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The News That Matters about the Nuclear Industry Fukushima Chernobyl Mayak Three Mile Island Atomic Testing Radiation Isotope

“Astro-turfing”: how PAID nuclear power supporters swamp the media

Left unmentioned in these settings is that the Nuclear Energy Institute paid a public relations company to create CASEnergy, an example of the so-called “Astroturfing” techniques that many industries have adopted to give the appearance of grass-roots support.

Lobbying, global warming portend nuclear comeback

McClatchy By Judy Pasternak | Investigative Reporting Workshop January 24, 2010

“….PLAYING THE INFLUENCE GAME In many ways, the nuclear power industry’s efforts to win support are a textbook case of how the influence game is played in Washington. Besides the money spent on lobbying and campaign contributions, the industry, led by the Nuclear Energy Institute, has created a network of allies who give speeches, quote one another approvingly and showcase one another on their Web sites. The effect is an echo chamber of support for nuclear power. Continue reading →

January 25, 2010 Posted by | spinbuster, USA | , , , | Leave a comment

Governments seriously pursue nuclear power despite unsolved waste problem!

Christina Macpherson's websites & blogs

The response below should be widely read. It is relevant for all places where new nuclear projects are planned, (as well as where longer life for aging reactors is planned.)

As a simple member of the “peasantry” “the great unwashed”, the “hoi polloi”, I am puzzled that the Experts and the Powers That Be – anywhere, can seriously contemplate going ahead with this new nuclear charade.

I fear that their inability to deal with existing nuclear waste is somehow propelling them into making more of the stuff – just so that future generations will have to cope with the problem, – as if, somehow, that gets today’s leaders off the hook, for now.

I know that this is weird and twisted logic – but IS IT THEIR LOGIC, anyway?

January 25, 2010 Posted by | Christina's notes, politics, UK, wastes | , , , , | Leave a comment

UK’s Nuclear Policy is a farce, especially re waste disposal

The document concludes: In short, the Government’s conclusion “…that effective arrangements will exist to manage and dispose of the waste that will be produced from new nuclear power stations” is not supported by the evidence. The Nuclear National Policy Statement is, therefore, not “fit for purpose”.

Stop oldbury: Response to Consultation on Nuclear National Policy Statement,  Philip Booth 23 Jan 2010 “…..Reactor designs being discussed lead to additional concerns For example the French ‘European Pressurised Reactor’ proposed will use intensive ‘high burn-up fuel’ increasing the risk of high quantities of radiation in a serious accident. This fuel is so hot and radioactive it will also need to be stored on site for 160 years, long after the power company has ceased generating electricity, creating an additional local hazard. Continue reading →

January 25, 2010 Posted by | spinbuster, UK, wastes | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Is the tide turning against nuclear power?

Nuclear power licensing requests flood federal offices McClatchy By Judy Pasternak | Investigative Reporting Workshop 24 Jan 2010
“………..But is the tide turning again? David Matthews, who oversees safety reviews, got an unexpected call last February. A vice president of Exelon, the Illinois utility, told Matthews to put his company’s application for a new project in Victoria County, Texas, on ice. Continue reading →

January 25, 2010 Posted by | business and costs, USA | , , , | Leave a comment

Australian aboriginal nuclear victims have Cherie Blair on their case

Cherie Blair to work on SA compensation case ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) 25 Jan 2010
The wife of the former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, will represent five Aboriginies seeking compensation for ill health caused by nuclear testing in South Australia’s outback during the 1950s.

The claimants include relatives of people who have died since the nuclear testing at Maralinga. Continue reading →

January 25, 2010 Posted by | indigenous issues | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Global Petition against Depleted Uranium Weapons

  • Stop Phosphorus Bombs & Depleted Uranium Bullets – The Petition Site 25 Jan 2010 “…..Depleted uranium has even more lasting effects.  Used as a blunt projectile for armor piercing.  The aerosol produced during impact and combustion can be inhaled by civilians or military in a large area near the impact.  During a 3 week period in the 2003 Iraq War,  1000 to 2000 tonnes of DU (depleted uranium) was used mainly in cities. The European Parliament has requested a moratorium on the ban of Depleted Uranium weapons.  Though they still support the same wars where it is used.  The health effects are traumatic and long term, even spreading to family, and unborn children.  It is believed that DU can cause major birth defects, and also brain and organ malfunction.  Bottom Line:  Whether it is a radioactive weapon being used, or a phosphorus gas, this is an unfair way to attack an enemy, and can only be viewed as cruel and inhumane.  Stop the use of these harmful weapons now!!

Stop Phosphorus Bombs & Depleted Uranium Bullets – The Petition Site

January 25, 2010 Posted by | general | , , , , | 1 Comment

Nuclear industry will produce increasing C02 emissions

Stop oldbury: Response to Consultation on Nuclear National Policy Statement,  Philip Booth 23 Jan 2010 “……….Electricity Produced by Nuclear Power (NP) is not CO2 free. “The use of nuclear power causes, at the end of the road and under the most favourable conditions, approximately one-third as much CO2-emission as gas-fired electricity production. The rich uranium ores required to achieve this reduction are, however, so limited that if the entire present world electricity demand were to be provided by nuclear power, these ores would be exhausted within four years. Use of the remaining poorer ores in nuclear reactors would produce more CO2 emission than burning fossil fuels directly.” (ref: http://www.oprit.rug.nl/deenen)

stop oldbury: Response to Consultation on Nuclear National Policy Statement

January 25, 2010 Posted by | 2 WORLD, climate change | , , , | Leave a comment

Enriched uranium stolen in Brazil

Brazilian police disover 450kg of enriched Uranium Follow The Money 25 Jan 2010 Police in the north Brazilian state of Amapa have unearthed a cache with 450 kg of enriched uranium ore, a dangerous mineral used for nuclear arms production.The operation to seize radioactive material was a result of four-month work by investigators, who found a bag of pitchblende on Friday in a remote area of tropical rainforest.

Brazilian police disover 450kg of enriched Uranium « Follow The Money

January 25, 2010 Posted by | safety, SOUTH AMERICA | , , , | Leave a comment

Financial connections between U.S. politicians and the nuclear lobby

Lobbying, global warming portend nuclear comeback

McClatchy By Judy Pasternak | Investigative Reporting Workshop January 24, 2010

“………….BRIDGES TO CONGRESS, WHITE HOUSEThese constituencies are important to the party that’s in power. Disclosure records show that the industry deftly kept its traditional base among Senate Republicans — who want 100 new nuclear units even if the climate bill fails — while building bridges to Democrats in both houses.

Clyburn is one example, receiving about $195,600 from nuclear energy companies and affiliated unions since 2000, $187,000 of that in the last two election cycles. The Nuclear Energy Institute contributed at least $10,000 to Clyburn’s scholarship foundation, and nuclear interests spent more than $30,000 for two six-day trips for Clyburn and his wife. One was to inspect nuclear facilities in France, and the other in the United Kingdom. He also owns stock valued at $15,000 to $50,000 in SCANA Corp., a South Carolina company that’s applied to build two reactors. Continue reading →

January 25, 2010 Posted by | politics, USA | , , , | Leave a comment

Depleted uranium and Iraq’s deadly war legacy

Legacy of War: TEHRAN TIMES January 25, 2010 Iraq littered with high levels of nuclear and dioxin contamination, study finds By Martin Chulov Radiation and dioxins, with three decades of war and neglect having left environmental ruin in large parts of the country, an official Iraqi study has found.Areas in and near Iraq’s largest towns and cities, including Najaf, Basra and ­Falluja, account for around 25% of the contaminated sites, which appear to coincide with communities that have seen increased rates of cancer and birth defects over the past five years. Continue reading →

January 25, 2010 Posted by | weapons and war | , , , , | Leave a comment

Waste problem unsolved, but US to pour money into new nukes

Lobbying, global warming portend nuclear comeback

McClatchy By Judy Pasternak | Investigative Reporting Workshop January 24, 2010

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration soon may guarantee as much as $18.5 billion in loans to build new nuclear reactors to generate electricity, and Congress is considering whether to add billions more to support an expansion of nuclear power.

These actions come after an extensive decade-long campaign in which companies and unions related to the industry have spent more than $600 million on lobbying and nearly $63 million on campaign contributions, according to an analysis by the Investigative Reporting Workshop at American University………… Continue reading →

January 25, 2010 Posted by | business and costs, USA | , , , , , , | Leave a comment