CND Press Roundup Monday 12th September 2022

War in Ukraine / NATO

• Operations at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant have been suspended, after the final reactor in operation was shut down over the weekend.

• The Independent has an explainer on how the shutdown of Zaporizhzhia reduces the risk of a disaster.

• Vladimir Putin and France’s Emmanuel Macron held talks on Sunday with both trading blame on who was responsible for shelling at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia plant. Moscow has laid the blame at attacking Ukrainian forces while Macron called for Russia to withdraw its heavy and light weapons from around the plant and to back the UN nuclear watchdog’s recommendation for a safety zone.

• AFP reports claims by Ukraine’s nuclear energy regulator that Russian troops had killed two Ukrainian staff at Zaporizhzhia and abused dozens of others.

Nuclear Disarmament

• This Peace News column looks at recent comments by ICAN on Russian nuclear threats but notes a lack of similar condemnation for nuclear threats made by the US during the Gulf War or when China was a nonnuclear weapons state.

UK Nuclear Energy

• A good letter in the Herald on the sheer expense of nuclear power versus renewables.

• The Times reports on how French-owned nuclear firm EDF is in talks with ministers to place a price cap on electricity in order to help with soaring energy bills.

• That’s as the Observer interviews Centrica boss Chris O’Shea – Centrica owns a 20 percent stake in nuclear plants in Britain – where O’Shea expresses an interest in becoming involved with Sizewell C in Suffolk.

• That’s as the Telegraph fears Emmanual Macron could be the one to scupper Boris Johnson’s legacy by pulling the plug on EDF participation in overseas nuclear projects. The indebted French state-owned utility is vital to Sizewell C getting off the ground with experts saying a pull-out would see project collapse.

Nuclear Energy

• Switzerland is planning to build an underground nuclear storage site close to its border with Germany, leaving residents on the German side concerned about safety issues and their clean water supply.

Iran Nuclear Deal

• Britain, France and Germany released a joint statement on Saturday, revealing doubts on Iran’s commitment to reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Last month, the EU submitted the final draft of a revived agreement which is still subject to wrangling by Washington and Tehran. It notes that: “Given Iran’s failure to conclude the deal on the table we will consult, alongside international partners, on how best to address Iran’s continued nuclear escalation and lack of cooperation with the IAEA regarding its NPT safeguards agreement.”

• That’s as Israel said it does not expect a nuclear deal to be concluded before the US midterm elections.

Fukushima

• The Observer goes to Japan and interviews Hisanao Okawara – the owner of Ose Winery in Fukushima Prefectures – about selling his beverage in the decade following the 2011 nuclear disaster.

Bruce Kent

• Peace News has republished a classic column by Bruce Kent on how direct action can come in all shapes and sizes.