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..
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 Ahead. Beatrice 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.
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.
(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.
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, PM– Hypocrisy 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) .
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Weapons. Living 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
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
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.
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.
News this week, especially about nuclear issues
Inundation of news this week, mostly about the USA election. But also about coronoavirus and climate.
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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.
A win for decency, rationality, co-operation , and science
Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and the Democrats have won the American election.
For four years, the world has put up with a lying, narcissistic, sociopath as American President. Trump has done such damage to civil systems of health and environment, to democratic institutions, and to international relations. He has epitomised the bullying style of leadership that has become so popular and so dangerous in this 21st century world.
Jo Biden, in the way that he ran his campaign, and in his winning speech, demonstrates a completely opposite style – one of reasonableness, courtesy, and respect for science and democratic agencies.
A key factor today is the appalling state of coronavirus cases, and coronavirus deaths in the USA. That is a no. 1 challenge to the American administration. Now, they will have a leader who understands the seriousness of the pandemic, and cares.
The Democratic leadership understands the climate crisis, and even if the Senate should be dominated by Republicans, Biden can still rejoin the USA to the Paris Climate Accord. Much action against global heating can be done by executive action, bypassing the Senate,
On the nuclear issue, Biden will almost certainly support international arms control agreements, but not the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Unfortunately, the Democratic Party now, as it did under Obama, still basks in the arms of the ”peaceful”nuclear lobby, and the nuclear weapons making industry.
The world needs, and awaits, a reasonable and decent American Presidency, under Joe Biden
I am hopeful that Joe Biden and the Democratic Party will win this American election.
What has this got to do with this website, which is dedicated to issues of nuclear and cimate?
Everything!
That is because the human race has got to solve these global horrors – with reasonableness, decency and fairness. That demands thoughfulness, considerateness of others, co-operation, and global effort.
The United States of America used to be a global leader – up until recently, when it has been cursed with the presidency of a narcicisstic bully, Donald Trump. Four years of a government run by this sociopath have impeded the world’s effort to slow, preferably to stop, global heating. Trump has been a willing servant of the nuclear weapons industry , indeed an investor, profiting from it. He contines to foster distrust, hatred, and division among people.
I have not been a great fan of Joe Biden. But he does bring a decency and reasonableness to politics – qualities that are essential for America and the world to face the big problems. The Democratic Party does bring a mode of co-operation, and an intelligent respect for fair and legal processes.
1 This month
Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes – A good documentary on Chernobyl on SBS available On Demand for the next 3 weeks– https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-program/chernobyl-the-lost-tapes/2352741955560
15 April – Zoom –Nuclear Power is Not the Solution
Apr 15, 2026 01:00 AM in Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney
Join the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) on Tuesday, April 14th for a timely webinar exploring the risks associated with nuclear power and challenging the myth that it offers a simple, safe, carbon-free solution to the climate crisis
21 April Webinar: No Nuclear Weapons in Australia
Start: 2026-04-21 18:00:00 UTC Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney (GMT+10:00)
End: 2026-04-21 19:30:00 UTC Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney (GMT+10:00)
Event Type: Virtual
A virtual link will be communicated before the event.
Host Contact Info: australia@icanw.org
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
Antinuclear 