US Nuclear Regulators as US Nuclear Marketing Men
the cables — from 2006 to early 2010 — show that the NRC’s role in promoting its regulatory model around the world can easily turn it into an advocate for U.S. nuclear technology, whether its officials realize it or not…..
U.S. nuclear regulator a policeman or salesman? (Reuters), 18 April 11, – The Nuclear Regulatory Commission exists to police, not promote, the domestic nuclear industry — but diplomatic cables show that it is sometimes used as a sales tool to help push American technology to foreign governments. Read more »
World must “embrace nuclear power” says AREVA
“Nuclear is the cheapest” power source, Besnainou said
Areva Executive Praises Nuclear Power, Urges Loan Guarantees - WSJ.comBy Yuliya Chernova Of DOW JONES VENTUREWIRE NEW YORK 4 April 11, --Jacques Besnainou, chief executive of the U.S. arm of nuclear giant Areva SA (CEI.FR, ARVCY), said that the world must embrace nuclear power and advocated the continuation of U.S. federal loan guarantees for new nuclear power plants. Read more »
Nuclear energy not safe for USA, but fine to export to ‘developing’ countries
For the United States, nuclear power has become an export industry….“Most of the action that one can really care about, frankly, is in the developing world,”
Nuclear Industry Thrives in the U.S., but for Export - NYTimes.com By MATTHEW L. WALD March 30, 2011 THE American nuclear renaissance is going strong, even if hardly any nuclear reactors are being built in the United States.
Japan’s continuing nuclear calamity has heightened concerns about the future of nuclear power and its safety, Read more »
Bill Gates marketing small nukes to China, where nuclear industry is less regulated
“right now the regulatory environment here in the United States means it would take decades just to certify. By partnering with the Chinese, they can move ahead and commercialize the technology around the world when it’s proven.”
Nuclear Industry Thrives in the U.S., but for Export - NYTimes.com By MATTHEW L. WALD March 30, 2011 “……At a clean energy conference in Washington in January, Jon M. Huntsman Jr., then the American ambassador to China, said that he had recently run into Bill Gates in China. Mr. Gates is an investor in a new kind of reactor, part of a class called “small modular reactors,” Read more »
Australian expert, Barry Brook, downplays Japan’s nuclear problem
“I think overtime people will become more understanding of small risk and big benefits that nuclear brings,”
Japan’s nuclear crisis is mainly public panic, not radiation risk: Australian expert By Vienna MaCANBERRA, March 26 (Xinhua) — Japan’s nuclear crisis was mainly public panic, not radiation risk, an Australian expert told Xinhua, expressing optimism over the future development of international nuclear industry.
However, workers are still trying to contain radiation leaks at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plants in Japan, since reactors were damaged by the massive earthquake and tsunami.
Although prevailing winds would likely carry contaminated smoke or steam released from nuclear power plant away from the densely populated city to dissipate over the Pacific Ocean, millions in Tokyo of Japan remained indoors, fearing a blast of radioactive material from Fukushima.
The crisis has triggered global alarm and reviews of safety at atomic power plants around the world. Read more »
Russian nuclear czar – selling $6 billion enriched uranium to USA?
Rosatom Signs $2.8 Billion Contract to Enrich Uranium for U.S. Bloomberg, By Ilya Khrennikov – Mar 26, 2011 Rosatom Corp., Russia’s government- owned nuclear holding company, agreed a contract valued at about $2.8 billion to supply enriched uranium to the U.S., Russian state-run newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta said, citing the company.The accord includes an option to double supplies, possibly boosting the value of the deal to $6 billion, Kommersant said in a separate report, citing Rosatom Chief Executive Officer Sergei Kirienko.….Rosatom Signs $2.8 Billion Contract to Enrich Uranium for U.S. – Bloomberg
China selling off old nuclear reactor models to Pakistan
China to Sell Outdated Nuclear Reactors to Pakistan, Voice of America, Stephanie Ho | Beijing March 24, 2011 China is pressing ahead with nuclear energy cooperation with Pakistan, despite concerns that it is shipping decades-old technology to its South Asian neighbor. This comes as China suspended approvals for new nuclear power plants within China to review safety standards following the recent earthquake/tsunami disaster in Japan. Read more »
Westinghouse, Toshiba, AREVA, Rosatom marketing nuclear power to Czech Republic
Czechs pledge to develop nuclear energy program Bloomberg, BusinessWeek. 18 March, PRAGUE The Czech Republic’s prime minister says his country will go ahead with plans to develop its nuclear energy program despite Japan’s nuclear crisis. Read more »
French nuclear company chief “in no doubt” that Britain needs nuclear
Mr de Rivaz said his “determination to press ahead was undimmed” and added that he was in no doubt that “what Britain needs is nuclear”.
UK industry must press on, says EDF chief, FT.com , By David Blair and Sylvia Pfeifer in London March 17 2011 The British nuclear industry will have to work harder to keep the public’s trust in the aftermath of Japan’s disaster, Read more »
Australian pro nuclear expert explains how Fukushima nuclear plant is safe
The plant is safe now and will stay safe……If you want to stay informed, please forget the usual media outlets [Does he include the International Atomic Energy Agency as an "usual media outlet" , I wonder?]
Fukushima Nuclear Accident – a Simple and Accurate Explanation, Brave New Climate, Barry Brook, 13 March 2011, [Barry Brook quotes Josef Oehmen, a PhD Scientist, whose father has extensive experience in Germany’s nuclear industry.] Read more »
Nuclear marketing going ahead in China and India, anyway
in China, which has the world’s most ambitious nuclear expansion plans, a vice minister of environment, Zhang Lijun, said on Saturday that Japan’s difficulties would not deter his nation’s nuclear rollout…..The United States has lobbied extensively to open India’s nuclear power market to American industry. Indian and American officials spent more than five years negotiating a nuclear energy agreement that was blessed by both governments and international nuclear agencies.
Emerging economies move ahead with nuclear plans, New York Times, by Heather Timmons and Vikas Bajaj, 15 March 11, NEW DELHI — Despite Japan’s crisis, India and China and some other energy-ravenous countries say they plan to keep using their nuclear power plants and building new ones. Read more »
Australia will get nuclear power, top nuclear scientist confident
“We will learn from the tragic Japanese experience how to build more robust reactors, how to ensure multiple layers of protection work properly, how to better contain radioactive gases.” – Ziggy
Ziggy Switkowski, nuclear physicist, and chief of Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, is confident that there will be only a short term halt in the nuclear renaissance.
Ziggy’s been explaining on Australian TV (Channel 10 News 14/3/11) and print media (THE AUSTRALIAN, 14/3/11), how Australia doesn’t need to worry about earthquakes and nuclear power, and does need nuclear energy. Indeed, Ziggy looks forward to the boost that nuclear power development will get, from studying the defects in the Japanese nuclear reactors. In this way, the nuclear renaissance will thrive again. Though I dunno that it was thriving even before the Japan disaster, now that I come to think of it. - Christina Macpherson
Nuclear Energy Institute confident that Japan explosion will ‘reassure’ Americans
All told, the industry expects up to eight new reactors to be churning out power by 2020, according to Mitch Singer, a spokesman for the Nuclear Energy Institute, an industry trade group.
Mr. Singer said he doesn’t think the accident in Japan will derail the U.S. nuclear boom. In fact, he said the explosion should reassure Americans that their own plants will be prepared for any emergency, because the industry will disseminate lessons learned in Japan around the globe, helping other reactors shore up their defenses against even devastating natural disasters, like the quake and the tsunami that followed.
“At this point,” Mr. Singer said, “I don’t think we’re going to see a major impact on the U.S. nuclear industry.”…. – WSJ.com By STEPHANIE SIMON, 13 March 11,.
Bad timing for Australia to decide to sell uranium to Middle East
“It’s very poor judgement and poor timing to be proposing to sell this material into the Middle East when tensions are running so high,” said Scott Ludlam, an Australia senator for the Greens, a party affiliated with the government’s minority administration and set to hold the balance of power in the country’s top legislature from July 1. Mr. Ludlam said he wants the government to publish a list of the countries Australia won’t supply with uranium……….
South Africa gives desperate France a chance to save its nuclear business
“South Africa is an indispensable lifeline,” Yves Marignac, a French energy consultant who campaigns for renewable solutions, told FRANCE 24. “It seems to be the only country seriously willing to put out a tender [for the construction of nuclear reactors] next year, so the only one that can salvage the little credibility that France as an exporter still has.”
France creeps closer to South Africa’s nuclear jackpot, France24 by Sophie PILGRIM 3 March 11, Long-time energy partners France and South Africa signed a series of bilateral agreements Wednesday on President Jacob Zuma’s final day of his state visit to Paris. The deals, which involve energy giants Areva and EDF, come just before South Africa is set to expand its nuclear programme. Read more »
1 THIS MONTH
- http://ifyoulovethisplanet.org/?p=5755 Mary Olson on how women are more vulnerable to atomic radiation
http://soundcloud.com/flashpoints/flashpoints-daily-newsmag-05-6Fukushima reactor 4 still threatens the world Dr. Micio Kaku
of the week http://www.youtube.com/user/GoddardsJournal
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San Onofre: Bad Vibrations http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP7e83MErWw&feature=share - Low-Dose Radiation ☢ NEW A-Bomb Study http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VAncqK6bl0&feature=share
“Pay-to-print”: How Media Corruption Undermines Indian Democracy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbjsQ_dYuJQ&feature=share
VIDEO http://vimeo.com/35212151 Cancer Risk To Young Children Near Fukushima Daiichi Underestimated
- and this VIDEO Kazakhstan’s Nuclear Legacy http://www.euronews.com/2010/04/14/kazakhstan-s-nuclear-legacy/
ACTION
USA EMERGENCY PLANNING PETITION NOW OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS IN FAVOR OF EXPANDING EMERGENCY PLANNING ZONES; IMPROVING REGULATIONS The deadline for public comments is July 16, 2012. You can submit your comments here. more information at http://nuclear-news.net/action/
- Shut down the nuclear restart. Sign now!! http://www.avaaz.org/en/japan_no_to_nuclear_restart_ms/
- Stop Kudankulam - Please sign http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5502/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=10090 –
EVENTS – USA
- May 31 - Portland, Maine, Bonnie Raitt benefit concert for New England Coalition on Nuclear Pollution
The Nuclear Industry and WOMEN- theme for May 2012
Although women have rarely been part of decision-making about nuclear power, they have been at the forefront in opposing it.Women in organisations Strongly present in anti-nuclear activities in peace, environmental, religious and civil liberties, women have also formed their own anti-nuclear organisations . e.g. Women’s International League For Peace and Freedom, Women For Peace. Women Against Nuclear Power, Women Against Nuclear Energy,
“When it comes to opposing nuclear power in Finland, the toughest and most active and conspicuous resistance has been among women. A rather small group of women working as teachers, freelance editors, authors and in rather alternative professions. Women who perfectly well are aware of the fact that they are far too radical to be promoted for high posts within traditional parties or getting well-paying jobs in some big companies. Women who are not trying to reach equality on male values. These women have kept the resistance alive, have invited foreign speakers getting through in the mass media, have arranged post-card campaigns aiming at parliamentarians, have written inserts in daily newspapers, have collected signatures from organizations worldwide against nuclear power, etc.
If women had been asked if nuclear power should be used for energy production or if nuclear weapons should be produced there would hardly be any nuclear power stations in the world and no nuclear weapons. Women represent half of humanity. Our voice must be heard! “- Ulla Klötzer WISE – Nuclear issues information service service
Below, a note on some of the courageous women who have stood out against the nuclear forces and apologies for the thousands of such women who are not mentioned here
Dr Helen Caldicott. - Australia and The World. The single most articulate and passionate advocate of citizen action to remedy the nuclear and environmental crises, Dr Helen Caldicott, has devoted the last 38 years to an international campaign to educate the public about the medical hazards of the nuclear age and the necessary changes in human behavior to stop environmental destruction. Helen Caldicott – About
Jean McSorley. – UK. A prolific writer and activist, Jean McSorley has advised government and environmental organisations, in the UK and abroad, for many years revealing the facts about Sellafield, and other UK nuclear facilities.
Her MajestyQueen Noor ofJordan is an international humanitarian activist and an outspoken voice on issues of world peace and justice. Today Her Majesty Queen Noor plays a major role in promoting international exchange and understanding of Arab and Muslim culture and politics, Arab-Western relations, and conflict prevention. Queen Noor | Global Zero
Ulla Klötzer - Finland. A powerful speaker and writer, Ulla Klötzer continues to oppose uranium mining, nuclear proliferation, and to expose the construction of Finlands reactor, Olkiluto OL 3 – the biggest nuclear reactor in the world.
Satomi Oba –Japan. Another leading voice for non-proliferation and disarmament was Japan’s Satomi Oba, former president of Plutonium Action Hiroshima and chair member of the international non-proliferation movement Abolition 2000. For decades before her untimely death in February 2005, Oba organized grassroots events, spoke to international groups and broke ground for other activists
Dianne Stokes – Australia An Aboriginal elder of the Yapa Yapa clan, which owns land at Muckaty in the Northern Territory, has for years continued the fight against the Australian government’s plan to put a nuclear waste dump on Aboriginal land, – resisting enormous pressure from powerful interests and politicians Toxic feelings at proposed nuclear dump – National – smh.com.au
Jean Grossholtz – (USA) Professor emeritus at the Dept. of Women’s Studies, Mt. Holyoke College, Jean helped organize the Women’s Pentagon Action (1980-82) and has long been active in peace and social justice work.
Ellen Diederich –Germany A peace activist for more than three decades, Ellen Diederich is Director of the German-based International Fasia Jansen Women’s Peace Archive, an extensive collection of books, print, audio-visual and artistic resources on women and militarism and women’s action for peace, world-wide, collected over 25 years.
Corazon Valdez Fabros - Philippines A lawyer by profession, Corazon Fabros is Chairperson of the Pacific Concerns Resource Centre (the Secretariat of the Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific Movement) and Secretary General of the Nuclear Free Philippines Coalition, which led the successful campaign to stop the nuclear power plant projects in the Philippines . Currently Philippine Coordinator of the No Nukes Asia Forum and the International Network on Military Activities and Environmental Justice.
Karen Silkwood remembered In 1974, US anti-nuclear activist Karen Silkwood was killed in a car crash many suspect was deliberately caused by the Kerr McGee nuclear company.Karen Silkwood will be remembered as someone who fought an uphill and often unpopular battle against the ruthless nuclear industry. She is an inspiration to all who believe in environmental justice and workers’ rights BY SHARYN JENKINS. Karen Silkwood remembered | Green Left Weekly
Much of the material here was obtained from Women and Life on Earth: English by Anna Gyorgy, Women & Life on Earth Network coordinator, English website editor. Contact: info(at)wloe.org
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