CND Press Digest: Monday 11th March 2024

NATO / Europe

• Sweden’s veteran peace movement stung by ‘reckless’ entry to NATO. Activists say public debate has been shut down by overhyped claims of imminent war since Ukraine invasion.
• Zelensky leads outrage over Pope’s ‘raise white flag’ comment.
• Kremlin declines comment on report US prepared for Russian nuclear strike in Ukraine.
• Asia Times: NATO’s nuclear deterrent just got more precise. US F-35A Joint Strike Fighter can now carry the B61-12 precision-guided nuke, revamping NATO’s nuclear deterrence vis-a-vis Russia.

Middle East & North Africa

• Diplomats fear growing power of Iranian factions that want nuclear weapons. Warnings that war in Gaza and Iran’s lack of cooperation on its nuclear programme are strengthening hand of hardliners.
• BBC: Tens of thousands call for Gaza ceasefire in London march.
• The Observer: For extremists trying to tear down democracy, this was pretty peaceful.

AUKUS / Indo-Pacific

• AUKUS navy chiefs convene for defence conference in WA.
• New Zealand and Australia discuss expanding AUKUS military pact.

Global Nukes

• Christopher Nolan’s son told him’young people aren’t concerned’ about nukes while making “Oppenheimer.”
• Vox: I’m an expert in the end of the world. The Oscar-nominated Oppenheimer made me cry in terror.
• Christopher Nolan encourages pressure on politicians to reduce nuclear weapons.

Nukes in Britain

• The Telegraph: RAF needs nuclear weapons as backup to Trident, (Chatham House) expert says.

UK Nuclear Energy

• BBC Today interviews Simon Bowen of Great British Nuclear. Listen back on BBC Sounds.
• Decision over first mini-nuke sites The Times: Delays in securing another developer at a site earmarked for the construction of a nuclear power station will cost the British economy £90 million a year, the Welsh Labour party has claimed.
• Can Labour prove the safety of the nuclear energy they support?
• Nuclear Free Local Authorities call for NO new nuclear plants in national parks.

Nuclear Energy

• ‘Tell him he’s dreaming’: Bowen rubbishes Coalition claim Australia could have nuclear power in a decade.
• IAEA’s Grossi calls on World Bank to fund nuclear energy.
• Conditions inside Fukushima’s melted nuclear reactors still unclear 13 years after disaster struck.
• Nuclear power policy to be Financial Times: US uranium miners resurrected by nuclear revival and Ukraine war.
• The Bulletin: Nuclear industry wants Canada to lift ban on reprocessing plutonium, despite proliferation risks

Best,

Pádraig McCarrick

Press and Communications Officer

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament