Star Wars Redux: Trump’s Space Force | Karl Grossman | Counterpunch

If Donald Trump gets his way on formation of a Space Force, the heavens would become a war zone. Inevitably, there would be military conflict in space.

The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 which designates space as the global commons to be used for peaceful purposes—and of which Russia and China, as well as the United States, are parties—and the years of work facilitating the treaty since would be wasted.

If the U.S. goes up into space with weapons, Russia and China, and then India and Pakistan and other countries, will follow.

Moreover space weaponry, as I have detailed through the years in my writings and TV programs, would be nuclear-powered—as Reagan’s Star Wars scheme was to be with nuclear reactors and plutonium systems on orbiting battle platforms providing the power for hypervelocity guns, particle beams and laser weapons.

This is what would be above our heads.

Amid the many horrible things being done by the Trump administration, this would be the most terribly destructive.

“It is not enough to merely have an American presence in space, we must have American dominance in space,” Trump said at a meeting of the National Space Council this week.

“Very importantly, I’m hereby directing the Department of Defense and Pentagon,” he went on Monday, “to immediately begin the process necessary to establish a Space Force as the sixth branch of the armed forces; that is a big statement. We are going to have the Air Force and we are going to have the Space Force, separate but equal, it is going to be something…”

more: Star Wars Redux: Trump’s Space Force

#NuclearHotseat 365 :: Anniversary time! 7 Years of Nuclear Hotseat! Do I hear 8? Yes!

Nuclear Hotseat 7th Anniversary of weekly nuclear news… from a different perspective! 

Producer/Host Libbe HaLevy interviews Dr. Heidi Hutner on her two new projects: ACCIDENTS CAN HAPPEN: VOICES OF WOMEN AND NUCLEAR DISASTERS, and the film: ACCIDENTS CAN HAPPEN: VOICES OF WOMEN FROM THREE MILE ISLAND.   #Nuclear Hotseat 365

LISTEN NOW

This Week’s Featured Interview:

• Dr. Heidi Hutner is a professor of Sustainability and English at Stony Brook University, and a scholar of nuclear and environmental history, and ecofeminism.  We get heads-up information on her two most recent projects: the book, ACCIDENTS CAN HAPPEN: VOICES OF WOMEN FROM NUCLEAR DISASTERS, and the film, ACCIDENTS CAN HAPPEN: VOICES OF WOMEN FROM THREE MILE ISLAND.  To view the sizzle reel from the film, CLICK HERE.  

Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness):

A purported West Point Mechanical Engineer who serves as a Vice President at Holtec Nuclear, makers of 5/8″ thin stainless steel high level radioactive materials storage tanks that we’re supposed to believe will work, seems to think that the tanks can’t leak because the nuclear contents are not a liquid!  

… more … 

Activist Shout-Outs:

Congratulations to Dennis Riches, a long time listener and supporter living in Japan, on his just published a book of  blog posts on nuclear –  Sayonara Nukes: The Case for Abolishing Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Weapons.  It is a selection of essays posted between 2011 and 2016 on Dennis’ blog www.nf2045.blogspot.com. By the terms of the grant with which it was published, this limited run of 800 books is being distributed at no cost to recipients by the Center for Glocal Studies. Request a free copy of Sayonara Nukes by sending an email to glocalstudies@seijo.ac.jp. You may be requested to pay for the cost of shipping… but it’s worth it!

LISTEN NOW: Anniversary time! 7 Years of Nuclear Hotseat! Do I hear 8? Yes!

Don't Let #DirtyEnergy Trump the Climate

Help Us StopTrump’s #DirtyEnergy Plan and Save Our #CleanEnergy Future

Trump has issued an order calling for a massive dirty energy bailout to ensure America continues to rely on nuclear and coal for years to come. This is a fight for America’s clean energy future and everything that comes along with it--millions of good jobs, thriving communities, and safe, healthy food, air, and water. 

Despite renewable energy's benefits, President Trump is prioritizing coal and nuclear industries and their executives by funneling billions of dollars in subsidies to keep dirty, old, dangerous power plants going.

NIRS is organizing to stop them, and we need you to join us!  We have to educate and mobilize the public across the country. It is going to take petitions, protests, and lots of grassroots organizing – and we have to start now.

If this story sounds familiar ... it should! Trump tried to do the same thing last year, demanding massive subsidies for uncompetitive nuclear and coal plants. 

But we stopped him! In January, federal regulators listened to the public and said no. Now, just a few months later, Trump is back at it again -- with an even larger and worse bailout plan.

We’ve started this crowdfunding campaign to raise $20,000 to get this effort off the ground.  The good news is: Your donation will go twice as far toward making that happen. Another generous supporter is offering to match every dollar you contribute, so your support will be doubled.

Stopping Trump’s Nuclear and Coal Bailout means more of the dirty radiation and soot factories will close, and demand for solar, wind, and other clean, safe, efficient, renewable energy sources will accelerate.

But here’s the thing: we need to reach thousands more people, to make sure they know about Trump’s plans and can take action to stop it. We ask that you make a contribution to support the campaign, so we can reach more people like yourself. We also hope you will tell your friends about the petition, as well as this crowdfunding effort. 

The good news is, some generous donors have offered to match every donation, no matter how big or small, to help us get there. For every dollar you and your friends give, another donor will match it.

Thanks for taking the time to learn about our campaign and for whatever support you can give.

For a Nuclear-Free, Carbon-Free World!

The NIRS TeamJasmine Bright – Communications Specialist
Diane D’Arrigo – Radioactive Waste Project Director
Lyn Griffith Taylor – Energy Democracy Specialist
Denise Jakobsberg – Administrative Coordinator
Tim Judson – Executive Director
Mary Olson – Director, NIRS Southeast

Don't Let #DirtyEnergy Trump the Climate