Vladimir Putin and a world without Russia
7 Oct Noel Wauchope, https://theaimn.net/vladimir-putin-and-a-world-without-russia/
He’s supposed to have said it as a joke.
In a 2018 comment, Mr Putin talked about destroying the world in a nuclear holocaust because “what is a world without Russia good for?”
OK. perhaps it was a joke. But –many a true word is spoken in jest.
And here is where I run into trouble, because I am known to have a very sympathetic attitude towards Russia.
I think that Volodymyr Zelensky should have kept to the pledge on which he was elected as Ukrainian President in April 2019. Zelensky promised to honour the Minsk agreements of 2014-15 – to accept the Donbass having a limited autonomy within Ukraine, and to end the years of war between the Ukrainian government and the Donbass. But In an interview with the German daily Der Spiegel, published on February 9, 2023, Zelensky made it clear that he intentionally chose to sabotage Minsk.
Even in subsequent negotiations with Russia, in April 2022, Zelensky’s government came close to a peace agreement with Russia, acknowledging the Donbass autonomy, and rejecting Ukraine membership of NATO. Zelensky quickly scuttled that deal.
That is the background to Putin’s decision to start a Special Military Operation in support of the Donbass – ending the 8 years of civil war in Ukraine, but starting what soon became a full scale war against Ukraine. Some commentators see this as Putin having been provoked into war by the Russia-hating West. Others say that it is Putin’s first step to invading Europe.
Anyway, the Western politics and media have indeed swallowed wholesale the story that Putin wants to take over Europe into a grand Russian empire.
I don’t think that the facts on Russia’s economic and military power actually stack up on that interpretation. And I don’t think that Putin is stupid enough to bring the whole might of the USA and Europe down on Russia. It is more reasonable to consider that many NATO states are uncomfortably close to Russia, – indeed on Russia’s border. Ukraine is the largest European state on that border, and for Ukraine to join NATO would mean that Russia would be almost surrounded by hostile states. If the USA had Canada as a hostile state, that would make USA politicians anxious. So Putin’s resistance to Ukraine being a NATO state is understandable. It comes from fear, rather than part of a grand desire to take over Europe.
In a brief, but telling article, Walt Zlotow has argued that now, 80 years after Russia was our major ally, defeating Nazism in 1945, it is time to stop hating Russia. Zlotow also pointed out that “Russia had neither the desire nor the capability to attack America without suffering its utter destruction from an overwhelming American nuclear capability”.
That last point is an important one. Individual persons matter. Why we haven’t had nuclear war for all these decades, is partly because we haven’t had leaders who were willing to press the button for humanity’s annihilation. Not even the bravado of Kim Yong Un, the pomposity of a Macron, the dogged war-making of successive American presidents – has led to that fatal decision.
Vladimir Putin is intelligent, and he has, in my opinion anyway, some reason and logic in his initial attack on Ukraine, and in his conditions for peace, especially regarding NATO membership for Ukraine. Putin has consistently spoken clearly and reasonably about the possible terms for a peace settlement. Meanwhile Zelensky and the West seem implacably bound to the position of demanding unconditional surrender by Russia as their term for a peace agreement.
So the West is all go for “Whatever It Takes”. The problem that I see, is that despite Putin’s quite admirable diplomatic restraint, and clear argument, he is still the one leader who actually is prepared to launch Armageddon – “what is a world without Russia good for?”
I do put up pro-Russian arguments, mainly because somebody has to counter the prevailing Russiaphobia which swamps us all the time in the media. That does not mean that I think that Putin is a nice guy. I think he’s a ruthless tyrant. But he should be taken seriously, and treated reasonably- not just seen as an excuse to continue this mindless hatred of Russia. Putin is an exceptionally dangerous leader, and we may all pay the ultimate price for our stupidity.
Coalition committed to nuclear
By PHILIP HOPKINS, Latrobe Valley Express, 7 October 25
THE Coalition has reaffirmed that nuclear power will be a part of its energy platform at the next federal election.
The Leader of the Nationals, David Littleproud, said after the last election, the National Party left the Coalition until there was certainty over a technology agnostic approach to the energy grid that includes nuclear energy.
“It’s as simple as that. It will be in some form part of the grid that we will take to the next election. And you can’t run an economy of the scale, size of Australia on an all-renewables approach,” he told Sky News in an interview…………………………….
“The government’s not prepared to tell us what this all-renewable madness will be…. we are deindustrialising our country.
“And unless the adults take back ownership and get some baseload power back into the grid where the rest of the world is following particularly with nuclear energy, we’re going to be left behind and we’re going to be poorer for it. “
While the Liberals seem to have come on board with nuclear, he indicated the Coalition had not settled on net zero. Mr Littleproud said he would like to settle the position sooner rather than later.
“Net zero isn’t the only way in which to reduce emissions. This Labor net zero is destroying our country. And net zero has become more about trying to achieve the impossible rather than doing what’s sensible,” he said.
“What’s sensible is not going down an all-renewables path to give us baseload power, to understand that we can’t mitigate reduction of emissions across the globe when we’re only a bit over one per cent. And when the rest of the world isn’t doing the heavy lifting, particularly China, the United States and India, our country is being pegged and disadvantaged by a pledge that is deindustrialising our country and without any common sense. “
Mr Littleproud said The Nationals would finalise their position.
“(Senator) Matt Canavan is working through those processes for us now in terms of making sure that we have the real data, and then we’ll work in with the Liberals and hopefully get them to a position that they can settle sooner rather than later. But part of that will have to be a sensible energy policy that includes nuclear energy,” he said. https://latrobevalleyexpress.com.au/news/2025/10/07/coalition-committed-to-nuclear/
8 October – Webinar – Submarine Dreams
Register here https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/7217592925374/WN_zx8-oMVtSQKxUXw8to9fkA#/registration
‘Folly’ of nuclear submarines plan floated
A former navy chief warns outsourcing nuclear subs is risky, raising questions about AUKUS, sovereign capacity and local industry.
Callum Godde, Grace Crivellaro, The Mandarin, 3 Oct 25
The former head of Australia’s submarine squadron has urged Australia against outsourcing boat construction overseas, as bureaucrats express confidence that the US won’t scuttle AUKUS.
A parliamentary inquiry on Thursday ran the ruler over the Geelong treaty, a 50-year AUKUS co-operation agreement between Australia and the UK signed in July.
Under AUKUS, the US has promised to sell at least three Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines to Australia from the early 2030s.
A submarine solution closer to home should be examined instead, retired navy rear admiral Peter Briggs argued.
“Depending on an overseas supply chain for such a critical capability as our submarines is a folly,” he told the inquiry.
Briggs had serious concerns with the plan, including its potential to limit Australia’s commercial interests. He suggested that the nation should build more submarines, as it had previously done with the diesel-electric Collins class.
“There is no minimum protection in the treaty for a guaranteed work share for genuine Australian industry,” he said.
“The Collins project has established a viable submarine supply chain within Australia.
“We should build on this, not sign a treaty mandating it out of existence.”
Briggs cast doubt on Australia receiving submarines from the US on time, pointing to its falling behind in building its fleet.
Bernard Philip from the Department of Defence said advice was being provided to the federal government on extending the life of Australia’s ageing Collins-class fleet.
The Pentagon has been investigating the AUKUS pact to ensure it aligns with President Donald Trump’s “America-first” agenda.
The review by Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby sparked speculation that Trump could walk away from the deal, which is estimated to cost up to $368 billion across 30 years.
Nikkei Asia on Tuesday reported the US would not make changes, with an unnamed member country official declaring AUKUS was “safe”.
Mikaela James from the Australian Submarine Agency strongly hinted that the US would not walk away from the deal.
“(We’re) obviously aware of the US review that is underway, and we are confident the US will continue to find that the program is in line with its interests,” she told the committee.
The review is expected to finish before Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to the White House on October 20.
Tim Deere-Jones, who has 40 years of experience researching the UK government’s system for monitoring marine radioactivity, said managing nuclear waste was expensive and caused environmental issues.
“You’ve got to build the facilities to remove it from the boats,” he said.
“Then you’ve got to be looking for a long-term, hopefully perpetual dump site for it, none of which we’ve managed to do in the UK despite having many decades of nuclear submarines.”
It was inevitable some waste would be discharged into the ocean, he said.
Nationals MP Alison Penfold said such concerns had the potential to undermine public confidence in AUKUS………………………………………………………………….https://www.themandarin.com.au/300512-folly-of-nuclear-submarines-plan-floated/
The case for some non-nuclear subs
by Lieutenant Commander Jim Halsell, U.S. Navy*, Australian Naval Institute, 5 Oct 25
The United States will require more than its existing inventory of nuclear-powered submarines to ensure victory in a conflict with China. The Navy should augment its existing submarine force with a fleet of conventionally powered submarines capable of launching cruise missiles.
By producing smaller, more cost-efficient submarines with the help of allies, the U.S. submarine force could mitigate the relatively low number of nuclear-powered submarines available for a conflict. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
The problem with the makeup of today’s submarine force is that these deep-diving, fast-driving, nuclear-powered submarines are expensive. These ships are both too expensive to build in sufficient quantity to meet operational requirements and too costly, in terms of dollars and capabilities, to risk losing in combat.
The cost per hull of a new Virginia-class SSN was originally $2.8 billion, but following the incorporation of the Virginia Payload Module in the USS Arizona (SSN-803) and follow-on Block V boats, that cost now exceeds $4 billion.4 In comparison, Japan spent an estimated $536 million per hull for its Sōryū-class submarines, which feature air-independent propulsion (AIP), allowing them to operate for weeks without snorkeling.5 Japan’s newer Taigei-class submarines are being built at an even cheaper $473 million per hull.6
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Much of the disparity stems from the prohibitive cost of nuclear propulsion systems. Conventional submarines are cheaper not only to build, but also to maintain, benefiting from simpler refueling logistics and a dramatically lower cost threshold.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Allied Collaboration
One of the most compelling opportunities presented by the development of a U.S. conventionally powered submarine would be the chance to design and build it in partnership with key Indo-Pacific allies. Japan, South Korea, and Australia have decades of experience operating and constructing nonnuclear-powered submarines, and they are getting better with each iteration. ……………………………………………………………. https://navalinstitute.com.au/the-case-for-some-non-nuclear-subs/
The National Press Club of Australia, Caving to the Israel Lobby, Cancels My Talk on Our Betrayal of Palestinian Journalists.
By Chris Hedges / ScheerPost, October 4, 2025 https://scheerpost.com/2025/10/04/chris-hedges-the-national-press-club-of-australia-caving-to-the-israel-lobby-cancels-my-talk-on-our-betrayal-of-palestinian-journalists/
I was scheduled to give a talk at the National Press Club of Australia on October 20 called “The Betrayal of Palestinian Journalists.” It was to focus on the amplification of Israeli lies in the press, which most reporters know are lies, betraying Palestinian colleagues who are slandered, targeted and killed by Israel. But, perhaps inadvertently proving my point, the chief executive of the press club, Maurice Reilly, cancelled the event. The announcement of my talk disappeared from the web site. Reilly said “that in the interest of balancing out our program we will withdraw our offer.”
The Israeli Ambassador, retired Lt. Colonel Amir Maimon, who spent 14 years in the Israeli military, is reportedly being considered to speak.
It is true that I know only one side of the picture from the seven years I spent covering Gaza. I was on the receiving end of Israeli attacks, including being bombed by its air force and fired upon by its snipers, one of whom killed a young man a few feet away from me at the Netzarim Junction. We lifted him up, each person taking hold of an arm or a leg, and lumbered up the road as his body swayed like a heavy sack. I saw small boys baited and shot by Israeli soldiers in the Gaza refugee camp of Khan Younis. The soldiers swore at the boys in Arabic over the loudspeakers of their armored jeep. The boys, about 10 years old, then threw stones at an Israeli vehicle and the soldiers opened fire, killing some, wounding others.
I was present more than once as Israeli troops shot Palestinian children. Such incidents, in the Israeli lexicon, become children caught in crossfire. I was in Gaza when F-16 attack jets bombed overcrowded hovels in Gaza City. I saw the corpses of the victims, including children. This became a surgical strike on a bomb-making factory. I have watched Israel demolish homes and entire apartment blocks to create wide buffer zones between the Palestinians and the Israeli troops that ring Gaza. I have interviewed the destitute and homeless families, some camped out in crude shelters erected in the rubble. The destruction becomes the demolition of the homes of terrorists. I have stood in the gutted remains of schools as well as medical clinics and mosques and counted the bodies. I have heard Israel claim that errant rockets or mortar fire from the Palestinians caused these and other deaths, or that the buildings were being used as arms depots or launching sites.
I, along with every other reporter I know who has worked in Gaza, including the over 278 Palestinians journalists and media workers who have been killed by Israel since the start of the genocide, many in targeted assassinations, have reported a reality in Gaza that bears no resemblance to how it is portrayed by Israeli politicians, its military and many media outlets that serve as Israel’s echo chamber.
Lt. Colonel Maimon can obviously, if he chooses, enlighten us about the artificial intelligence-based program known as “Lavender” and how it selects people, along with their families, in Gaza for assassination.
He can explain how Israel determines the quotas of civilian dead, how soldiers are permitted to kill as many as 20 civilians in order to target a Palestinian fighter and hundreds for a Hamas commander. He can let us know why Israel continues the mass slaughter when an internal Israeli intelligence database indicates that at least 83 percent of Palestinians killed are civilians. He can tell us how Palestinian civilians are abducted, dressed in Israeli army uniforms, have their hands tied, and are then forced to walk as human shields in front of Israeli troops into buildings and underground tunnels that are potentially booby-trapped. He can explain how the special unit called the “Legitimization Cell” carries out propaganda campaigns to portray Palestinian journalists as Hamas operatives to justify their assassinations. He can detail the targeting, bombing and controlled demolitions that have damaged or destroyed 97 percent of Gaza’s educational system, including every university and nearly all its hospitals. He can explain how, after Israel blocked all humanitarian aid on March 2 to starve the Palestinians in Gaza, Israeli officials set up the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation to lure emaciated and malnourished Palestinians to four aid hubs in the south — aid hubs with little food and which Human Rights Watch calls “death traps” and Doctors Without Borders calls “orchestrated killing.” These hubs, open only an hour, usually at 2:00 am, ensure a chaotic scramble for scraps of food. Israeli soldiers, along with U.S. mercenaries, who include members of the Infidels Motorcycle Club, a self-professed anti-“radical jihadist” biker group that counts members with Crusader tattoos among its ranks, fire live rounds into the crowds killing over 1,400 Palestinians and injuring thousands more in and around the hubs since May. He can lay out the plans for the concentration camps in southern Gaza and the efforts to ultimately expel the Palestinians from Gaza and repopulate it with Jewish colonists. He can explain why Israel abandoned its own hostages, why it fired on vehicles headed into the Gaza strip on October 7 carrying Israeli captives and why it used Hellfire missiles to obliterate the Erez Crossing installation when it was seized by Palestinian fighters knowing that dozens of Israeli soldiers were inside.
If Lt. Colonel Maimon spoke with this honesty and candor we could call this balance. It would fill in a side of the equation I glimpse from the outside. It would complete the circle. It would match truth with truth.
But Lt. Colonel Maimon, I see from his past statements, will spew out the mendacious narratives used by Israel to justify genocide — Hamas uses Palestinians as human shields, it operates command centers in hospitals, it sexually assaulted Israeli women on October 7 and beheaded babies. He will make the spurious claim that Israel “has the right to defend itself,” ignoring the fact that Hamas and other Palestinian resistance groups, which lack an air force, mechanized units, artillery, a navy, fleets of militarized drones and missiles, pose no existential threat to Israel. More important, he will not address Israel’s flagrant violation of international law by occupying and settling colonists on Palestinian land and carrying out a livestreamed genocide.
This is not balance, unless we accept a world where truth is balanced by lies. It is an abandonment of the fundamental mission of journalists — to hold power accountable. But most egregiously, it is a terrible betrayal of our colleagues in Gaza who have been killed for chronicling the daily savagery in Gaza, for doing their job.
No doubt, the corporate sponsors and wealthy donors of the press club are pleased. No doubt, the club is able to slither away from its journalistic integrity. No doubt, it is spared the attacks that would come from allowing me to speak.
But please, have the decency to remove the word press from your club.
Another ageing Royal Navy nuclear-armed submarine completes a 200-day patrol amid fears absence of replacements will make epic voyages ‘the new normal’
COMMENT. Doesn’t look as if the UK (or the USA) are going to have any decent nuclear submarines to spare for Australia.
Daily Mail, By BY MARK NICOL DEFENCE EDITOR, 3 October 2025
An ageing Royal Navy nuclear submarine has completed a 200-day patrol amid fears of shortages of alternative vessels.
The Vanguard class submarine was welcomed back to port with her hull covered in slime and barnacles.
The marine growth indicated how long the submarine – which carries the UK’s nuclear deterrent – had spent submerged.
Nuclear submarines remain undetected by spending the majority of their time on patrol at very slow speed. This is to minimise their noise signature.
Biofouling as it is also known, can also indicate a submarine has been operating in either shallower or warmer waters.
Nuclear submarine patrols are being extended as Navy chiefs await new vessels.
This submarine was understood to have spent 203 days at sea. Earlier this year another spent 204 days at sea.
While only last year another Vanguard-class submarine broke the 200 day barrier for the first time. At least ten patrols are understood to have exceeded five months.
The trend for extended patrols is dangerous according to Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the recently retired former Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS).
In his final speech he decried the decrepit state of the Royal Navy’s subsurface fleet at a time when the world is getting more dangerous.
In September Admiral Sir Tony said: ‘Our armed forces are not as strong as we would wish. There is something wrong when governments profess the nuclear deterrent at sea is our highest priority but our sailors are having to put to sea for extraordinarily long patrols in some of the most complex machines on the planet that are beyond their original design life.’……………………….
The oldest of the Vanguard class submarines first put to sea 33 years ago. The vessels have a recommended service life of 25 years.
The physical strain on the Vanguard class submarines is mirrored by the psychological effects on their crews of spending six months and longer at sea.
Each submarine has a crew of around 130 sailors and officers
Experts have also warned of the growing risk of a catastrophic accident as parts are being cannabalised from other submarines which are more than 30 years old…………………………….
The shortage of submarines is also compounded by the length of time it takes to conduct repairs.
The Vanguards will be replaced by Dreadnought submarines – but these are not expected to enter service before the early 2030s……………………… https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15159175/Another-ageing-Royal-Navy-nuclear-armed-submarine-completes-200-day-patrol-amid-fears-absence-replacements-make-epic-voyages-new-normal.html
A big week in the non-corporate nuclear news
Some bits of good news –UNESCO Adds an Area the Size of Bolivia to Reserves That Protect 5%of the World’s Land.Marshall Islands Experience Explosion of Wildlife One Year After Invasive Rats Were Removed.
Thousands–Including Many Visitors– Volunteer in Taiwan to Help Flood Victims Following Typhoon.
Swiping less, living more. How to take control of your digital life.
TOP STORIES The U.S. is now a fascist state. What Trump’s new order on domestic terrorism really means – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKvBzvVYlKw
Theatre of the absurd – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlXPfKAAnUo
A breakdown of Tony Blair’s bizarre proposal to run Gaza. Israeli Defense Minister says half a million Palestinians in Gaza City will be considered ‘terrorists’ if they don’t evacuate.
Trump says Israel can ‘finish the job’ in Gaza if Hamas rejects latest ceasefire plan.
“Arrest the War Criminal”: Thousands Protest Netanyahu in NYC as He Addresses U.N –https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVY7eY12voI
The New Nuclear Fever, Debunked.
From the archives. Leah McGrath Goodman, Tony Blair and issues on torture (with added radiation)
Climate. Small or big, new nuclear reactors are not climate solutions. Does the fight against climate change need nuclear power?
AUSTRALIA. Dan Tehan fails to grasp difference between baseload and firming as he spouts nonsense on nuclear. Nuclear energy sank the Coalition at the election — can it power their comeback? Coalition in ‘overwhelming agreement’ on nuclear future, energy spokesman says. Nuclear energy to remain a central focus for Coalition. Deputy leader Ted O’Brien confident nuclear will be part of Coalition’s energy policy.
NUCLEAR ITEMS
CIVIL LIBERTIES. Under Trump, Criticism Is Now Criminal.
Israel Raids Global Sumud Flotilla, Abducts Over 400 Volunteers, Group Says.
| CLIMATE. Does the fight against climate change need nuclear power? Wildfires are getting deadlier and costing more. Experts warn they’re becoming unstoppable.. |
| ECONOMICS. A hungrier, poorer and more anxious Iran awaits ‘snapback’ of UN sanctions over its nuclear program. Wall Street Warns of Nuclear Tech Bubble. Newcleo, Europe’s largest nuclear startup in financial difficulty-ALSO AT https://nuclear-news.net/2025/09/29/4-a-newcleo-europes-largest-nuclear-startup-in-financial-difficulty/ |
| ENERGY. We don’t need gas or nuclear to power data centres, says Octopus Energy boss. Solar becomes main source of electricity in the EU for first time. Here comes the sun! –The solar energy revolution – podcast . Renewables blow past nuclear when it comes to cheap datacenter juice |
| ETHICS and RELIGION. ‘Listen to the cry of the Earth’: Pope Leo takes aim at climate change sceptics.. |
| EVENTS. 10 October – 18 October – Peace Camp: Salir de Casa por Gaza. |
| HISTORY. 80 years demonizing Russia long enough…time for détente |
| LEGAL US Military Doctrine – Goodbye to Geneva . .Starmer’s new nukes break Non-Proliferation Treaty, legal experts say. |
| MEDIA. How the media tears up its own rulebook to hide Israel’s atrocities. When Palestinians in Israeli Captivity, US Media Almost Never Take Note. The War Department’s War on Media. Book Review: A Call to Arms About the Threat of Anti-Science. |
| OPPOSITION to NUCLEAR . No to nuclear in the Llynfi valley – Community campaign resists reactors built for data centres. Powering forward the Transatlantic Nuclear Free Alliance. |
| PERSONAL STORIES. Jane Goodall, the Gentle Disrupter Whose Research on Chimpanzees Redefined What It Meant To Be Human. Time to stop propping up mentally and physically disintegrating president. |
| PLUTONIUM. U.S. to gift Plutonium-239 to private nuclear industry. |
| POLITICS. ‘Deeply Un-American’: Trump Tells Generals to Use US Cities as Military ‘Training Grounds’ Theatre of the absurd https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlXPfKAAnUo The Ultimate Test of Allegiance. Changing the rules: Ministers may scrap nuke dump Test of Public Support. |
| POLITICS INTERNATIONAL and DIPLOMACY. UN Nuclear Ban Treaty Gets Majority of States on Board Following Kyrgyzstan’s Signing. A Serious Proposal: Russia and China Call for Global Strategic Stability. Will Tony Blair rule over Gaza? Palestinian Subordination: Donald Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan. Trump’s 20-Point Gamble: A bold bid to end the Gaza War – or a recipe for stalemate? Israel’s Netanyahu addresses Empty UN Chamber with Genocidal Claims after Mass Walkout. Steve Witkoff’s Latest ‘Peace Plan’ Is A Scam. Iran won’t risk Russia, China’s ire by quitting nuclear treaty, expert says. Iran angry as sweeping UN sanctions take effect after failure of nuclear talks. UN sanctions reimposed on Iran over alleged nuclear deal violation. UN Security Council rejects Russia and China’s last-ditch effort to delay sanctions on Iran |
| SAFETY.Russian nuclear submarine surfaces near UK territory in ‘explosive hazard’ Russian nuclear submarine: Fears as K-159 nuke vessel, that sank over 20 years ago, rusty and resting on seabed with highly radioactive fuel. Flamanville fiasco: EDF blamed by the Nuclear Safety Authority- ALSO AT https://nuclear-news.net/2025/09/29/4-b1-flamanville-fiasco-edf-blamed-by-the-nuclear-safety-authority/Danger déjà vu. Power fully restored to Chernobyl site. The 750 kV power line at Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant shows no signs of major damage: new satellite investigation by Greenpeace. IAEA Races to Restore Power at Besieged Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Plant. IAEA issues fresh warning over drones near nuclear plants. Suffolk County Council has no evacuation plan in case of a RAF Lakenheath nukes incident Money to oversee nuclear weapons safety will start running low after 8 days, US Energy secretary says. |
| SPINBUSTER. The ‘Golden Age of nuclear’ deal is all a veneer . . Paper reactors and paper tigers. Britain remade – with a lot of nuclear? Expect A Huge Fuss About The October 7 Anniversary As The World Turns Against Israel. |
| TECHNOLOGY. Are We Waking Up Fast Enough to the Dangers of AI Militarism? |
| WASTES. DOE can’t pin down costs, schedules for nuclear cleanups — audit. Nuclear waste in a landfill? Decommissioning. Nuclear reactor Tihange 1 to cease operations after fifty years.Secrets of the deep, deep tunnels where nuclear waste is buried -ALSO AT https://nuclear-news.net/2025/09/30/5-b1-secrets-of-the-deep-deep-tunnels-where-nuclear-waste-is-buried/ UK Government names six decommissioning sites being considered for new nuclear. |
| WAR and CONFLICT .Hamas Agrees to Release Hostages, Trump Calls on Israel to Stop Bombing- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1Tnl8etV9A After Bombing Boats, Trump Tells Congress US Is in ‘Armed Conflict’ With Drug Cartels. As UN Turns 80, Trump Continues US Violation of Charter’s Limits on Use of Force. Israel Launches Major Airstrikes on Yemeni Capital, Killing at Least Nine. Trump says Hamas ‘ready for peace’, tells Israel to stop bombing Gaza. Netanyahu’s General Assembly Tirade Telegraphs A Resumption of Israel’s War On Iran. Nuclear Testing Threats are Returning & Saber Rattling is Getting Louder, warns UN Chief.Can Warriors Stop Endless Wars? |
| WEAPONS and WEAPONS SALES. Exposing JFK Airport’s hidden arms pipeline to Israel. |
Nuclear energy sank the Coalition at the election — can it power their comeback?
2 October 2025, By Catriona Stirrat, https://www.sbs.com.au/news/podcast-episode/nuclear-energy-sank-the-coalition-at-the-election-can-it-power-their-comeback/eqd6mzqsd
The coalition are revamping their proposal for nuclear energy, despite suffering an election loss with this policy. The details are yet to be confirmed, but the Opposition Energy Minister says they will adapt their plan to meet developments in the space.
The Coalition’s nuclear policy didn’t secure the party a win in the May federal election.
But that’s not stopping the Opposition Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction:
“I have a very, very strong view that nuclear has to be part of our energy mix here in Australia, if we are going to be serious about reducing emissions.”
That was Dan Tehan speaking on ABC’s 730 program, following a trip to the United States which has inspired this latest revival of a Coalition nuclear energy policy.
Speaking on ABC Radio, Mr Tehan praised US advancements in the space.
“There’s basically a nuclear renaissance taking place in the US. There’s huge investment going into nuclear, there’s huge developments that are taking place. And everyone that I spoke to are incredibly confident given the use of AI, given the use of quantum, that they will continue to make rapid developments with nuclear technology.”
While avoiding detail, he did admit the policy would be adapted from their pre-election pitch to respond to rapid developments in the area.
But Mr Tehan is confident Australia should be influenced by the US model.
“The amount of investment, the amount of technological know-how going into nuclear, and the breakthroughs when it comes to small modular reactors, or micro-reactors, has to be seen to be believed. And the capital which is flowing into these developments, especially by the large tech companies in the US, is leading to developments which are occurring on a daily basis. And I have a very, very strong view that nuclear has to be part of our energy mix in Australia if we are to be serious about reducing emissions.”
While details of the policy remain unclear, the Opposition has already committed to some form of nuclear energy as part of a deal with the Nationals to prevent another coalition splinter.
Coalition frontbencher Bridget McKenzie insists the policy wouldn’t be in the top five reasons the coalition suffered a heavy loss in the May federal election.
She’s told Sky News the nuclear debate has to be viewed in the broader view of climate and energy policy.
She says the government is flagging poor policies to try and get Australia to emissions reduction targets, pointing to their efforts to encourage a switch to electric vehicles within a short time frame.
“Once again, we’re seeing the Labor Party pulling one lever for a policy solution, whilst making opposing decisions that aren’t good for the country. We know they aren’t going to meet their emissions reduction target, so they’ve doubled down on that and produced this transport sector plan for 2035 that’s going to see Australian motorists really do the heavy lifting and pay the costs of emissions reduction.”
Labor has long criticised the coalition’s nuclear energy plan – arguing the nation’s energy needs can be met with a mix of renewables and gas.
Addressing National Press Club following his election win, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the coalition’s nuclear policy a ‘last desperate attempt to delay action on climate change’.
He outlined his reasons for opposing the policy in a social media address in December last year.
“Here’s the lowdown on nuclear power – it will add $1200 to your power bills, it will take decades to build, it will block cheaper renewable energy. Energy experts at the CSIRO and the Australian Energy Market Operator have made that clear. Still, Peter Dutton is asking Australians to pay the price for his nuclear power scheme. Never before has so much taxpayer money delivered so little to so few Australians.”
The government is yet to respond to the coalition’s latest comments promoting nuclear energy and slamming Labor’s emissions reduction policy.
Coalition in ‘overwhelming agreement’ on nuclear future, energy spokesman says
The Coalition has given its biggest clue yet on what its post-election policy will be.
Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer, 2 Oct 25. news.com.au
Opposition energy spokesman Dan Tehan has returned from a lengthy fact-finding mission to the US starry-eyed about a “nuclear renaissance taking place”.
Mr Tehan spent much of September touring facilities and meeting with nuclear heavyweights in the US.
His trip overlapped with the release of Australia’s first-ever climate risk assessment and Labor government’s 2035 emissions reduction targets.
His absence drew some criticism but, fronting media for the first time since landing back in the country, Mr Tehan said the knowledge he gained was worth it.
“What I learned was that there is basically a nuclear renaissance taking place in the US,” he told the ABC on Thursday.
There is huge investment going into nuclear.
“There are huge developments that are taking place.
“And everyone that I spoke to was incredibly confident, given the use of AI, given the use of quantum, that they will continue to make rapid developments with nuclear technology which will enable not only the US, but the globe, to provide abundant energy in a form which is emissions neutral.”
He was particularly struck by micro reactors, which are transportable nuclear power sources that typically generate between 1-20MW – or enough energy to power a small community, a military base or an industrial facility………………………………………………………
Mr Tehan’s comments are the strongest indication to date that the opposition may stick to its guns on nuclear despite its heavy defeat at the federal election in May.
The absence of an energy policy has sparked severe tensions within the Coalition and was key to the Nationals’ brief split from the Liberals.
Mr Tehan said he had discussed his findings with his colleagues and that “there is overwhelming agreement on the Coalition side that nuclear needs to be part of our energy mix”. https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/coalition-in-overwhelming-agreement-on-nuclear-future-energy-spokesman-says/news-story/00ba65f8cb559f8fcd0e886a783f4703
Nuclear energy to remain a central focus for Coalition
By Kye Halford • 3 October 2025, https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/post/2025/10/03/nuclear-energy-remain-central-focus-coalition
Nuclear technology will be a key aspect of the Coalition’s energy policy heading into the next election, as opposition energy spokesman Dan Tehan argues it is essential to modernise the electricity grid.
Tehan told ABC radio on Thursday: “There is overwhelming agreement on the Coalition side that nuclear needs to be part of our energy mix” (SMH).
“I have no doubt that my colleagues, like I do, see very much a future for nuclear as part of our energy mix here in Australia,” he said.
Tehan has recently returned from a study tour in the United States, where he reportedly toured facilities and spoke with nuclear experts about how the energy source could be used in Australia (Yahoo News).
Nuclear energy was a key proposal for former opposition leader Peter Dutton during his lost election campaign earlier this year, despite voter scepticism regarding its viability (The Saturday Paper).
Dan Tehan fails to grasp difference between baseload and firming as he spouts nonsense on nuclear
Giles Parkinson, 2 Oct 25, https://reneweconomy.com.au/dan-tehan-fails-to-grasp-difference-between-baseload-and-firming-as-he-sprouts-nonsense-on-nuclear/
The Australian Energy Market Operator, along with the owners of the country’s biggest fleets of coal generators have painted a pretty clear picture of the energy future: Forget baseload, it’s time has come and is going and almost gone – the future is about renewables and firming power.
It shouldn’t be too hard a concept to grasp. Low cost wind and solar will provide the bulk of the electricity supply, including and particularly from the rooftops of homes and businesses, and excess power will be stored in batteries at home and on the grid, and flexible “firming” assets will fill the gaps.
The focus on flexibility is the key. Firming assets might not be needed often, or even for long, but they will need to be switched on and off relatively quickly. Flexible demand side management will also play a key role, as will a focus on efficiency.
Australia’s operational paradigm is no longer ‘baseload-and-peaking’, but increasingly it’s a paradigm of ‘renewables-and-firming’,” AEMO boss Daniel Westerman said last year.
It’s a crucial point to understand. “Baseload” is not so much a technical virtue as a business model – the people who invest in coal generators, and nuclear in particular, count on those machines operating at or near full capacity most of the time.
Without it, they haven’t a hope of repaying the money that it took to build their facilities. They can flex a little, but the last thing they want or can do is dial down and up again on a daily or even hourly basis. Other machines are better equipped at doing that, and at much lower cost.
As the ANU’s Centre for Energy Systems wrote this year, the energy industry is aware that baseload is not just endangered, it is already functionally extinct. And they explain why in more detail.
Enter the Coalition’s new energy spokesman Dan Tehan, who quite clearly has not got the memo, and clearly hasn’t the foggiest idea what he is talking about.
Tehan has been on a “fact finding” tour of energy facilities in the US, which appears to have included no renewables, but a lot of nuclear, and – having briefed Coalition colleagues early in the week – he was keen to share his new-found knowledge with the ABC.
“Do you accept that expertise of the Australian energy market operator when it comes to base load power and the transition that’s underway?” Tehan was asked on the 7.30 Report.
“Well, your quote said it all there, Sarah,” Tehan replied. “Renewables and firming, and what nuclear can do is provide that firming over time, it can replace gas and coal, which are providing that firming at the moment.”
Clearly, he was already confused by the difference between baseload and firming. And then Tehan said this: “So my argument is as a replacement for diesel. When it comes to mine sites all that firming capacity over time, that’s exactly the role that nuclear can play.”
Mine sites, it should be noted, use little in the way of gas and diesel capacity. Maybe 10, maybe 20 megawatts (MW). And they are now rarely switched on. Most new mine sites are running on an average 80 per cent renewables, even those partly owned by arch-renewables critic Gina Rinehart.
BHP is sourcing the bulk of its electricity needs for it massive Olympic Dam mine and refinery and nearby sites through two “renewable baseload” contracts with Neoen comprised only of wind and battery storage.
But Tehan was back at the ABC on Thursday morning, this time on Radio National, where he was extolling the virtues of “easily transportable” micro-reactors sized he said – and wait for it – between five and 10 gigawatts!
“And the particular thing that was really of note to me was how the research into micro reactors, so small, sort of five gigawatt, 10 gigawatt reactors, which are very transportable,” he said.
We suspect he meant megawatts, not gigawatts. (A gigawatt is 1,000 megawatts). And, we should point out, these micro reactors do not exist in any commercial form, and it’s doubtful too that they would be “very transportable”.
Tehan said he is convinced that in the US there is a “nuclear renaissance”, despite the recent World Nuclear Industry Status report pointing out there is no such thing. “The simple fact is … that there isn’t a single power reactor under construction in the 35 countries on the American continent,” ACF’s Jim Green writes.
Tehan insisted that 30 nations at COP29 had signed up to triple the amount of nuclear capacity. True, but they said they would do that over a 25 year timeframe, by 2050 – with the aim of lifting global capacity from around 350 GW to just over 1,000 GW.
In the meantime, a total of 120 countries have signed up to treble renewables – in just over five years – from 3,500 GW to 11,000 GW. That is 11 times more capacity than nuclear in one fifth of the time. It is pretty clear to everyone – except perhaps for Tehan and his friends – where the money is going.
And as AEMO’s Westerman told an energy summit hosted by The Australian last week, Australia is experiencing a “stunning democratisation” of energy generation, thanks to rooftop solar and consumer batteries.
Which means that they too will need the grid for “firming”, rather than baseload. Such a dramatic reshaping of the grid will leave no room for nuclear, or any other “baseload” power source. But Tehan and his mates seem intent to jam it into Australia’s energy debate, even if they can’t get it into the grid.
Deputy leader Ted O’Brien confident nuclear will be part of Coalition’s energy policy
By Bridget McArthur and Madigan Landry https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-04/deputy-opposition-leader-confident-nuclear-in-energy-policy-mix/105848854
In short:
The federal shadow energy minister and shadow treasurer are adamant nuclear energy will form part of the Coalition’s future energy policy, though their leader has been less bullish.
Energy analyst Tony Wood says nuclear energy could work in Australia but the uncertainty caused by the lack of bipartisanship threatens to drive up power prices.
What’s next?
Deputy Opposition Leader Ted O’Brien says the Coalition’s energy policy is still in the works and more details will be shared once it is cemented.
Deputy Opposition Leader Ted O’Brien says he is “supremely confident” nuclear will be part of the Coalition’s future vision for Australia’s energy mix.
Shadow Energy Minister Dan Tehan made similar comments this week, signposting the resurrection of the Coalition’s nuclear policy after touring US nuclear facilities.
His predecessor, Mr O’Brien, was a key figure in the Coalition’s nuclear pitch at the last federal election — a policy some political pundits said contributed to their resounding loss.
Now Liberal deputy, Mr O’Brien said he was committed to giving it another go.
Mr O’Brien said the Coalition was yet to settle on the details of its new nuclear policy, including whether it would be government-funded or private sector-led.
Some commentators have speculated that the Coalition may look at narrowing its aspirations to focus on lifting the moratorium on nuclear energy, which has been in place since the late 1990s.
Mr O’Brien would not confirm whether the seven locations proposed to host nuclear reactors would still play a role.
But he maintains people in those regions, including Collie, 190 kilometres south of Perth, were “very open” to the idea.
On a two-party preferred basis, all four of Collie’s polling booths recorded a swing towards the Liberals, which Mr O’Brien said indicated local support for the Coalition’s energy policy.
However, he conceded that on a multi-party basis, there was a swing away from both major parties towards minor parties, such as One Nation and Legalise Cannabis.
Party leader less bullish
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, also in WA at the moment, was less clear-cut on whether nuclear would play a role in the Coalition’s energy policy.
Asked about her colleagues’ comments at a press conference today, she said Mr Tehan would brief the party and policy teams next week on his US tour, where he had been specifically looking at developments in small modular reactors.
“We know that 19 out of 20 OECD countries … have either adopted or are in the process of adopting nuclear,” she said.
“It’s very important for the future, and we’ll continue to examine it closely.”
Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the Opposition’s pro-nuclear stance was out of touch.
“Ted O’Brien masterminded the nuclear policy that was so comprehensively rejected by the Australian people just a few months ago,” he said.
“Now he says he is ‘supremely confident’ that his nuclear policy is right.
“It shows just how arrogant this LNP is — they just don’t get it.”
Analyst says energy indecision costs
Grattan Institute energy program director Tony Wood said nuclear energy warranted serious consideration.
However, he said a lack of bipartisanship around the future of energy could ultimately prove worse for electricity prices.
“When you’ve got different possible futures with different political parties, investors have to build more risk premiums into their decisions,” he said.
“That means the cost of everything goes up.”
Mr Wood said uncertainty could make the nation less attractive to the private energy sector.
“What [investors] want is clear and predictable policy,” he said.
The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) national secretary Michael Wright said workers in regional communities, such as the coal mining town of Collie, were also seeking clarity.
“When Peter Dutton was spruiking nuclear, we saw projects put on hold and jobs put on hold while developers waited to see which way the election went,” Mr Wright said.
“Now those jobs, for the most part, are back on. This sort of irresponsible attitude to the core business of powering our country costs jobs and jeopardises our grid. It’s just irresponsible and immature.”
Mr Wright said he was not ideologically opposed to nuclear but believed the infrastructure simply would not be ready in time to meet demand.
He said renewable projects had not been without their own challenges, with planning and regulatory approvals continuing to hold up work.
But he said it was time for Australia to pick an energy policy and stick to it.
Powering forward the Transatlantic Nuclear Free Alliance
2 Oct 25, https://www.nuclearpolicy.info/news/powering-forward-the-transatlantic-nuclear-free-alliance/
The UK/Ireland Nuclear Free Local Authorities were proud to partner with Canadian and United States anti nuclear activists at a lively webinar, kindly hosted and organised by SOS: The San Onofre Syndrome, last Thursday (25 September).
Richard Outram, NFLA Secretary, was humbled to join an online panel of distinguished speakers who are working in opposition to new nuclear plants and nuclear waste dumps in both nations. There was an audience of around 50 activists joining us from across the globe, from Colwyn Bay to Hawaii, who had been invited to view the award-winning film ‘SOS – The San Onofre Syndrome: Nuclear Power’s Legacy’.
This time the focus was upon examining the situation in Canada.
Britain’s Nuclear Waste Services, being responsible for locating and building an undersea repository for our nation’s legacy and future high-level radioactive waste – the so called Geological Disposal Facility – has established strong ties with its Canadian counterparts, the Nuclear Waste Management Organisation which has determined to build a similar, though inland and underground, repository – called a Deep Geological Repository – at Ignace in Ontario.
Dr Gordon Edwards is a mathematician, physicist, nuclear consultant, and president of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility (https://www.ccnr.org). CCNR is a not-for-profit organization, federally incorporated in 1978, dedicated to education and research on all issues related to nuclear energy, whether civilian or military — including non-nuclear alternatives — especially those pertaining to Canada. He is based in Montreal.
Brennain Lloyd from We the Nuclear Free North (https://wethenuclearfreenorth.ca/) is a community organizer, public interest researcher and writer. For the last 30 plus years, Brennain has worked with environmental, peace and women’s organizations as a facilitator and adult educator supporting public participation in environmental and natural resource decision-making and various planning processes. She is based in northeastern Ontario.
The panel was also joined by Team SOS in the United States, namely
Mary Beth Brangan and James Heddle, who are award-winning filmmakers of ‘SOS – The San Onofre Syndrome: Nuclear Power’s Legacy’ and co-directors of EON – the Ecological Options Network (https://www.eon3.org) and Morgan Peterson is an Oscar-nominated producer/director and director/editor of ‘SOS – The San Onofre Syndrome’. Mary Beth and James are based in Northern California, USA, whilst Morgan is based in Indiana, USA.
Richard is delighted that colleagues in the USA are looking to start work to build a network of nuclear free local authorities based on the model established from 1981 in the UK and Ireland.
It is almost 45 years since Manchester declared itself the world’s first nuclear free city and hosted the Secretariat of the Nuclear Free Local Authorities. Many cities across the globe followed Manchester’s lead in making similar declarations, many notably in the United States. It would be gratifying if these nuclear free cities could take the lead in establishing a new network across the Atlantic.
Richard said: “The purpose of establishing this Transatlantic Nuclear Free Alliance was to bring together anti-nuclear activists from both sides of the huge ocean which physically divides us in an online forum where we can share information on developments, support one another with campaigns, celebrate our successes, and share our common goals for a nuclear-free, peaceful and sustainable world.
“The UK / Ireland NFLAs would be delighted if from this meeting our colleagues in the United States could begin work to build their own network of nuclear free municipalities and we stand ready to lend support to such an initiative, where we can”.
Lisa Smithline from Moca Media TV, who ably performed the critical job of facilitating the event, summarised the event: “It was a deep and meaningful conversation. The feedback has been extremely positive, people are hungry for this information, the attendees didn’t want it to end!”
A future event will be held in around two months’ time – so do watch out for the invitation.
If you would like to attend and are not yet on the NFLA mailing list for news and future events, please email Richard Outram at richard.outram@manchester.gov.uk
In the meantime, the 25 September event can be viewed online at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/Y3wQ_8YDumxukIDLCS5_uuBpUxnuYe9SbUHTF2PhVWEmPtE0Id2qNglFWDShT91n.dY8SN70Lrx5xxyqc
Passcode: RgMr442*
Friday 10 October – “No Consent for Missiles” rally
Stand in solidarity with Aunty Sue at the “No Consent for Missiles” rally, this Friday 10 October at 12 pm, beginning at the Australian Space Agency, Lot 14 (corner of North Terrace and Frome Road, Adelaide, Kaurna Land). The rally will then march to Parliament House.
STATEMENT OF NO CONSENT
Aunty Sue has addressed a Statement of No Consent to Southern Launch and every company that works with them—including the Australian Defence Force, Australian Space Agency, Thales, Varda, HyImpulse, Reaction Dynamics, German Aerospace Centre, AtSpace, and Perigee.
She has made it clear: there is NO CONSENT for the ongoing militarisation of Googatha Country.
In July, this statement was delivered in person to the head offices of these companies around the world.
Each company is now unambiguously aware: they are not welcome on the so-called “Koonibba Test Range.”
No more rockets.
No more missiles.
No more radioactive capsules.
This is sacred Googatha Country. It is not a military zone.
Please attend if you can—and share this message widely. In solidarity,
Port Adelaide Community Opposing AUKUS (PACOA)
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 