LLAW’s All Things Nuclear #669, Saturday, (06/22/2024)
“End Nuclear Insanity Before Nuclear Insanity Ends Humanity"
U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), hold a news conference outside the U.S. Capitol on September 20, 2023 in Washington, D.C.
(Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
LLAW’s NUCLEAR ISSUES & COMMENTS, Saturday, (06/22/2024)
As civilians who have slim to no access to valuable information needed to conduct our lives, including our elected bureaucrats and ‘experts’ on nuclear war who are constantly making recommendations or even lawful decisions based on little more than hot air, e.g. approving an increase in financial support of nuclear power plants (new ones, those in use, and even those shut down and rising from the dead), and arbitrarily loosening NRC safety rules and regulations for allowing new on-line plants in the future, all for meeting the impossible-to-achieve 2050 deadline to reach ‘net zero’ carbon when a majority of politicians don’t even understand what the meaning of ‘net zero CO2’ is.
Only two bureaucrats, thank you both, voted against the nuclear plan — so how do we have any idea from the constant official ‘yes’/’no’ responses we see daily in the media, both concerning nuclear power and nuclear war, are worth considering? Following are examples of articles (one relating to nuclear power; the other relating to nuclear war) that can easily be described as meaningless (for totally different reasons) because we don’t know and won’t admit that we don’t know what we think we know, so we blindly move forward for no logical reason, or we simply say, “but on the other hand”, when we can’t have it both ways. . . ~llaw
88-2: Only Markey, Sanders Oppose 'Expensive, Risky' Nuclear Power Expansion
Calling the vote "disappointing," one campaigner warned: "Nuclear is, at best, a waste of resources. At worst, it's a meltdown."
Jun 19, 2024
Just U.S. Sens. Ed Markey and Bernie Sanders on Tuesday voted against legislation that one scientist warned this week "will only increase the danger to people already living downwind" of nuclear power facilities.
The Fire Grants and Safety Act—which now includes provisions from the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy (ADVANCE) Act—passed 88-2, with six Republicans, three Democrats, and one Independent not voting.
Speaking on the upper chamber's floor Tuesday, Markey (D-Mass.)—who chairs the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Safety—stressed his support for the United States Fire Administration and firefighter assistance grant programs, and those working to keep U.S. communities safe.
"Unfortunately, the vote today is not just for the lifesaving programs that I am staunchly on record as supporting," he explained. "On the coattails of this noncontroversial bill to protect our heroes, our colleagues in the House tacked on a dangerous additional 90-page package of provisions that merged the Senate's ADVANCE Act and the House's Atomic Energy Advancement Act."
The legislation—now on its way to President Joe Biden's desk—puts "corporate profits over community cleanup," the senator said. "Notably, the provisions from the Senate bill that would have provided a much-needed $225 million for communities affected by nuclear closures and $100 million to clean up contaminated tribal communities are not in the legislation anymore, as it came back from the House of Representatives—but the provisions to prop up the nuclear industry, they remain."
Highlighting that the bill would, among other things, require the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to rewrite its mission statement to say that its regulation and oversight should "not unnecessarily limit... civilian use of radioactive materials and deployment of nuclear energy," Markey declared that the NRC "shouldn't be the Nuclear Retail Commission."
"We have a duty to set the strongest possible standards for domestic and international nuclear activities, as an example to the rest of the world," he said of the United States. "We also have to clean up our existing messes, particularly in tribal and environmental justice communities, before investing in anything that might make those messes worse. As a result, despite my strong and continued support for the fire safety grants and my respect for my colleagues working on this issue, I must vote no."
"It's disappointing that the Senate chose to promote nuclear power when America is flush with energy options that are better for people and the planet."
Praising Markey and Sanders (I-Vt.), Beyond Nuclear on Wednesday urged the bill's critics to call their offices "to thank them for their courageous, wise, and good NO votes, despite it all," adding that "they spoke truth to power, and have kept some glimmer of hope alive, despite this very dark moment in the cause of anti-nuclear, environmental, and environmental justice activism."
The Senate's approval of the legislation was celebrated by the nuclear industry and its advocates. Environment America noted that in addition to the NRC mission statement rewrite, the bill "promotes nuclear power, including small modular reactors (SMRs) and highly concentrated nuclear fuel, and the export of nuclear materials and technology."
Johanna Neumann, senior director of the group's Campaign for 100% Renewable Energy, said after the vote, "It's disappointing that the Senate chose to promote nuclear power when America is flush with energy options that are better for people and the planet."
"Nuclear is, at best, a waste of resources. At worst, it's a meltdown," she continued. "Why are we choosing to split atoms when it's cheaper, faster, and better for the environment to cut energy waste and power our lives with wind and solar?"
"Government officials should embrace energy efficiency and renewables as the best solutions to America's challenges," she added.
Isaac Bowers, federal legislative director of Public Interest Research Group, similarly said that "American consumers have better energy options than nuclear power. It makes no sense to perpetuate this expensive, risky industry when America has an abundance of cleaner, safer, and more affordable renewable energy sources."
June 22, 2024 Topic: Security Region: Europe Blog Brand: The Buzz Tags: RussiaUkraineWar In UkrainePutinNuclear WeaponsMilitaryDefense
World War III Coming Soon? Putin Makes A New Nuclear War Threat over Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent nuclear threats against Ukraine and NATO have raised concerns. Despite these threats, a nuclear strike seems unlikely as the war currently favors Russia, with its forces on the rise and Ukraine's recent counteroffensive faltering.
Summary and Key Points: Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent nuclear threats against Ukraine and NATO have raised concerns. Despite these threats, a nuclear strike seems unlikely as the war currently favors Russia, with its forces on the rise and Ukraine's recent counteroffensive faltering.
-However, Putin's unpredictability and the Kremlin's historical willingness to take drastic measures make future actions uncertain.
-Should the situation deteriorate for Russia, the risk of nuclear escalation could increase, leaving global leaders wary of Putin's next move.
Putin's Nuclear Threats: Is Russia's Advantage in Ukraine Keeping Them at Bay?
Are you certain Russian President Vladimir Putin won’t use nuclear weapons against Ukraine?
If you ask this question in Washington, D.C., and around the European capitals, you will get contradictory answers.
Putin and Kremlin officials have been making regular nuclear threats against not only Ukraine but also NATO.
The latest such threat came yesterday during a joint press conference with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un in North Korea.
Nuclear Threats from Putin...Again
Putin implied in recent press statements that he could authorize the Russian military to launch a nuclear strike—most likely tactical—against Ukraine if the war goes against him.
“Putin implicitly threatened to use nuclear weapons if the West enables Ukraine to decisively defeat Russia in order to undermine the international community's cohering strategic vision of support for Ukraine,” the Institute for the Study of War assessed in a recent update on the war in Ukraine.
Putin’s coded nuclear remarks likely came in response to recent statements by NATO officials about the need for increased nuclear readiness with an eye toward Russia.
The West has braced for a Russian nuclear strike before, and at some point, the CIA was working on contingency plans on how to prevent such an attack. As of now, however, it seems highly unlikely that Putin will order a nuclear strike for a simple reason: his forces are on the rise.
Currently, the war is going in Moscow’s favor. The last large-scale Ukrainian counteroffensive last summer failed to achieve the intended operational breakthrough, despite Kyiv throwing into combat its most elite units equipped with Western weapon systems, such as Leopard 2, Challenger 2, and M1 Abrams main battle tanks and M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles.
Not only did the Ukrainian military fail to achieve an operational breakthrough, but the Russian forces also went on the counteroffensive and are now pressuring the Ukrainians along the contact line.
Russia Wins in Ukraine - but at a Massive Cost
To be sure, the Russian forces are taking devasting casualties. In May alone, Moscow lost close to 40,000 men, or more than 1,000 a day, killed, wounded, or captured. Overall, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense assesses—and is largely corroborated by Western intelligence services—that Moscow has lost more than 530,000 men in the fighting so far. Casualties in heavy weapon systems are also high, with the Russian military losing every day more than 100 main battle tanks, artillery pieces, infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, and unmanned aerial systems.
However, Russia has shown a remarkable force generation capability. Despite losing more than twice the initial invasion force, the Russian military has as many as 500,000 men in Ukraine. Their quality isn’t the best, but they make do for the Kremlin’s purposes.
So, right now, the Kremlin doesn’t have a reason to launch a nuclear weapon against Ukraine. However, if the situation on the ground changes, then that is another issue, and no one can accurately predict what a dictator like Putin can do.
About the Author: Biography and Military Expertise
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
ABOUT THE FOLLOWING ACCESS TO “LLAW’S ALL THINGS NUCLEAR” RELATED MEDIA:
There are 6 categories, including a bonus non-nuclear category for news about the Yellowstone caldera and other volcanic and caldera activity around the world that play an important role in humanity’s lives, as do ‘all things nuclear’ for you to pick from, usually with up to 3 links in each category about the most important media stories in each category, but sometimes fewer and occasionally even none (especially so with the Yellowstone Caldera). The Categories are listed below in their usual order:
All Things Nuclear
Nuclear Power
Nuclear Power Emergencies
Nuclear War
Nuclear War Threats
Yellowstone Caldera (Note: There no Yellowstone Caldera bonus stories available in this evening’s Post.)
Whenever there is an underlined link to a Category media news story, if you press or click on the link provided, you no longer have to cut and paste to your web browser, since this Post’s link will take you directly to the article in your browser.
A current Digest of major nuclear media headlines with automated links is listed below by nuclear Category (in the above listed order). If a Category heading does not appear in the daily news Digest, it means there was no news reported from this Category today. Generally, the three best articles in each Category from around the nuclear world(s) are Posted. Occasionally, if a Post is important enough, it may be listed in multiple Categories.
TODAY’S NUCLEAR WORLD’S NEWS, Saturday, (06/22/2024)
All Things Nuclear
NEWS
Senate sends major nuclear reforms bill to White House - ExchangeMonitor
ExchangeMonitor
If signed, the bill would among other things: Require that the ... Mandate that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission assess every three years ...
Powering down: New York's Indian Point debacle; nuclear energy is part of the green future
New York Daily News
We're not talking about solar or wind or geothermal power, all of which are welcome, but nuclear, like Indian Point — which, especially with new ...
Turner Doubles Down on Russian Nuclear ASAT Threat - SpacePolicyOnline.com
SpacePolicyOnline.com
... about Russia's plans to place a nuclear weapon in orbit. ... all known information concerning the status of Russia's nuclear antisatellite weapons ...
Nuclear Power
NEWS
Vietnam and Russia discuss nuclear energy collaboration
World Nuclear News
A memorandum has been signed relating to the construction project for a Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology in Vietnam - with discussions ...
Congress passes bill to jumpstart new nuclear power tech | Ars Technica
Ars Technica
The bill's language focuses on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and its role in licensing nuclear reactor technology. The NRC is directed to ...
U.S. Senate passes bill aimed at speeding up advanced nuclear deployments
Power Engineering
The ''Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy Act of 2024,” or ADVANCE Act, aims to speed up permitting and create new ...
Nuclear Power Emergencies
NEWS
Have a Go Bag ready in case of an emergency during hurricane season | CW39 Houston
CW39 Houston
... emergency or when you need to act fast, we can sometimes forget things ... The Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, is ...
A needless holiday - Newspaper - DAWN.COM
Dawn
THE government declared holiday on May 28 to commemorate Youm-i-Takbeer. I am proud of my country being a nuclear power, but people of the country ...
JAL flight makes emergency landing in northern Japan - XM
XM
... emergency landing on Saturday, a company ... Ukrainian drones knock out two substations near Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, Russia-installed...
Nuclear War
NEWS
Putin Issues Nuclear Warning to West - Newsweek
Newsweek
Earlier this month, Vladimir Putin warned that his country's nuclear doctrine is "a living instrument" that can be changed.
World War III Coming Soon? Putin Makes A New Nuclear War Threat over Ukraine
The National Interest
Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent nuclear threats against Ukraine and NATO have raised concerns. Despite these threats, a nuclear strike ...
Putin Gives Ominous Nuclear Triad Warning - Newsweek
Newsweek
Vladimir Putin used his speech before Russian military graduates to announce an upgrade to the country's nuclear arsenal.
Nuclear War Threats
NEWS
World War III Coming Soon? Putin Makes A New Nuclear War Threat over Ukraine
The National Interest
Putin and Kremlin officials have been making regular nuclear threats against not only Ukraine but also NATO. The latest such threat came yesterday ...
There won't be a debate on nuclear issues this election cycle. But if there were...
Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation
... threats of nuclear war, how would you protect America from such action? Speaking of Russia, the last treaty limiting nuclear weapons, the New ...
Putin Gives Ominous Nuclear Triad Warning - Newsweek
Newsweek
Putin Issues New Ominous Nuclear Threat. By Hugh Cameron. Live News ... Israel at War Vladimir Putin Russia-Ukraine War Donald Trump. Subscriptions ...