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The News That Matters about the Nuclear Industry

Gross contradiction: Germany stopping domestic nuclear power, but promoting it overseas

“a gross contradiction, that we are pushing forwards with the change in energy generation while supporting atomic energy abroad.”

Germany still supports foreign nuclear power http://www.thelocal.de/national/20130121-47451.html#.UP7XzR19JLs
 21 Jan 13 Despite the German government’s dedication to ridding the country of nuclear power, it will continue to use public money to guarantee the construction of such power stations in other countries, it was reported at the weekend. The parliamentary committee for sustainable development voted unanimously at the end of last year to recommend the government stop financial backing for foreign atomic energy projects.

But it is set to receive a letter from Economy Minister Philipp Rösler, rejecting such a strategy, Der Spiegel magazine reported on Sunday.

The change in energy policy only applies to domestic production, the letter says. The government considers it a “sovereign decision of other states to choose a different construction for their own energy policy.”

Chairman of the committee, Andreas Jung, from Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union, said it was “a gross contradiction, that we are pushing forwards with the change in energy generation while supporting atomic energy abroad.”

The government is currently promoting its policy with the slogan, “High time that something changed”, while Environment Minister Peter Almaier has been talking of establishing an international club of countries stepping away from nuclear energy.

January 23, 2013 Posted by | Germany, marketing of nuclear, politics | Leave a Comment

Vietnam, in ignorance, buying Japan’s nuclear technology

Japan lobbied aggressively to win the contract to build a nuclear power plant in Vietnam.   Japan and other nuclear powers are now desperate to sell plants to developing nations, since Fukushima has destroyed the dream of a nuclear renaissance in advanced economies.  

If we don’t, someone else will (and other dubious rationalizations) Kanagawa Notebook, September 23, 2012  ”…..Vietnam, a nation which, with the assistance and “know-how” of both Russia and Japan, is about to go nuclear.  In spite of the Fukushima disaster, the Vietnamese government plans to honor their contract with a Japanese firm to build a nuclear power plant, and in fact, preparations are already underway.

While the Noda administration waffles and stumbles before its own citizens, it is “leading the way” with confidence in Vietnam, where residents believe that 1) the nuclear industry is safe and trustworthy, and 2) Fukushima was something unfortunate, but unrelated to their own situation. Read more »

September 24, 2012 Posted by | marketing of nuclear, Vietnam | Leave a Comment

Vested interests keen to sell nuclear reactors to Indonesia

AUDIO Indonesia’s nuclear power plans http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/connect-asia/indonesias-nuclear-power-plans/1005302 24 August 2012 Pressure is mounting on Indonesia to push ahead with planning for the country’s first nuclear power plant. Neighbouring Vietnam and Malaysia already have nuclear planning firmly in place, and nuclear power advocates within government are proving to be increasingly vociferous in Jakarta.

But for now at least a long standing scheme to build a nuclear power plant in Central Java is off President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s agenda, and has been ever since the Fukushima disaster in Japan last year.

So where does Indonesia go next ?   Presenter: Richard Ewart

Speaker: Professor Richard Tanter, senior research associate, Nautilus Institute for Security and Sustainability
TANTER: Well there certainly are companies that want to be involved in it, there are certainly also foreign companies where nuclear power vendors, like Mitsubishi in Japan, Kepco in Korea, also Russian companies.

Unfortunately though, there’s a new factor, a wild card in the election campaign for president which is now beginning to get

underway in Indonesia. One of the leading contenders, Prabowo Subianto, who has a very famous or rather infamous record of human rights violations while a Kopassus military leader. He has come out and said Indonesia must get nuclear power, so that’s a big new change.
…  don’t think he [the current  President] will back nuclear power…..  the pressures mainly are coming from as you would say before vested interests, Read more »

August 25, 2012 Posted by | Indonesia, marketing of nuclear | 2 Comments

Climate change policy manipulated by the nuclear lobby

The threat of climate change gained traction in the global imagination after the end of the Cold War. And as warming worries grew, nuclear power became an anti-emissions trump card in the eyes of many, fueling a reactor building spree. 

“Government policy came to incorporate promotion of nuclear power. It was taboo for us to even make an issue of it.”

Nuclear power boosters used climate change to ride to energy supremacy, Mainichi DailyNews, 30 Jan 12  In 1997, in the midst of the international negotiations that would eventually result in the Kyoto Protocol, the Japanese delegation was pondering whether it could realistically accept the protocol’s main point: a commitment to a 6 percent decrease in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels. They were also grappling with what such a commitment would mean for Japan’s energy supplies.

Strangely enough, though the Japanese delegation was grappling with issues of carbon emissions and energy needs, there was not a single representative of the then Environment Agency on hand. Osamu Watanabe, vice minister at the former Ministry of International Trade and Industry at the time of the talks and now president of Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., sums up Japan’s thinking like this:

“Taking nuclear power into account was a prerequisite for accepting the 6 percent reduction. Speaking for the industry ministry, we thought that the more nuclear power we had, the more we could reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

Meanwhile, at the Environment Agency — which became the Environment Ministry in 2001 — there were many staff who took a more cautious attitude to the promotion of nuclear power. Their skepticism did not, however, often find effective expression.

“The industry ministry put up a lot of resistance to the Environment Agency getting involved in energy policy,” a senior agency official from the time says. “We just couldn’t get a word in.” Read more »

January 29, 2012 Posted by | climate change, Japan, marketing of nuclear | Leave a Comment

Japan taking a moral position about the unsafety of India’s nuclear plants!

Japan likely to speak out on N-plants’ safety during talks with India The Pioneer, 22 DECEMBER 2011   SANDHYA SHARMA | NEW DELHI     Japan will voice concerns over the safety of nuclear plants with India as two Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and his Japanese counterpart Yoshihiko Noda are set to meet in New Delhi next week for the 6th Annual Summit between the two leaders.

The two sides will enhance the cooperation in nuclear sector despite the Fukushima disaster that rocked Tokyo last year….. even less than a year to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, Japan is recommencing steps it hopes will lead to exports of commercial nuclear technology to counties like India and Vietnam. This resumption comes even as Japan itself is scaling back the use of nuclear energy
at home.

Japan’s ruling Democratic Party is promoting nuclear technology exports as a pillar of its economic growth strategy. The earthquake in March with ensuing accident at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant led to a suspension of negotiations with India toward accords on the
transfer of nuclear energy technology.

New Delhi on the other hand is facing the flack from the locals over the commencement of the Kudankulam nuclear plant which is a joint Indo-Russian collaboration project following the Fukushima disaster….http://dailypioneer.com/nation/29789-japan-likely-to-speak-out-on-n-plants-safety-during-talks-with-india.html

December 27, 2011 Posted by | India, Japan, marketing of nuclear | Leave a Comment

India’s Nuclear Corporation tries to make nuclear energy into “fun”

Nuclear corporation turns to catchy jingles to push Kudankalam project, DNA, Nov 25, 2011, Chennai | Agency: IANS Catchy jingles aired on two FM radio stations instead of dull and drab facts – this is the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd’s new effort to convince the locals around the Kudankalam project that the atomic power plant is not bad after all.

“In an attempt to reach out to people, we have decided to air two one minute jingles on Suryan FM and Hello FM radio stations in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts as a part of public awareness programme,” said a senior NPCIL official preferring anonymity.

The NPCIL have approved two foot tapping jingles of one minute each with messages that nuclear power is reliable as against other energy sources like thermal/wind/hydro and about the importance of atomic power for nation building.

“The idea is to catch the people’s mind space which was earlier lost to the anti-nuclear activists,” NPCIL officials said. A new, energized print and visual media blitz is what NPCIL officials are planning to counter the anti-nuke propaganda based on “lies, untruths and unscientific claims”…..

Officials now reluctantly admit that they had perhaps committed an error by not taking the anti-Kudankalam Nuclear Power Plant propaganda seriously….http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_nuclear-corporation-turns-to-catchy-jingles-to-push-kudankalam-project_1617428

November 27, 2011 Posted by | India, marketing of nuclear | Leave a Comment

Rudy Giuliani the face of Indian Point nuclear reactor – for money of course

Rudy Giuliani to do ads promoting safety of nuclear power plant Digital Journal, 8 Oct 11

Rudy Giuliani is about to become the face of Indian Point, a Westchester County, NY nuclear power plant. Starting next week, the former NYC Mayor will be showcased in a series of ads designed to promote Indian Point’s safety……
This high profile campaign ironically enough comes at a time where Giuliani is considering a presidential bid for 2012, as reported by Digital Journal.
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/312452#ixzz1aDlRcPrm

October 8, 2011 Posted by | marketing of nuclear, people, politics | Leave a Comment

Nuclear Power Plant Exporters “Principles of Conduct” – ha ha!

Christina Macpherson's websites & blogs

Excuse my laughter – I’m sure the Carnegie Endowment means well.  But in the present climate of cut-throat competition to sell nuclear reactors to anybody and everybody – before the industry collapses completely –      well, the idea of nuclear plant exporters having principles –  it’s a contradiction in terms.

Still, that doesn’t matter.  After all –  their high-flown “Principles of Conduct” are only voluntary anyway. – and they’re “not legally binding”

I see that their principles include “ethics” –  they wouldn’t know what the word means!. – Christina Macpherson

Announcing the Nuclear Power Plant Exporters’ Principles of Conduct, Carnegie Endowment, Jessica Tuchman Mathews, George Perkovich, Ariel (Eli) Levite, SEPTEMBER 15, 2011 – WASHINGTON, D.C.The world’s major vendor companies of civilian nuclear power plants have agreed to apply a common set of principles in their exporting decisions and practices. Read more »

September 17, 2011 Posted by | marketing of nuclear, USA | Leave a Comment

Despite Fukushima, AREVA still touting nuclear power as “clean”

AREVA sponsors Nuclear Clean Air Energy team as Simona prepares for Infineon RacewayAugust 22, 2011 PennEnergy Indianapolis, IN – HVM Racing and Entergy are seeing continued success in spreading the ‘Nuclear Clean Air Energy’ message on the 2011 IndyCar season as AREVA – ranked first in the global nuclear energy industry – has come on board for the Baltimore Grand Prix…..
“As the global leader in clean energy production, AREVA understands the importance of raising awareness about the benefits of nuclear energy,” said Jacques Besnainou, CEO of AREVA Inc.

“Partnering with Simona and the Nuclear Clean Air Energy team offers us a unique way to talk about our energy challenges and nuclear energy as safe, reliable and clean electricity that is powering one of five American households.”
AREVA sponsors Nuclear Clean Air Energy team as Simona prepares for Infineon Raceway

August 23, 2011 Posted by | - companies, marketing of nuclear, USA | Leave a Comment

Nuclear marketing deception by Lawrence Solomon

Christina Macpherson's websites & blogs

Today, 26/3/11, the Financial Post tells us that Lawrence Solomon is executive director of Energy Probe, an anti-nuclear organization.

But, lo and behold, it would seem that Energy Probe is more of a pro nuclear marketing organisation. And here are some quotes from today’s articles on the Financial Post:

Avert Chernobyl-style hysteria in Japan  Financial Post, Lawrence Solomon, 26 March 11, Turn down the dial on radiation fears “……Epidemiological studies in Russia demonstrated that the population of the most contaminated region near Chernobyl contracted fewer cancers than Russia’s general population….”

Japan’s radioactive fallout could have silver lining   Financial Post, Lawrence Solomon: “…..The only evidence that exists as to the health of humans who have been irradiated at low levels points to a benefit, not a harm…..there is no scientific proof whatsoever to view the radiation emitted from the Fukushima plant as dangerous to the Japanese population, and certainly no reason for the Japanese to view those living near the plant as damaged goods…..”

March 26, 2011 Posted by | marketing of nuclear | 1 Comment

Nuclear Energy Institute will “aggressively” pursue tax-payer money in 2011

nuclear plant expansion projects that are in negotiations with the US Department of Energy and NEI will be “aggressive” in pursuing that money during fiscal 2011

Nuclear industry expects to get more US loan guarantee authority: NEI Washington (Platts), William Freebaim, –10 Feb2011 The Nuclear Energy Institute expects that additional nuclear power loan guarantee authority will be approved by Congress in a fiscal 2011 continuing resolution, though NEI President and CEO Marvin Fertel Thursday acknowledged “it’s not going to be easy.” Read more »

February 11, 2011 Posted by | marketing of nuclear, politics, USA | 1 Comment

   

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