Helen Huang's Blog: nuclear power nuclear game, page 3

Is the Fukushima disaster over?

Today, 1.3 million tons of treated water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant is starting to be released into the sea, which the IAEA has endorsed.

In March 2011, a massive earthquake and tsunami destroyed the plant, causing radiation leaks and damaging its reactors permanently. Twelve years passed, and although cleanup in Fukushima has been in progress, many years remain before all the melted fuel debris (over 1300 used fuel rods) will be removed from the damaged reactors.

Is Fukushima the last nuclear power disaster?
No, over 400 nuclear reactors are still operating worldwide, and any time, a nuclear disaster could happen again for any unexpected reason. Countries like Japan will continue having nuclear power unless we have found new, renewable, reliable and robust energy to replace nuclear power. The nuclear arms race is still a severe issue for nuclear disasters.

Let’s pray for world peace and work together for a better future.

Oppenheimer & nuclear bomb

The movie "Oppenheimer" is Director Christopher Nolan's latest masterpiece. The biopic successfully retells one of the most critical periods in human history through a nuclear scientist, Oppenheimer's life and the backdrop of WWII.

Oppenheimer, becoming the "father of the atomic bomb", is the product of a time when the world needed something powerful enough to end the deadliest war that dragged on for six years. And the success of the Manhattan Project is the result of the US government's daring to use Oppenheimer against all odds of his impulsive personality, controversial political views and turmoil personal life. He was judged more by his leadership, research and organization capabilities and his alignment with the government's goal of racing against Hitler's bomb.

This exceptional choice by the US government to grant Oppenheimer full authority enables him to make the most of his talent to lead the project without prejudice, discrimination, restrictions and burdens from society and the government. So it only took the US 3 years to make the nuclear bombs and end WWII. By comparison, it took Stalin 4 years to make a replica bomb dropped on Nagasaki. And it took Chairman Mao eight years, with Russia's help to make the first bomb.

The communist regimes treat scientists as tools and disrespect their individuality and freedom, So their creativity is suppressed. Just like in my novel Nuclear Power Nuclear Game, Russian nuclear scientist Igor Kuczinski chose to defect to the West and was recruited by the MI6, and his father, also a nuclear scientist, died in the gulag. Similarly, Zoe, a Chinese atomic scientist, was accused as a Russian spy, and she had to accept the CCP's arrangement to marry a man she hated to be with to avoid serving in a labour camp.

The movie "Oppenheimer" is a superb artistic work and helps us look back on history and look forward to the future. One day, we will have no nuclear bombs but Nuclear For Peace.

Dream of the Red Chamber

Dream of the Red Chamber is a famous novel by Cao Xueqin, an ancient Chinese Romeo-Juliet love story. The book provides a detailed record of Chinese lifestyles, social relations, aesthetics and culture of 18th-century China. The poems inside the novel are very popular and meaningful.

石头记
假作真時真亦假
無為有處有還無
假去真來真勝假
無原有是有非無

Truth becomes Fiction when the Fiction's true;
Real becomes not real where the unreal's real.
When Fiction departs and Truth appears, Truth prevails;
Though Not-real was once Real, the Real is never unreal.

世人都晓神仙好
只有金银忘不了
终朝只恨聚无多
及到多时眼闭了

Everyone knows immortals are good
but can't forget gold and silver
Only hate not having many treasures in the end
but time to close your eyes when you get the treasure

A thought on June 4

It's this special day again; the CCP ruthlessly crushed down the Chinese student democratic movement at Tiananmen Square on June 4 1989. Since then, China has entered a dark era, a post-Mao autocratic regime, using a capitalist operational mode for its dictatorship.

Leaving China has enabled me to enjoy the freedom I never had under the CCP. Ten years ago, I bought a little piece of Wall as a souvenir at Brandenburg Gate, hoping the fall of communism would also happen in China one day. Following the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9 1989, communism in Easter Europe and the USSR collapsed. And the Easter Europeans have enjoyed prosperity and freedom like the other Western countries.

What would China be like if the fall of the Berlin Wall first and the Chinese student movement were inspired and happened later? Would the Chinese overthrow the CCP and China become a democratic country in November 1989?

Unfortunately, we can't rewrite history, but China will be free one day.

A letter to heaven

Dear Mr Su,
This Luna New Year wasn't as joyful as hoped because I lost you, my beloved teacher.

Being a child of a black element in China during the Cultural Revolution, I was very timid to avoid causing more trouble to my father. However, my life forever changed in year 3 when you became my class teacher. You opened my heart and aroused my desire to learn more and dream bigger. You encouraged me to leave my comfort zone and take some leadership positions. Once, I was bashed by a girl at the playground. You comforted and supported me in class... As a result, I had become a confident young lady by the time I left primary school.

That afternoon, you invited me back to the primary school. I was so happy that I trotted all the way to see you. You gave me a notebook and said, "A small souvenir; Hope you will like it."
You must be very disappointed at my reaction, so immature, not knowing how to show appreciation. I stood there silently, looking at the book and touching Chairman Mao's golden picture on the red cover. Then, finally, I said quietly, "I'm sorry, I don't have anything to return."
You smiled, took a handkerchief out from your pocket, dried my tears and said, "It's okay. You can give me next time when you come to visit me." I nodded. You continued, "You're one of the best students I have ever taught. You will have a bright future. I have confidence in you. Never give up."

While in China, I visited you very often. We discussed our future and China's tomorrow. Once I asked, "How could you be a principal but not a party member?" Your reply reflected your honest outlook on life, "It's better this way. Plus, being a member of the Shanghai Democratic League, I can voice more but feel less in danger."

After I arrived in Australia, I continued ringing you and sending New Year's greetings. I wanted to show you the progress I made, and I wanted you to be proud of me.

I still remembered our last Chinese New Year conversation five years ago. Unfortunately, I couldn't list any good news for you, except I divorced, my career was going nowhere, and my book was still uncompleted...But you again encouraged me to be strong when my voice was choked up.

Years have flown by, and I have been hoping to ring you one Chinese New Year again, telling you all the good things happening in my life, but you have passed away now. I'm Sorry, Mr Su, I should call you earlier.

To me, you're not just a primary school teacher. You're my life mentor. You have seeded compassion, love and braveness in my young soul and transformed me into an open-hearted person, pursuing truth, goodness and beauty. I'll never forget you, and I'm thankful for your love and friendship every day.

Rest in peace, my teacher Mr Su.

The American Version of the Cultural Revolution

One night in January 1967, Under the instruction of the Central Cultural Revolution Group, rebels entered Chinese President Liu Shaoqi's home. They demanded Liu, his wife and his children stand in the corridor for a lengthy denunciation and forced him to recite Chairman Mao's works and self-criticize. Liu was accused of China's Khrushchev and being a traitor. Subsequently, he was arrested and died alone in October 1969. Thus, Chairman Mao achieved one of his goals of launching the Cultural Revolution- destroy his political archenemy permanently. 

The American version of the Cultural Revolution has happened today. The FBI entered formal President Trump's home Mar -a-Lago. They turned off the family security system and took away many documents, including his personal belongings. FBI's drastic action against an American President is the first time in history. Is trump the worst US president who deserves this treatment? Or the victim of the power struggle?

It is very worrying and alarming to see that modern Western civilization has deteriorated into such a devastating situation when the judicial system exists only in name and when the law enforcement agencies become tools of political struggles. 

Is Nuclear For Peace Achievable?

At 8:15 am on August 6 1945, a US B-29 dropped a bomb nicknamed "Little Boy" on Hiroshima; an estimated 130,000 were killed instantly, and 70% of the buildings were destroyed. A second bomb was detonated in Nagasaki three days later, adding another 70,000 deaths. And Japan surrendered days later on Aug15, 1945. 

Due to the energy shortage, from the 1960s, Japan started developing nuclear power and became one of the most developed countries in nuclear power by the 1980s. However, Japan has never given up its stands on nuclear for peace, and that's why the nuclear institute I worked at regularly sent engineers to learn from Japan. Japan has unreservedly passed its technology to China, although China has nuclear weapons, which Japan is strong against. At the time, I only thought Japan was very generous and friendly. Today looking back, I have a better understanding of well-intentioned Japanese conduct on nuclear issues. Not only did Japan want to promote the idea of Nuclear For Peace, but it also tried to educate Chinese Communists if successful. 

Since my political romance thriller Nuclear Power Nuclear Game was published, people have often asked me about my attitude to nuclear power. I have replied: Like any technology depending on how we use it. A car can bring convenience but can be used as a weapon to kill another man. Nuclear energy is good so long as we can hold the principle: Nuclear for Peace.

Seventy-seven years have passed since the Hiroshima nuclear tragedy; we are still facing nuclear war fear because the continuation of the atomic weapon race and nuclear proliferation have never stopped. So let's unite together and never let another nuclear tragedy like Hiroshima happen again in this world.

My Memory of June 4th

June 4th, a memorial day of the Tiananmen Massacre happened in 1989. It was a turning point in modern Chinese history since the CCP ruled China. From that day, the CCP openly repressed political dissidents; And the CCP has concluded the most effective method to continue its dictatorship was to turn the Chinese into a corrupted nation while implementing the capitalist economic system. 

I remember that emotional day at the Nuclear Institute I worked. The Vice Head of the Youth League organized a donation in the morning. After lunch, the Party Secretary approved two buses to transport 100 of us to the Bond in Shanghai, where students were hunger striking in front of the Municipal building. We handed over thousands of Yuan to the students. After that, standing on the high-raised bank and looking at the crowd of people,  I felt I could see a bright future in China.

However, the spirit of the Chinese fighting for freedom and democracy has long gone since. Today, no university students hunger struggle for liberty and democracy anymore, although they face no food and no job after graduation. When intellectuals have lost the courage to seek truth, what is the hope for a nation! And today, the CCP has turned China into a totalitarian and hegemonic state. Therefore China is now the most dangerous element of world peace. 

PS: After the CCP crushed down the student movement, the Vice Head of the Youth League was removed from his position, and the Party secretary was forced to take earlier retirement. I have included this event in the sequel of my first novel, Nuclear Power Nuclear Game. 

A thought about the Ukraine War

Before the Winter Olympics, Chairman Xi and Putin agreed: China will help Russia to take over Ukraine, and then China will take over Taiwan. But, with the failure of Russia's operation in Ukraine, China backpaddled its Taiwan agenda. The Ukrainians have fought hard to defend their home, and the free world is with them. There is no doubt that Ukrainians will win the war eventually.
The Ukraine War will lead to Putin's end of his dictatorship and further destruction of the Russian Federation. It can also lead to the global removal of the communist terrorist regimes because China will become the last headquarters of communist countries - the biggest reason for world instability. 
War is forever the ugliest level of terrorism. But, although the Ukraine War is not over yet, we can get inspired that God will help those who help themselves. And justice will finally arrive. 

What is love?

Sixteen years ago, when I started writing Nuclear Power Nuclear Game, I knew that love between the two main characters, Zoe and John, had to be a  divine bond that was unbreakable across time and space. And  I believed it existed.
Some readers have commented, saying it's not fair to reconnect the two parties after decades of separation. However, I still believe that longing for noble and pure love can uplift our spirit and give us hope and energy for a new day. Therefore, Zoe and John will reunite in the sequel because they are the soul mate and twin flame.
Love is the lingering memories of every moment with the person;
Love is the pain of seeing the person moving away;
Love is the unstoppable sigh of missing the person;
Love is the difficulty to accept the new person;
Love is the anxiety of hoping the person rings you;
Love is the sleepless night thinking of the person
.....
Love is laughing, crying, forgiving, understanding, sometimes disagreeing and knowing the destiny of belonging to each other even if we can't be together for this life.
 
Wishing all my readers find love.