AUSTRALIA
Well, in the election fever, I thought that there was no nuclear news. However, I’ve learned that there has been a series of radio broadcasts – Radio Adelaide – covering the push for the full nuclear cycle in South Australia. And it’s worse than I had thought. I have listened to only the latest of these broadcasts, but it really did wake me up as to what is being proposes for South Australia.
I had thought that it was motivated by money – the idea of somehow making money out of nuclear power. Well, of course, it IS money. But the big connection is really uranium enrichment plans for the nuclear weapons industry, and USA’s nuclear war strategy. South Australia’s already got Beverley and Heathgate uranium mines, owned by nuclear weapons giant General Atomics. No surprise that some want to further entrench Adelaide’s military-industrial -intelligence complex in the nuclear war machine. Encouragment is provided by Professor Stefan Simons, of UCL Adelaide, funded by BHP. Anyway, I have transcribed this broadcast - at http://antinuclear.net/2013/08/29/radio-adelaide-the-hub-of-military-ind... Election.
I am so fed up with all the rubbish. That includes the Liberal Coalition saying on Wednesday that they would use Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to fund a solar power station in Victoria. and on Thursday that they would cut the funding of ARENA. But I did like Guy Rundle’s respectful and insightful story about Greens leader, Christine Milne at http://www.crikey.com.au/2013/08/28/rundle-inside-the-greens-circus-minu...
INTERNATIONAL
Fukushima again dominates the news – reactor foundations possibly unstable , just as much water pouring out as going in to cool reactors. Russia again offering help, (a good idea- they have the best knowledge). Lawmakers call for a state of emergency in Japan – but Prime minister Abe is away in Middle East, marketing japan’s nuclear technology. Fukushima’s fishing industry shut down indefinitely.
Syria and the world. The situation has the potential to bring about a nuclear war between USA and Russia.
USA. Women and discrimination. Now this one really surprised me. It sounds as if some women are complaining of discrimination, because NASA makes stricter rules for female astronauts because they have a greater risk of getting cancer from space radiation, than men do !
Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant to shut down, for financial reasons. Rumours that Indian Point nuclear plant could be the next to fall. Plan for nuclear waste to Mississippi meeting with strong objections, especially as there’s a rumour they might import nuclear wastes from France.
Concerns about radioactivity in fish at the top of the Pacific food chain on USA West Coast – need to test tuna, salmon and herring.
France: nuclear regulator demands huge expenditure to improve safety of nuclear plants
India: A new book “The Power of Promise” gives a devastating account of the corruption in India’s nuclear industry.
Taiwan sends back radioactive containers to Japan.
Fracking. New concerns here, as new “improved’ methods involve the use of depleted uranium in the drilling process. Kazakhstan’s water imperilled by in situ leaching of uranium
