NUCLEAR INSANITY & THE LAST DAYS OF HUMAN DEPRAVITY . . . ~ LLAW
Dec 16, 2024
Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine emitting smoke from Russian attacks
LLAW’s NUCLEAR WORLD NEWS TODAY AND THEIR RISKS & CONSEQUENCES TOMORROW
This story comes from Sunday’s nuclear news, which gives me pause to consider returning to my previous ‘7-Days a Week’ schedule, or at least Posting “TODAY’s NUCLEAR WORLD’s NEWS daily on the weekends instead of waiting until Monday to add them. The frightening image alone for this story, seeing smoke instead of steam pouring out of one of Ukraine’s (and(Europe’s) largest nuclear power plant, is more than enough to scare the hell out of the world — especially because it was caused by yet another Russian attack on the plant now already in double figure since the 2022 re-invasion by Russia in their war against Ukraine.
The article is short, and a must read, and we here in America should be just as full of fear as Europe because this situation is not just a European issue, but rather a nuclear war possibility that affects the entire world . . . ~llaw
Europe fears nuclear catastrophe: This plant sets off all alarms due to risk of explosion
by Sanusha S.
in Energy
Euronews
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), located in eastern Ukraine, has been a focal point of global attention due to the conflict in this country. The Russian troops captured this plant in 2022 and since then have faced a multitude of threats like fire, military action, or damage to infrastructure. Notwithstanding clarifications from nuclear safety experts regarding the safety precautions taken at plants, it has been a severe reminder of the need for urgent global protocols to guard against those facilities during armed conflict.
Modern reactor designs: This is how the PWRs of Zaporizhzhia withstand disasters
The area around Zaporizhzhia has seen an increase in fears of disaster through fires, outages, and shelling around the site. However, experts argue that a Chernobyl-like explosion is almost impossible. Unlike the graphite-moderated reactor at Chernobyl, which Zaporizhzhia uses, the plant consists of pressurized water reactors (PWRs), which have no combustible elements and are encased in massive steel and concrete domes.
These modern designs reduce the likelihood of a hazardous radioactive release significantly. Still, loss of power creates serious risks because cooling systems that are used to cool the reactors may fail, along with cooling of spent fuel pools.
There is emergency diesel generation support, but between emergencies, the plant has had to rely on this backup seven times since the conflict started to stretch safety margins. The destruction of Kakhovka Dam makes conditions even more dangerous due to the reduced access to cooling water.
Zaporizhzhia: A plant which is embattled in a nuclear fire unprecedented conflict
This is the most unprecedented scenario: a nuclear plant turned into military target. Constant shelling, drone strikes and even presence of landmines on the premises intensifies risk of nuclear incident because of the occupation of ZNPP by Russian forces.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has sent inspectors and even suggested creating a demilitarized safety zone around the site, thus, these measures remain unimplemented. The agency has identified that all seven pillars of nuclear safety are compromised at Zaporizhzhia. These include protection of critical infrastructure and prevention of military use of the facility.
Global responses have been mixed since legal ambiguities have hampered a proper response. The Geneva Conventions and IAEA protocols did not specifically bar military actions against nuclear facilities, which leaves ZNPP in a dangerous legal gray zone. Thus, calls to establish a specific treaty to preserve such plants during armed conflicts remain pending. This emphasizes a greater call for making an urgent consensus in the international setting.
Europe’s preparedness: Contemporary response influenced by Chernobyl and Fukushima lessons
Though Zaporizhzhia is at risk, Europe and other places are better prepared to respond today than decades ago in similar emergency types. Learning from the mishaps at Chernobyl and Fukushima catalyzed higher standards, guidelines, and coordination of efforts across America and Europe.
In Europe, the IAEA collaborates with HERCA and EMSREG, to enhance preparedness even from facilities that have been affected by armed conflicts. Evacuation plans, communication setup, and distribution of iodine tablets are a few examples of such efforts to ameliorate public health risks due to radiation exposure.
However, they say only planning cannot replace a preventive approach. Safety margins continued to drift for ZNPP, and the IAEA, therefore, has issued a “grace period” warning, as this could end without proactive measures. Any radioactive release, however small, could have transborder consequences, increasing the war footprint on millions.
Moreover, Zaporizhzhia marks a stark reminder for the nuclear reactor facilities that military war infers risks. Even though modernization of reactors would usually reduce disastrous events, the margins for safety are becoming slimmer as urgent measures need to be taken. An international treaty prohibiting attacks on such sites, plus refreshed safety standards for conflict zones, will be pivotal towards the avoidance of future disasters. The clock is ticking.
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(Please note that the Sunday and Saturday NUCLEAR WORLD’S NEWS are also added below by category, following Monday’s news posts in order to maintain continuity of nuclear news as well as for research for the overall information provided in “LLAW;s All Things Nuclear”.)
There are 7 categories, with the latest addition, (#7) being a Friday weekly roundup of IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) global nuclear news stories. Also included is 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. The feature categories provide articles and information about ‘all things nuclear’ for you to pick from, usually with up to 3 links with headlines concerning 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 is one Yellowstone Caldera bonus story available in today’s Post.)
- IAEA Weekly News (Friday’s only)
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, Monday, (12/16/2024)
All Things Nuclear
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What we know about the mysterious drones reported over the East Coast – Yahoo
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Nuclear Power
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World’s 1st nuclear-diamond battery of its kind could power devices for 1000s of years
Live Science
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Will Nuclear Power Make A Comeback In The Bay Region? – The BayNet
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Nuclear War
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Putin Orders Nuclear Forces To Be Kept On Constant Alert – Newsweek
Newsweek
The Russian leader’s instructions come amid his bloody war with Ukraine and during a period of particularly fraught international relations.
Mayotte: ‘It feels like nuclear war aftermath’ after cyclone, residents say – AOL.com
AOL.com
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Finland accelerates preparedness for war in all forms – Euronews.com
Euronews.com
These are underground shelters designed to protect against nuclear war, complete with toilet facilities, beds, water basins. At all times Finns …
Nuclear War Threats
NEWS
Putin Orders Nuclear Forces To Be Kept On Constant Alert – Newsweek
Newsweek
… threats of nuclear war, via a video link in Moscow on October 26, 2022. The Russian leader has… Russian President Vladimir Putin oversees the …
Putin issues stark warning as he accuses West of pushing him to his ‘red lines’ – LBC
LBC
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War and peace: one of the major and increasingly immediate threats is war … This week: I am speaking at a meeting on war and the nuclear threat on
Yellowstone Caldera
NEWS
Mag. 3.8 earthquake – New Zealand on Sunday, Dec 15, 2024, at 10:34 am (GMT +12)
Volcano Discovery
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Sunday’s NUCLEAR WORLD’s NEWS, (12/15/2024)
All Things Nuclear
NEWS
U.S. oil giant’s CEO is a fan of this nuclear energy technology and thinks there could be a …
Yahoo Finance
“It’s all to understand where that technology is moving and think about applications,” Wirth explained, adding that Chevron also hperience ..
Amazon’s New Year Surprise: A $1 Billion Bet on Nuclear Power | The Motley Fool
The Motley Fool
When you hear the name Amazon.com (AMZN -0.66%), a couple of things probably pop to mind. E-commerce, first and most obviously — after all, Amazon is .
2-billion-year-old nuclear reactor found: It generated energy for more than … – ECOticias.com
ECOticias.com
This remarkable revelation was the first direct evidence of natural nuclear fission, and it altered substantially all our views about nuclear physics.
Nuclear Power
NEWS
Transformer fire shuts unit of South Carolina nuclear power station | Reuters
Reuters
A transformer at a nuclear power plant in South Carolina caught fire on Sunday, burning for about 30 minutes, but no nuclear material was in …
U.S. oil giant’s CEO is a fan of this nuclear energy technology and thinks there could be a …
Yahoo Finance
Chevron CEO Mike Wirth sees promise in small modular nuclear reactors, which have become popular in the tech sector recently, and signaled openness to …
Europe fears nuclear catastrophe: This plant sets off all alarms due to risk of explosion
ECOticias.com
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, located in eastern Ukraine, has been a focal point of global attention due to the conflict in this country.
Nuclear Power Emergencies
NEWS
Russian air strikes endanger Ukraine’s nuclear power plants – MSN
MSN
Their destruction could plunge the country into a blackout and trigger a nuclear emergency, Ukraine’s Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko told the …
Putin’s nuclear submarine detected off UK coast sparking emergency meeting – MSN
MSN
Putin’s nuclear submarine detected off UK coast sparking emergency … We EXPLORE UKS TOP SECRET NUCLEAR Bunker DEEP UNDERGROUND With Power & Water …
Nuclear War
NEWS
In Conversation with Jon Finer: Recent Developments in the Biden Administration’s WMD Policies
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Join the Arms Control Association and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace for a discussion on the Biden Administration’s nuclear …
A Cold War-era bomb shelter in Florida has new owners. What’s going on there?
USA Today
A crypto-mining cabal? The ‘ultimate man cave’? Someone just bought a nuclear bomb shelter in Florida. Neighbors have questions.
Inheriting the Bomb: Ukraine’s Nuclear Disarmament and Why It Matters | Events
Middlebury College
Dr. Mariana Budjeryn of Harvard University’s Project on Managing the Atom will be in conversation with Professor Stephen Herzog of the James …
Nuclear War Threats
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Prominent Iranian Figure Issues Threat To Qatar In Case Of US Attack – i24NEWS
i24 News
Prominent Iranian figure issues threat to Qatar in case of US attack. A former member of the Iranian delegation to the P5+1 talks published threats in …
Navigating Geopolitical Threats In The Insurance Sector – Analysis – Eurasia Review
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… risks (generative artificial intelligence and cybersecurity threats, among others) have exacerbated insurance premiums across the board for all …
Russian nuclear test threats: Kremlin’s alarming rhetoric – MSN
MSN
Such reports are elements of the information war conducted by the Russian Federation. … Putin’s nuclear threats lose impact as West ignores red lines.
Yellowstone Caldera
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What would happen if the real volcano at Yellowstone erupted? Taylor Sheridan’s show’s …
Soap Central
The Yellowstone volcano is located at the Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. In naming his show after a volcanic site, Sheridan played with …
Mag. 2.5 quake – North Pacific Ocean, 59 km east of Kuji, Iwate, Japan, on Sunday, Dec 15 …
Volcano Discovery
More on VolcanoDiscovery. Yellowstone quakes · Yellowstone quakes · Latest earthquakes under Yellowstone volcano … caldera, and Ijen in East Java.
Saturday’s NUCLEAR WORLD’s NEWS, (12/14/2024)
All Things Nuclear
NEWS
Will Joe Biden Take Away Donald Trump’s Nuclear Power? – YouTube
YouTube
… nuclear weapons aimed to curb unilateral power as Donald Trump prepares to return to the Oval Office in January. Currently, the States vests all …
Amazon’s New Year Surprise: A $1 Billion Bet on Nuclear Power – The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail
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Gudziak: Russia’s war on Ukraine undermines global, nuclear security – St. Louis Review –
St. Louis Review –
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Nuclear Power
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NJ’s largest utility firm begs feds to shut down airspace over nuclear plant as mystery drones spotted
New York Post
Aerial view of Salem Nuclear Power Plant and Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station on the Delaware Concerns are growing amid a spate of mystery …
Will Joe Biden Take Away Donald Trump’s Nuclear Power? – YouTube
YouTube
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Arcadis
… power generation, its widespread implementation is not without roadblocks. Current nuclear power sources consist of large-scale power plants that …
Nuclear Power Emergencies
NEWS
Europe fears nuclear catastrophe: This plant sets off all alarms due to risk of explosion
ECOticias.com
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, located in eastern … There is emergency diesel generation support, but between emergencies, the plant …
Nuclear power provides ’24/7 electricity’ for ‘reliable’ energy production – MSN
MSN
Nuclear power provides ’24/7 electricity’ for ‘reliable’ energy production … Moldova Declares State of Emergency in Energy Sector. Dagens.com (AU).
Nuclear War
NEWS
Dialectics of a Different War: How Syria’s Collapse Could Impact Israel’s Nuclear Deterrence …
Jurist.org
Iranian threats of biological warfare, biological terrorism, electromagnetic weapons (EMP), or massive conventional attack. A good place for Israeli …
World War 3 soon? Trump planning to strike Iranian nuclear sites – YouTube
YouTube
US President-elect Donald Trump is weighing options to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and a preemptive strike on Iranian nuclear …
Mystery Drones and Nuclear Stability – WSJ
WSJ
Which brings us to a big lacuna in the popular new book by Annie Jacobsen, “Nuclear War: A Scenario.” She treats the world’s nuclear arsenals as a …
Nuclear War Threats
NEWS
Dialectics of a Different War: How Syria’s Collapse Could Impact Israel’s Nuclear Deterrence …
Jurist.org
… nuclear threats could extend to threats of nuclear counter-retaliation. … nuclear conflict would enlarge the risks of an inadvertent nuclear war.
Russia Launches Missile Attack on Ukraine’s Energy Infrastructure – The New York Times
The New York Times
… threats that the attacks pose to nuclear safety. “The international community must increase pressure on Russia for its deliberate attempts to …
Ira Helfand: A bomb survivors warn of nuclear danger – Daily Hampshire Gazette
Daily Hampshire Gazette
In fact Russian President Vladimir Putin makes almost daily threats to use his nuclear …