CND Press Digest: Monday 9th September 2024

CND

• The Westmorland Gazette covers a recent protest by South Lakeland and Lancaster District CND and other campaign groups across Cumbria, outside a company that produces materials for the F-35 programme.
• Obituary for The Rt Revd Mark Santer in Church Times, which references CND. Mark was a CND member, had traveled extensively in Pacific Test Site Area, and also led services for Christian CND. Thanks to Dave Pybus for supplying the additional information.

Nukes in Britain

• Devon Live: Britain’s nuclear weapons tests deserve to be honoured. Richard Foord MP says tribute to the over 22,000 service personnel were nuclear test veterans, who observed in the 1950s and 1960s detonations of nuclear weapons by the UK, in the Pacific.

Global Nukes

• A ramp-up in nuclear weapons is not always a bad thing, writes former deputy secretary-general of NATO Rose Gottemoeller in the FT.
• The Conversation: Is Russia’s changing nuclear doctrine a significant concern – or just another empty threat?
• US Republican Congressman Mike Turner writes in the New York Times calling for more investment in nuclear weapons.
• Reuters Exclusive: US researchers find probable launch site of Russia’s new nuclear-powered missile

Ukraine

• CIA boss reveals. Bill Burns says sudden breakthrough of troops in the north east of the country stoked fears Putin would use the most extreme measures.
• CNBC: CIA director saw ‘genuine risk’ of Russia using tactical nuclear weapons early in Ukraine war.
• The Guardian: CIA boss says west should not be intimidated by Russia’s nuclear threats. Bill Burns calls Vladimir Putin a ‘bully’ whose ‘sabre-rattling’ should not always be taken literally.

Nuclear Waste

• BBC: Which rural area will take the UK’s nuclear waste?
• Oil Price: As we go into a new nuclear energy era, there are renewed concerns about what to do with the waste generated from nuclear plants. Nuclear waste is toxic and can remain radioactive for around 10,000 years, meaning that it needs to be disposed of appropriately to ensure people and the environment are kept safe. Despite the challenges involved, several countries around the globe are pursuing new nuclear power agendas in support of a green transition and coming up with innovative ways to dispose of the radioactive waste produced at nuclear facilities.

UK Nuclear Power

• Energy Live News and This is Money report on a review ordered by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, which throws plans to build a new nuclear reactor in Anglesey into doubt. 

Nuclear Power

• Renew Extra Weekly: Renewables beat nuclear – even with full balancing included.
• CNN: The US is dismantling nuclear warheads to power the next generation of reactors.

NATO / Europe

• Interesting Engineering: German fighter jet carrying nuclear bomb under fuselage spotted over US. B61-12 nuclear bomb trainer under jet’s belly was spotted.
• The Guardian: NATO condemns Russian drone violations of Latvia and Romania airspace.
• Reuters: German intelligence says Russian GRU group behind NATO, EU cyberattacks.
• Declassified UK: How Britain prefers war over peace in Ukraine. Boris Johnson avoided promoting a compromise peace in Ukraine after Russia invaded. Now, Labour continues to help prolong the conflict to secure British interests.

Middle East

• Stimson: Israeli actions push Iran closer to nuclear weapons. If Israel and Iran were to engage in a conventional air war, Khamenei could be pressed to reverse his religious edict banning Iran from producing weapons of mass destruction

AUKUS/ Indo-Pacific

• The Guardian: Australia thought it was done with Trump, now the US treaty ally is readying for his possible return. Canberra is focused on what a second Trump presidency could mean for AUKUS – its deal to acquire nuclear-powered submarines.
• South China Morning Post: US arms sales to Israel hurt America’s credibility on AUKUS. The claim that Aukus is about safeguarding international law in the Indo-Pacific sounds hypocritical, after the US-enabled carnage in Gaza.

Best,

Pádraig McCarrick

Press and Communications Officer

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament