Comfortably numb — Beyond Nuclear International
When we will wake up to the real threat we face?
Comfortably numb — Beyond Nuclear International “Hello? (Hello? Hello? Hello?)
“Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me
Is there anyone home?”
Those echoing opening lines of the Pink Floyd song, “Comfortably Numb” keep wafting through my psyche as I watch the US, Russia, and China, amass ever more sophisticated, deadly and downright evil nuclear weapons capabilities. What are they thinking?
Meanwhile, tensions continue to mount at the Ukraine-Russia border, as Putin moves more armaments and fleets around and the US flies its elite 82nd Airborne Division into standby mode in Poland, part of 3,000 US troops now deployed to the region.
All of this has sent US nuclear hawks, sounding more and more like General ‘Buck’ Turgidson from Dr. Strangelove, chafing at the bit to justify the further escalation and acceleration of the so-called modernization of the entire US nuclear weapons complex.
Meanwhile, there is even speculation that maybe Ukraine should not have given up its nuclear weapons at the end of the Cold War as the Soviet Union collapsed. The Russian seizure of Crimea and the seemingly endless conflict on Ukraine’s eastern border has led some to urge a Ukraine nuclear rearmament.
A nuclear-armed Ukraine, goes the logic, would allow it to “deter” a Russian invasion or, at least, any possible use of nuclear weapons by Russia in a grab for Ukraine.
But this thinking further exposes the hollow argument for deterrence. Nuclear weapons in Ukraine would have only one outcome — they would make the prospect of nuclear weapons being used in any current conflict more likely. (Then, of course, there is the ever-present danger of Ukraine’s 15 operating nuclear reactors — addressed in a January 30, 2022 article on these pages.)
The prospect that even a conventional conflict could break out in Ukraine is already horrific enough. But even the remotest possibility that this could progress to the use of nuclear weapons by any party, is positively nightmarish.
If you don’t value sleep, then Ira Helfand’s article in The Nation lays all of this out in chilling detail. It’s like reading the script to an apocalyptical dystopian horror movie (the kind that sadly seems to be all too popular these days).
Helfand’s article, however, is the exception to most of the coverage, which discusses the prospect of accidental or deliberate nuclear war over the Ukraine situation in a mind-bogglingly impassive way, “comfortably numb” to the very real, horrific, humanitarian consequences were this actually to happen.
It’s as if, as IPPNW’s Chuck Johnson said to me during a recent phone call, “it’s all perfectly normal”.
But to most of us regular folk, calmly anticipating the possibility of a nuclear war isn’t normal. It’s the definition of insanity. And it’s exasperating. Hello? Can you hear us? We have a climate crisis bearing down on us. A global emergency of, yes, apocalyptic proportions.
It goes without saying that, as a species, we need to stop directing all our energies towards our collective extinction, both through our failure to act adequately and on time on climate, and by unnecessarily rattling nuclear sabres.
It goes without saying, but it needs saying. Again and again and really loudly. By all of us. Just nod if you can hear me.
Linda Pentz Gunter is the international specialist at Beyond Nuclear and writes for and curates Beyond Nuclear International.
Independent regional journalism, brought to you by fossil fuels — RenewEconomy
A regional journalism summit this week made no specific references to climate change and was sponsored by AGL Energy and gas pipeline company APA. The post Independent regional journalism, brought to you by fossil fuels appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Independent regional journalism, brought to you by fossil fuels — RenewEconomy
$53 million raised to help Julian Assange’s legal fight for freedom
AssangeDAO concludes raise with $53M to help Julian fight for freedom COINTELEGRAPH, BRIAN QUARMBY, 9 Feb 22,
The AssangeDAO pulled in 17,422 Ether from 10,000 people to be used to win the NFT auction that is supporting Assange’s legal battles. The Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) supporting Wikileaks founder Julian Assange’s legal plight has concluded its raise, generating a whopping 17,422 Ether (ETH), worth roughly $53.7 million.
As previously reported by Cointelegraph, the AssangeDAO intends to use the fund to bid on a one-of-one NFT from a drop called “Censored” by digital artist Pak in collaboration with Assange. The proceeds of the sale will go towards Assange’s defense fund and additional awareness campaigns as he fights extradition to the United States this month.
Assange has been languishing in a United Kingdom jail for the past three years, with U.S. prosecutors seeking to try him on espionage charges. Supporters say that Assange is a whistleblower, journalist and publisher…………………… https://cointelegraph.com/news/assangedao-concludes-raise-with-53m-to-help-julian-fight-for-freedom
The stunning recovery of a heavily polluted river in the heart of the Blue Mountains World Heritage area
Ian Wright et al
For more than 40 years, an underground coal mine discharged poorly treated wastewater directly into the Wollangambe River, which flows through the heart of the Blue Mountains World Heritage area.
Charles Sturt University goes 100 pct renewable with NSW wind power deal — RenewEconomy
Charles Sturt University lands off take agreement with NSW wind farm in a deal that takes it to a 100% renewable energy supply. The post Charles Sturt University goes 100 pct renewable with NSW wind power deal appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Charles Sturt University goes 100 pct renewable with NSW wind power deal — RenewEconomy
Australia’s bushfire threat already beyond worst-case scenarios, thanks to climate change — RenewEconomy
As a cooler summer provides Australia a reprieve from the extremes of recent hot summers, experts say bushfire threat still exceeds ‘worst case’ scenarios. The post Australia’s bushfire threat already beyond worst-case scenarios, thanks to climate change appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Australia’s bushfire threat already beyond worst-case scenarios, thanks to climate change — RenewEconomy
AGL to create fund to support investment in 2.7GW of wind and storage projects — RenewEconomy
AGL to create a new fund to help finance its planned wind project and battery and pumped hydro storage projects. The post AGL to create fund to support investment in 2.7GW of wind and storage projects appeared first on RenewEconomy.
AGL to create fund to support investment in 2.7GW of wind and storage projects — RenewEconomy
AGL coal closures inch forward, defying AEMO modelling and climate needs — RenewEconomy
AGL brings forward the closure of its last two coal generators, but it still falls well short of market forecasts and climate needs. The post AGL coal closures inch forward, defying AEMO modelling and climate needs appeared first on RenewEconomy.
AGL coal closures inch forward, defying AEMO modelling and climate needs — RenewEconomy
Construction begins – with golden shovels – on 110MW solar farm in Banana Shire — RenewEconomy
Construction underway at Moura solar farm roughly one year after the 110MW shovel ready project was bought by Greek industrial company, Mytilineos. The post Construction begins – with golden shovels – on 110MW solar farm in Banana Shire appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Construction begins – with golden shovels – on 110MW solar farm in Banana Shire — RenewEconomy
Renewables supplied five-times more electricity than gas generators in 2021 — RenewEconomy
Renewables continued to squeeze fossil fuels out of Australian electricity markets in 2021, with gas and coal slumping to historic lows. The post Renewables supplied five-times more electricity than gas generators in 2021 appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Renewables supplied five-times more electricity than gas generators in 2021 — RenewEconomy
Japan halts shipment of black rockfish caught off Fukushima over radiation — Fukushima 311 Watchdogs
Workers sort fishes after a fishing operation at Matsukawaura fishing port in Soma, Fukushima prefecture, Japan April 12, 2021, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Picture taken April 12, 2021. February 8, 2022 TOKYO, Feb 8 (Reuters) – Japan’s health ministry said on Tuesday it had ordered the suspension of shipments of black rockfish caught […]
Japan halts shipment of black rockfish caught off Fukushima over radiation — Fukushima 311 Watchdogs
Criminal case of the three TEPCO former executives in appeal — Fukushima 311 Watchdogs
A trial in which three former executives of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) were forcibly prosecuted by a resolution of the Public Prosecutors Examination Council for failing to prevent the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. This is a detailed record of the second trial. The second trial of TEPCO’s forced prosecution began, […]
Criminal case of the three TEPCO former executives in appeal — Fukushima 311 Watchdogs
Fukushima Unit 1: First internal investigation in 5 years — Fukushima 311 Watchdogs
Underwater robot captures images of reactor containment vessel 2022/02/08The Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) began an internal investigation of the containment vessel at the Unit 1 reactor of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant on February 8. An underwater robot was used to collect information on the sediment accumulating at the bottom of the vessel […]
Fukushima Unit 1: First internal investigation in 5 years — Fukushima 311 Watchdogs
11 Years after the Nuclear Accident, Tomioka Town, Fukushima: A “Reconstruction Base” in a Place Where No One Can Live — Fukushima 311 Watchdogs
February 7, 2022On January 26, restrictions on entry were lifted in a part of the difficult-to-return area designated in Tomioka Town, Fukushima Prefecture, following the accident at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The town and the government aim to lift the evacuation order for the reconstruction center in the spring of 2023. The town […]
11 Years after the Nuclear Accident, Tomioka Town, Fukushima: A “Reconstruction Base” in a Place Where No One Can Live — Fukushima 311 Watchdogs
NATO operationalizes space as its fifth battleground — Anti-bellum
NATOAllied Command TransformationFebruary 8, 2022 NATO’s New Space Policy Launches Activity for Allied Command Transformation NATO’s new space policy is a crucial step towards implementing space as an operational domain….Allied Command Transformation is prepared to contribute to this new effort. NATO is not new to space. The relationship began in 1966 and continues today. The […]
NATO operationalizes space as its fifth battleground — Anti-bellum
1 This month.
PETITION – To: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Government
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/235274195556
19 May – Webinar- Webinar: No Nuclear Weapons in Australia
Start: 2026-05-19 18:00:00 UTC Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney (GMT+10:00)
End: 2026-05-19 19:30:00 UTC Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney (GMT+10:00)
20 May – Webinar – The dangerous world of AUKUS, US, military occupation and suppression of dissent
National Webinar, 20th May, 2026, 6.30pm AEST. Confronting laws restricting/suppressing protest speech and action
Speakers: Former Sen. Rex Patrick, Lawyer Nick Hanna ,Arthur Rorris ,Jorgen Doyle, Sen David Shoebbridge,
Facilitator Kelley Tranter.
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
Antinuclear 