2008 December 06 « nuclear-news

Two Good Reasons to Reconsider Scans, such as CT and MRI

Two Good Reasons to Reconsider Scans, such as CT and MRI

Natural News December 05, 2008 by: Reuben Chow, citizen journalist – “……………….A recent study conducted by a team from the University of California-San Francisco has found that the use of such medical imaging tools is playing its part in rising health care costs, while at the same time subjecting patients to increasing levels of radiation exposure……………………………ne of the main problems, in my book, is that we cannot effectively quantity the damage done by advanced medical imaging. How many cases of breast cancer, for example, are caused in large part by excessive exposure to radiation from annual mammograms?

Some research has also suggested that such tests uncover problems which might have gone away on their own anyway, and carrying out the tests could have unnecessarily opened a can of worms. Recent research in Norway, for example, suggested the “possibility that the natural course of some screen-detected invasive breast cancers is to spontaneously regress”. Once discovered, however, the medical-go-round usually begins – more tests, surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, the works. In this scenario, how many women are actually hurt by the results of the scans they went through?……………
When it comes to medical imaging, is more necessarily better? As Dr Smith-Bindman said, “The new technologies are fantastic, but they should be used judiciously.”

Two Good Reasons to Reconsider Scans, such as CT and MRI

December 6, 2008 Posted by Christina Macpherson | environment | Leave a comment

The Hindu : Front Page : Mega uranium deal with Russia

Mega uranium deal with Russia
THE HINDU Sandeep Dikshit 6 Dec 08 Two sides agree to set up four more nuclear power plants at Kudankulam……………….At a summit meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev put the final touches on a mega agreement to supply nearly 2,000 tonnes of uranium. ……………..

……..Significantly, Mr. Medvedev said he discussed the development and leasing of nuclear powered submarines. He admitted that the military relationship had both problems and prospects

The Hindu : Front Page : Mega uranium deal with Russia

December 6, 2008 Posted by Christina Macpherson | weapons and war | Leave a comment

Activists to appeal nuke waste storage approval

Activists to appeal nuke waste storage approval
SF Gate December 5, 2008 An activist group has decided to appeal federal regulators’ approval of a radioactive waste storage plan at the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant near San Luis Obispo.

Mothers for Peace suffered a setback in October when the Nuclear Regulatory Commission rejected their argument that there hadn’t been sufficient study of whether planned storage casks for used nuclear fuel rods could survive a terrorist attack at the PG&E plant.

A spokeswoman for the group said Friday that Mothers for Peace will appeal the ruling to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Activists to appeal nuke waste storage approval

December 6, 2008 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics | Leave a comment

Obama’s nuclear problem — Plenty Magazine

Obama’s nuclear problem
PLENTY 6 Dec 08 Earlier this week, Senate leader Harry Reid presented Barack Obama with what might just be the first ultimatum of his presidency. Speaking to reporters, the Nevada Democrat lavished praise upon the incoming president – then announced that he’d work to block the appointment of any Energy Secretary who backed the construction of a controversial national nuclear-waste repository at Yucca Mountain, a rocky bluff a few dozen miles from Las Vegas…….
…….It may not be easy for Obama to duck the nuclear issue altogether, though. America’s domestic nuclear problems are deeply entangled with the equally thorny issue of international nuclear proliferation – an issue made all the more pressing by a new congressional report warning that terrorists will likely launch an attack using WMD by 2013. Preventing proliferation will require the President-Elect to work to secure loose nukes overseas, of course, but it will also require him to clarify the role of nuclear power in America’s own energy revolution.
At present, about 50 countries around the world are interested in acquiring civilian nuclear technology. That’s something of a nightmare scenario for the nonproliferation crowd: with dozens of countries processing atomic fuel, it would be all too easy for nuclear materials to fall into the wrong hands.

Obama’s nuclear problem — Plenty Magazine

December 6, 2008 Posted by Christina Macpherson | weapons and war | Leave a comment

The Hindu Business Line : ‘I’ve never seen such a positive environment for renewable energy’

I’ve never seen such a positive environment for renewable energy’
All energy is politically driven and politically regulated, says Vestas President & CEO. The Hindu, Business Line N. RamakrishnanWind is the only type of energy where you can hedge your risk 100 per cent for the next 20 years. – Mr Ditlev Engel, President & CEO – “………We have learned from the financial crisis that big is not equivalent to good. Those, who do not have good projects or whose financing situation is more complicated, will have a bigger challenge……
……..Wind is the only type of energy where you can hedge your risk 100 per cent for the next 20 years.

………Another issue that people haven’t spent so much time on, but I know that some of our customers are factoring in into their business price model is that they don’t believe the price of water for exploration and so many other things will remain at this cost. China has invested $10 billion in pumping water from the South to the North because of drought. Drought is a huge issue in Australia and in certain states in the US. That water will come at a cost. Water is an important part of energy exploration. When you start to factor these things in, which many of the major utilities are doing, you start getting many different mechanisms in your pricing model for wind versus other types of energy. Y

The Hindu Business Line : ‘I’ve never seen such a positive environment for renewable energy’

December 6, 2008 Posted by Christina Macpherson | ENERGY | Leave a comment

Uranium – a blessing or a curse?

Uranium – a blessing or a curse?
Marketplace Herbert Jauch 5 Dec 08 “………………….. Following the release of a uranium study by the director of the Labour Resource and Research Institute, Hilma Shindondola-Mote, earlier this year, mineworkers and environmental organisations have raised concerns.At the heart of the dispute is whether a mushrooming uranium mining industry is a curse or a blessing for Namibia………………………..

Exposure to even relatively low levels of radiation over a long period can be extremely harmful to the health of workers and communities living around uranium mines.

Several workers who spent long years working at uranium mines developed serious health problems.

Cancerous strains are commonplace as workers are exposed to dust and radon gas daily and thus develop diseases such as TB and lung cancer.

Although mining companies usually deny any responsibility and refuse to compensate workers, there is increasing evidence of a link between uranium mining and workers’ health problems.

Uranium mining uses an enormous amount of water.

In a recent article in The Namibian, the writer pointed out that the proposed uranium mine by the Canadian company Forsys Metal, would use 1 million litres of water each day……………….

Situated on the Valencia farm in the Erongo region, the mine would consume in only three months the amount of water that the current users in the area would consume in 36 years.

Given that all existing and envisaged uranium mines are in the Namib desert, one needs to ask if it is wise to spend Namibia’s most scarce resource – water – on mining operations that may only bring short-term benefits.

All existing and proposed uranium mining sites are in the Namib desert, mostly in the protected area of the Namib Naukluft Park.

Besides using huge amounts of water, uranium mining also leaves large craters as it relies on open-pit operations.

Once mining activities cease, the huge holes remain.

Furthermore, radioactive dust particles may be blown over many kilometres.

This brings mining into direct conflict with tourism ventures that rely on Namibia’s natural beauty as a main attraction.