of that toxic situation, and into life-sustaining work and activities.

MEANWHILE, as media and science correctly focus on the global coronavirus pandemic, the issue of nuclear power has pretty much disappeared from view.  Nothing is happening?

Today, the nuclear weapons industry is pretty much the only reason for”peaceful” nuclear power.  ”Peaceful nukes” provide the trained experts, the technology development necessary for the weapons industry.  If governments and universities can be persuaded to back commercial nuclear energy, this solves a lot of probems. Especially, it helps the blur the picture onthe astronomic costs of nuclear weapons, as quite a lot of costs are covered by ”peaceful” nuclear development.

There’s another pressing reason to keep nuclear power going. It’s the horrible and never-ending cost of shutting down reactors and dealing with their toxic wastes.  How much cheaper to just relicense the for 100 years?    That way, the present responsible officials will all be gone, and they don’t have to worry about that problem. Heck – they’ve handed it over to our great-grandchildre,  What a fine idea!  NOT!!

Against this background, the nuclear lobby is girding its loins for the public perception battle.

Armed with lies –  that nuclear fixes climate –  that it’s cheap, is clean, works great with renewables, essential for society –  blah blah,  the nuclear lobby is preparing its onslaught. They generally try pretty hard to ignore matters like comparative costs, and wastes problems.  But they can just lie again, if put on the spot about such problems.

Just a few quotatios from World Nuclear News :-

The barrier to nuclear is perception

”addressing perceptions of its alleged drawbacks”

Bilbao y León –  “the nuclear industry has responsibly managed all its used nuclear fuel and waste “from day one”.

“We know where every ounce of used nuclear fuel and nuclear waste is because we have been managing it throughout the history of the nuclear industry. “We know where every ounce of used nuclear fuel and nuclear waste is because we have been managing it throughout the history of the nuclear industry“.  …….   https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/The-barrier-to-nuclear-is-perception,-says-

The real challenges to nuclear are external”  –small modular reactors ..cheaper, safer, better, and going to provide more discreet financial solutions”

The government nuclear regulatory authorities are, unfortunately, usually well onside with the industry –  in what is known as “regulatory capture”.   Again, from World Nuclear News –

The hurdles advanced nuclear developers face‘ – ””We, as the regulator, are working on building public trust, confidence and social acceptance in these new technologies.’‘ 

Joseph Goebbels would be proud of the skills of Sama Bilbao y Leon, Director General of the World Nuclear Association. She’s great with language (as the global nuclear lobby has realised, in appointing her, and several other women to top promotional positions”

January 26, 2021 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, Christina reviews | Leave a comment

An important week in nuclear news

An eventful week coming up.  And from the point of view of nuclear issues, a good week!

On 22nd January the U.N. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons will come into force.   Yes, nuclear weapons will still be there, but no longer respectable, acceptable, and no longer an attractive investment option. The humanitarian cause for ending nuclear weaponry is made clear and legal.

This week is good news, too, for the immediately more pressing problems, coronavirus and climate. The inauguration of President Joe Biden on 20th January means that the American government will suddenly take the pandemic seriously and take action. Equally important, it will take action on climate change, and will rejoin the world in the Paris climate treaty.

The new administration under Biden will not play nuclear war brinkmanship, as Donald Trump did  –  (remember ”fire and fury”).  There is hope for some rational negotiations internationally on arms control.

However, as Obama was, Biden will be firmly in the grip of the nuclear lobby.  You don’t get to be President of the United States unless you have the backing of the nuclear industry.

Some other bits of good news – Stories of change from children in the Asia-Pacific  .

AUSTRALIA.

How will Entry Into Force of the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty impact non weapons states parties, including Australia?

Why did ANSTO shut down National Medical Cyclotron, that made medical isotopes without nuclear waste?  ANSTO gets a blank cheque for its nuclear waste production at Lucas Heights?  Because ANSTO shut down cyclotron, Australia has the problem of importing a short-lived medical isotope.

Australia’s environmental scientists intimidated, silenced by threats of job loss.

INTERNATIONAL

Catholics welcome Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons coming into force.

Global nuclear policy is stuck in colonialist thinking. The weapons ban treaty offers a way out.

Scientists must tell the truth on our consumerist, ecology-killing Ponzi culture.

Nuclear power, too inflexible, is in conflict with sustainable development goals.

Investigative journalism – ‘Mini-Nukes, Big Bucks: The Interests Behind the SMR Push.

Hydrogen from wind and solar systems could be the ultimate solution to the planet’s pollution problem..

 

January 18, 2021 Posted by | Christina reviews | Leave a comment

The week in nuclear news – Australia

Midst all of the Trumpian circus, and the dire problems of the pandemic, it’s hard to find news about the underlying grave problems of the climate. I did vow to stay off that subject.  But that’s hard to do, when global heating has accelerated over 2020, when it should have been a cooler year, with La Nina prevailing.   Not only accelerating – climate change is here with us. The Earthbound Report lists 10 big impacts in 2020.

But – to return to the nuclear, it hasn’t been just a background problem lately, as the Washington mayhem raises anxieties about Donald Trump’s finger on the trigger of nuclear war.

A bit of good news – The good news hidden within one of America’s darkest weeks

AUSTRALIA. 

Australian govt has quiet nuclear deal with China, but condemns Victoria-China medical research.

The Australian government’s shameful record in the Kimba nuclear dump fiasco.  Government’s Kimba nuclear waste dump slush fund – benefit goes straight to Kimba’s mayor.

Treaty – a step on the long path towards nuclear disarmament..

End of an ERA: four decades of radioactive risk come to an end at Kakadu.  Clean-up plan for Ranger uranium mine is ”woefully inadequate”.

Scott Morrison should change his mind and call Trump to end bizarre Assange saga.

 

INTERNATIONAL

Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons: The Road There and the Road AheadBeatrice Fihn: How to implement the nuclear weapons ban treaty.

Multinational effort could help solve U.S.-Russia nuclear issue.

Geopolitics Of Nuclear Generation Delayed Renewables By Decades To Fossil Fuel Industry Benefit, Our Detriment.

Ten compelling reasons to stay away from nuclear power .

Judge’s refusal to extradite Julian Assange is still part of cowardly process to deny freedom of information.

 

January 11, 2021 Posted by | Christina reviews | Leave a comment

Significant Australian nuclear stories of 2020

There is very little nuclear news today.  I take this opportunity to revisit some of the most important nuclear stories of 2020

The Australian environmental movement has a long and honourable history in effort and action to keep this country clean and nuclear-free. Indigenous Australians have always been front and centre in this struggle.

At the same time, successive governments have kowtowed to the British and USA governments, and to the uranium/nuclear industry. It started with providing the fuel for nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons, then to allowing the British to test 12 major and many minor atomic tests in Auatralia. Liberal governments always supported the industry, Labor opposed it, to a degree, but many Labor politicians have supported it, and so have weakened Labor’s stance.

The struggle continues, as ignorant and career-minded politicians of both major parties are still caving in to the interests of USA  and UK governments, in craven subservience to the nuclear industry with its new mythical beasts, the small nuclear reactors. And there’s always that longterm dream of a few greedy entrpreneurs –  South Australia as the world’s nuclear toilet.

December 29, 2020 Posted by | Christina reviews | Leave a comment

(Mercifully short) nuclear news this week

The good news from 2020: 10 sunny stories from an otherwise dark year.

In ‘Huge Victory for Polar Bears’, Court Rejects Arctic Offshore Drilling Project.  U.S. “climate mayors” are hopeful that a Biden administration will help cities accelerate progress toward climate goals.

AUSTRALIA

Curiouser and curiouser – the dishonest acrobatics of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO)

Cowardly silence from South Australia’s Premier on nuclear waste dump plan.  Australia’s lying Minister for Resources gets an “F” in assessment of govt ministers.

INTERNATIONAL

The Madness of Nuclear Deterrence.

Nuclear power ridiculously expensive and uncompetitive – the market has spoken.

December 28, 2020 Posted by | Christina reviews | Leave a comment

To 22nd December – nuclear news this week

‘Tis the season to be jolly.  But, honestly, I can’t.  If you want to know what’s really going on in this human-species-afflicted planet, I recommend Radio Ecoshock.  Here you will learn about  Climate Collapse & The Plastic Plague

It’s not about some distant future problem. It’s about now, and how we are living on a trashed planet.  And we’re and adding more to this with all our festive junk and unnecessary gifts.

Having said that –    there are so many good people trying to clean up, and keep clean, our fragile planet.   For some examples – I recommend  99 Good News Stories From 2020 You Probably Didn’t Hear About.

Also, I am reading “The Good Germans – resisting the NAZIs  1933 – 1945“, by Catrine Clay. I find this book a very timely reminder that in very worst of modern times, there were so many people who saw evil being done, and resisted it, and also helped the persecuted, as best they could.

AUSTRALIA

2020 in Australia – a successful year for resistance to nuclear pollution.

Nuclear waste dump plan for Kimba, South Australia.  Senator Rex Patrick contests Freedom of Information refusal about Australia’s nuclear waste plan.  Federal govt accepted Queensland’s “NO” to nuclear dump. Why not South Australia’s?.  Senator Rex Patrick calls on South Australian govt to come clean about nuclear waste dumping. Australia’s Industry Department is bluffing in employing staff for non existent nuclear waste project

Ranger Danger: Rio Tinto Faces Its Nuclear Test in Kakadu Uranium – Unfinished Business: Rehabilitating the Ranger Uranium Mine .  Green group raise toxic leak concern at Ranger Uranium Mine

A reminder of the danger of ionising radiation, after theft of a nuclear device.

CLIMATE. The Usual Suspects: oil and gas majors star in Australian tax heist.    Australia, the climate laggard, could lead the world: over to you, PMHypocrisy on steroids: Frydenberg backs witch-hunt on banks that won’t lend to miners.

INTERNATIONAL.

Sleepwalking Toward the Nuclear Precipice.

The insanity of nuclear power in space.

About writing about the nuclear crisis. We’re in a storytelling crisis”: Advice for writing on nuclear issues, from the author of “Fallout”.

Unveiling New Billboards: “Nukes Are Now Illegal!” (Nuclear Weapons) .

December 22, 2020 Posted by | Christina reviews | Leave a comment

About writing about the nuclear crisis

This is such an important article (We’re in a storytelling crisis”: Advice for writing on nuclear issues, from the author of “Fallout”)    Whether we like it or not, an issue becomes important to people  – not because it actually IS vitally important, but because it is described, pictured, written about as something that is important to the simplest non-expert, ordinary person.

In this pandemic period, the nuclear lobbyhas done a damn good job in just not covering the true importance of nuclear weapons. The mindless mainstream media happlygoes along with this impressive non coverage at all.

On January 22nd, the Trarty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons will become international law.    The global nuclear lobby will be working overtime to portray this as silly, ineffectual, counter-productive – blah blah.

It will be a challenging time for journalism.  The need is to show that this Treaty is as valid as existing  treaties banning inhuman weapons of mass destruction, and that this Treaty enhances existing disarmament agreements, and does not conflctwith national security agreements (e.g as betweenUSA and Australia.     This Treaty is based on humanitarian concerns, an idea which the technocrats find hard to understand.

December 17, 2020 Posted by | Christina reviews | Leave a comment

Nuclear news – week to 14 December

 

The pandemic and the development of the vaccine have dominated the news this week.  Also, the impending USA electoral college vote is holding media attention, along with the potentially violent movement to overthrow Joe Biden’s election win.

The U.N.  Climate Change Action Summit drew attention both to the scale ofthe action needed, and to the efforts being made by different nations .

On the broad news, nuclear issues are in the background. For me, life has been busy, too. So this week’s notes are mercifully short.

AUSTRALIA

NUCLEAR.

Analysing Christopher Pyne’s article enthusing about proposed Kimba nuclear waste dump.  Australia’s Liberal and National Parties got their arithmetic wrong on nuclear waste dump opinion polls.  Michele Madigan sets former Minister Christopher Pyne straight on nuclear waste dump plan.    Far from “broad community consent”– nuclear waste dump plan for Kimba South Australia..

Australian Government Productivity Commission Report fails to realise the complexity of environmental problems in uranium mining.

The end of the uranium mining era leaves Jabiru with some social and housing problems.

CLIMATE Australia is “rapidly” moving towards a hotter, drier climate.

 

INTERNATIONAL

Dr Helen Caldicott on the nuclear lessons of the past – time to take note of them.

Greenhouse gas emissions transforming the Arctic into ‘an entirely different climate’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOV9QB4c4BA

Google headline news on “Nuclear” – articles are strongly pro nuclear, and for “Small Modular Reactors”, even more so.

Small Nuclear Reactors (SMRs) if they work, will arrive too late to make a difference to global heating.

Uranium Film Festival 2020 – a huge success under difficult circumstances.

Microwave Radiation ‘Most Plausible’ Cause Of Diplomats’ Ailments.

December 14, 2020 Posted by | Christina reviews | Leave a comment

The week in nuclear news

The big news worldwide continues to be about the coronavirus, which is still raging in many countries, especially in the USA.  Meanwhile the race to develop and implement vaccines is already on.

It’s not as if global heating has stopped,  but this newsletter is sticking to the nuclear subject.   That seems to be going quiet,  but not so, really, While the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons will come into force next month, there seems to be a rush by the nuclear weapons states to ramp up their nuclear arsenal.
This week, I didn’t add up the numbers of headlined articles on nuclear issues, in Google News.  But I did add up the ones on Small Modular Reactors.  Today – there were over 80 of them, the vast majority enthusing mindlessly about them.  There were 8 articles that raised questions, doubts about the viability of small nuclear reactors. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIY0-OSaPRY&feature=emb_title
 
AUSTRALIA

Australian children targetted for propaganda by the weapons industry.

The Australian government”s intimidation of whistleblowers – the torture of Julian Assange.

What next as the Senate rejects the mandatory selection of Napandee as nuclear waste dump?  Exposing the deceptions of Keith Pitt, Minister for Resources, on the failed nuclear waste dump plan.  Exposing the deceptions of Samantha Chard General Manager of the National Radioactive Waste Agency.  “Traceability” and Nuclear waste on agricultural land?  Can a new mine save BHP’s loss-making Olympic Dam? .

Victorian Parliament: Legislative Council Committee finds that nuclear ban should stay.    Victorian Government Inquiry confirms that there is no future in nuclear power.  Inquiry confirms nuclear energy’s ‘proven risks’.  Victorian Inquiry finds nuclear power costly and risky.

Australian government’s Bill to weaken Environmental Law will be rejected in the Senate.   Corporate vested interests win as Australian Government weakens Environmental Laws.  Australian government is rushing to weaken Environmental Laws.

Australia’s Department of Defence captured by foreign weapons makers Thales, BAE.

 

December 7, 2020 Posted by | Christina reviews | Leave a comment

The week in nuclear news – Australia and beyond

The global corona virus – deaths nearly 1.5 million. Global heating moves on – Arctic events affect the world. BUT- the nuclear threat is also still with us, always there, and must not be forgotten.

With the assassination of Iran’s top nuclear scientist, the world is yet again teetering on the brink.

Some bits of good news –  Britain Helps World’s Most Remote Inhabited Islands to Establish Biggest Marine Sanctuary in the Atlantic.

Optimism with the development of Covid-19 vaccines.

AUSTRALIA

Investigative journalism – Australian children targetted for propaganda by the weapons industry.    – Australia’s Department of Defence captured by foreign weapons makers Thales, BAE.

The Australian government”s intimidation of whistleblowers – the torture of Julian Assange.

Kimba nuclear waste dump plan What next as the Senate rejects the mandatory selection of Napandee as nuclear waste dump?  Exposing the deceptions of Keith Pitt, Minister for Resources, on the failed nuclear waste dump plan.  Exposing the deceptions of Samantha Chard General Manager of the National Radioactive Waste Agency“Traceability” and Nuclear waste on agricultural land?  Can a new mine save BHP’s loss-making Olympic Dam? .

Victoria’s law banning nuclear activities. Victorian Parliament: Legislative Council Committee finds that nuclear ban should stay.    Victorian Government Inquiry confirms that there is no future in nuclear power.  Inquiry confirms nuclear energy’s ‘proven risks’.  Victorian Inquiry finds nuclear power costly and risky.

Uranium.Can a new mine save BHP’s loss-making Olympic Dam? .

Australian government’s Bill to weaken Environmental Law will be rejected in the Senate.   Corporate vested interests win as Australian Government weakens Environmental Laws.  Australian government is rushing to weaken Environmental Laws.

 

INTERNATIONAL

Today’s Google headlines on nuclear issues – weapons and Iran dominate the stories.

The global energy revolution.

Correcting 5 wrong opinions about the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear WeaponsLiving with the Nuclear Prohibition Treaty: nuclear weapons states would be unwise to attack it.

Nuclear power hinders fight against climate change.

Standard nuclear reactor designs are still too costly, and safety features are only a third of nuclear costs.

Solar energy is bullish in the market; the same can’t be said for nuclear.

The creeping carbon costs of digital communication.

Book review: The Case for Degrowth.

Extradition hearing of Julian Assange – defence witnesses destroy myths, demonstrate his integrity

November 30, 2020 Posted by | Christina reviews | Leave a comment

to 23 November – the week in nuclear news, Australia and more

As I decided previously, I’m leaving out the news on Coronavirus and Global Heating,  important though they are.

Even so, this newsletter is too long. Especially as we seem to be in a sort of timewarp, waiting for a resolution in the USA, waiting for a new direction in the pandemic.

Some bits of good news – Future Crunch’s summary of good news.  Jeff Bezos Created $10 Billion ‘Earth Fund’ to Meet Climate Crisis, First Grants of $800M Go to Iconic Environmental Groups

AUSTRALIA

What next as the Senate rejects the mandatory selection of Napandee as nuclear waste dump?  Exposing the deceptions of Keith Pitt, Minister for Resources, on the failed nuclear waste dump plan.  Exposing the deceptions of Samantha Chard General Manager of the National Radioactive Waste Agency.

Can a new mine save BHP’s loss-making Olympic Dam? .

Corporate vested interests win as Australian Government weakens Environmental Laws.  Australian government is rushing to weaken Environmental Laws.

Australia’s Department of Defence captured by foreign weapons makers Thales, BAE.

INTERNATIONAL

Correcting 5 wrong opinions about the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

Nuclear power hinders fight against climate change.

Standard nuclear reactor designs are still too costly, and safety features are only a third of nuclear costs.

Solar energy is bullish in the market; the same can’t be said for nuclear.

The creeping carbon costs of digital communication.

Book review: The Case for Degrowth.

Extradition hearing of Julian Assange – defence witnesses destroy myths, demonstrate his integrity

November 23, 2020 Posted by | Christina reviews | Leave a comment

Nuclear news – week to 16 November, Australia and more

As in last week. the media continues to be preoccupied with the American presidential situation, and after all, that IS pretty important.  The really big global stories are the global coronavirus and climate change.

Still, nuclear issues continue – simmering tensions in nuclear weapons states, and the remarkably co-ordinated promotion of Small Nuclear Reactors to governments around the world, in both rich and developing countries.  The nuclear-news.net  site will now have to stick to just NUCLEAR news.

 Some bits of good news –          Vaccine Alliance Raises $2 Billion to Buy COVID Shots for Poor Nations. Renewable Energy Defies COVID-19 Downturn To Hit Record Growth in 2020.

AUSTRALIA

Why the Antinuclear.net site  will now stick to examining NUCLEAR issues.

Federal nuclear waste dump plan for Kimba, South Australia

Senate dumps on the Australian government’s radioactive waste plan. The Australian government can still bully its way to imposing a Kimba nuclear waste dump.   Karina Lester speaks out: ”Traditional owners’ voices not heard and rights stripped over nuclear waste dump”.  Minister Pitt on Kimba nuclear waste dump plan – inept, badly briefed, or just plain lying? Planned nuclear waste dump at Kimba has absolutely nothing to do with the production of nuclear medicine. Doctors call for an open independent review of nuclear waste production and disposal.

Australian govt’s Kimba nuclear waste dump plan will be torpedoed in the Senate. Relief in Kimba, that Labor and crossbench Senators want a fair process on nuclear wastes.  Uncertainty over Kimba nuclear waste dump as farmers go to Canberra to oppose it.

Senator Sam McMahon enthuses about Generation IV nuclear reactors for the Northern Territory.

Australian government ponders nuclear submarines.

Since Penny Sackett, Australia’s Chief Scientists have moved further towards the extractive industries.  Previous Chief Scientist not a fan of Small Nuclear Reactors

CLIMATE.  Australia’s freedom of information system hides climate documents.

INTERNATIONAL

Hibakusha renew their push for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

Julian Assange ‘targeted as a political opponent of Trump administration and threatened with the death penalty’.

Topics in today’s “Nuclear” headlines on Google News.

November 16, 2020 Posted by | Christina reviews | Leave a comment

Why this site will now stick to examining NUCLEAR issues

So much is happening – under the radar – in nuclear issues.

Although I recognise the huge importance of thr coronavirus pandemic, and of global heating (and Australia is the canary in the global cage), I have decided to restrict my posts from now on pretty much to nuclear news.

Why?   because many others are covering climate and clean energy issues so well.

But there is very little awareness of the nuclear global threat.

We are at a critical time regarding nuclear weapons –  the U.N. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons will soon come into force –     already nuclear weapons do not have the ”respectability” that the nuclear nations claim that they have.

Then the ”peaceful” nuclear reactors come into question. The global industry is busting to establish ”small” nuclear reactors world-wide. Though they’re super-expensive, useless against climate change, unsafe, produce toxic wastes –  they are the desperately needed salvation.  The costs of weapons development can be hidden, and transferred to consumers and tax-payers via these new white elephants.

And Australia – with its scientifically ignorant politicians, and its media Murdochracy, is a sitting duck for the pro nuclear propaganda.

November 10, 2020 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, Christina reviews | Leave a comment

News this week, especially about nuclear issues

Inundation of news this week, mostly about the USA election. But also about coronoavirus and climate.

***************

The nuclear issue is less covered, and could be seen as less important than those two present world crises.
***************
But here’s the problem. The global nuclear lobby is quietly organising, and the impending Biden-Harris administration in America is giving that lobby new impetus. It has been easier for the anti-nuclear and clean energy movement to oppose the policies of that bullying sociopath Donald Trump. It will be harder to oppose Biden and Kamala, who, like Barack Obama, are supporters of, and beholden to, the nuclear industry.
***************
I have found all the news quite overwhelming this week. While I acknowledge the urgency and importance of coronavirus and climate, I think that, from now on, I might need to confine my news to  nuclear issues, (which is where this newsletter started).  The nuclear threat is going on, as it were, under the radar. Politicians and communities are being sucked in by clever pro nuclear propaganda and financial incentives, all this helped along by slick and uncritical media coverage.
***************
Some bits of good news   Grass Restoration Project is a Virginia Success, Planting 600 Acres That Grow to Become 9,000.Growing food together is growing soul food, too.
 

AUSTRALIA

CLIMATE. Jo Biden’s win leaves Scott Morrison looking pretty silly on climate policy. Biden as president would pursue climate ‘cheaters’, such as Morrison’s Australia.  Australian govt will feel the heat when a Biden administration rejoins the Paris climate agreement.  Zali Steggall calls on Australia’s chief scientist to clarify position on net zero emissions by 2050.
Australian doctors accuse government of failing on climate change.  Superannuation fund commits to net-zero emission investments after Brisbane man sues.   North of Australia is headed for a severe heatwave.

NUCLEAR. Australian government’s Nuclear Waste Bill – divisive, undemocratic and racist processes.  Farmers go to Canberra, to protest the law that forces a nuclear dump on Kimba’s agricultural land.  South Australia’s Jim Whalley provides nonsensical and misleading propaganda, spruiking small nuclear reactors.  Frazer Nash and The South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy (SACOME) want nuclear power – “good for the environment”!!   Worry rocket launch site will damage environment (also at Antinuclear)  The plan to use nuclear bombs for fracking in Western Australia.

INTERNATIONAL

Politics – what hope for civil society?

The beginning of the end for nuclear weapons?

Some problems that will handicap the development of Small Nuclear Reactors.

As with every week, the Google headlines about nuclear power mostly lead to articles that promote it.

November 9, 2020 Posted by | Christina reviews | Leave a comment