Don’t Believe the Hype about Nuclear Weapons
In The Guardian, Caroline Lucas, Gerry Weston and Michael Newman challenge calls in European politics for a “joint European nuclear capability.” Lucas argues that the threat of nuclear war cannot continue to be treated as a sidelined issue, while Weston stresses that nuclear weapons are “useless, unsafe and costly, as well as immoral,” and Newman concludes “nuclear weapons kill people and may destroy the planet – they do not end war.”
Iran Open to Reengaging with Trump Administration in Nuclear Talks
On August 12, Iran’s first Vice President Mohammadreza Aref said his country is open to reopening nuclear negotiations with the United States “should there be suitable conditions.” Despite the joint American-Israeli bombings of Iranian nuclear sites in June, Iran’s government has maintained its rejection of the Trump Administration’s demand for the country to forfeit its sovereign enrichment capability.
DOE Partners with Industry to Develop Small Nuclear Reactors
Also on August 12, the Department of Energy announced it has selected 11 reactor projects to develop small nuclear reactors in line with President Trump’s “Reactor Pilot Program.” The projects include: Aalo Atomics., Antares Nuclear, Atomic Alchemy, Deep Fission Inc., Last Energy Inc., Oklo Inc., Natura Resources LLC, Radiant Energy, Terrestrial Energy, and Valar Atomics. This announcement marks a major step towards streamlining nuclear reactor testing and opening a new pathway toward fast-tracking commercial licensing.
Nuclear Power is Having a Pop Culture Moment
The Wall Street Journal recently published a profile on the rising prominence of nuclear energy in pop culture. Nuclear energy philanthropist Isabelle Boemke, a valued friend of the Oppenheimer Project, was featured in the story which discussed the wave of improving public sentiment in the United States, with 60% of Americans supporting the construction of new nuclear power plants according to one Pew Research Center Poll.
Trump-Putin Summit
In Politico, Shahil Shah and Dmitry Stefanovich presented six possible agreements on nuclear weapons issues that Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin could make at their summit in Alaska on Friday, August 15. The meeting between the two heads of state marks the first of Trump’s second term and could lay the groundwork for progress in nuclear arms control and could potentially stimulate Chinese engagement on these issues.