2010 March 25 « nuclear-news

UK’s nuclear arsenal completely dependent on USA

War With The Ghosts Permaculture Research Institute of Australia, George Monbiot, 26 March 2010, What are our nuclear weapons for, and who controls them?, “…….. Sharing our [UK’s] nuclear deterrence with France is out of the question. Last week the government slapped down a French offer to reduce the costs of our submarine patrols, by taking turns to prowl the same seas rather than duplicating the effort and occasionally crashing into each other. Continue reading →

March 25, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | UK, weapons and war | cancer, France, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

Increased radiation cancer risk for airline crews

if crew members and passengers already face largely unreported radiation risks from long-distance flying, we should have the right to know just how whole-body radiation scanning machines are part of this risk.

Flying and Excess Radiation, THE HUFFINGTON POST, Robert Alvarez: March 22, 2010 .….The recent reporting of dozens of cases of harm to patients from the misuse of CAT scans should serve as a cautionary warning.

Unfortunately, the doses of radiation experienced in every-day life, especially flying long-distances in jet aircraft, pose risks we should also carefully heed…..With the rise in altitude, atmospheric shielding decreases and radiation doses increase. Continue reading →

March 25, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, health | antinuclear, cancer, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

Now U.S. taxpayer funds not only nuclear loans, but even the loans application!

Energy Department investing $45M for technology for southern Ohio uranium enrichment project, The Washinton Examiner, Associated Press03/24/10 EDTPIKETON, OHIO — The Department of Energy will invest $45 million in ongoing development and demonstration of centrifuge technology for a uranium-enrichment plant in southern Ohio.The department said Tuesday that it will provide the funding by taking title to depleted uranium from USEC Inc. The Bethesda, Md.-based company can then use the $45 million it set aside for uranium disposal. USEC also will provide $45 million in matching funds.

USEC says the demonstration and development work is needed to show progress to gain a $2 billion federal loan guarantee. The company says the guarantee is crucial to obtaining private financing to complete its American Centrifuge project in Piketon.The Energy Department last year delayed its final review of USEC’s loan guarantee application.Piketon is about 65 miles south of Columbus.

Energy Department investing $45M for technology for southern Ohio uranium enrichment project | Washington Examiner

March 25, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

U.S. taxpayer funding not only nuclear loans, but also uranium enrichment

U.S. funding new uranium enrichment effort BETHESDA, Md., March 24 (UPI) –– The U.S. Department of Energy reached a cost-sharing agreement with uranium giant USEC Inc. to fund the development of uranium enrichment technology. U.S. enrichment company and the Department of Energy agreed on a joint $90 million cost sharing agreement to fund advanced centrifuge research at USEC’s American Centrifuge enrichment plant in Piketon, Ohio…..The Department of Energy under the agreement takes care of the disposal of depleted uranium.

U.S. funding new uranium enrichment effort – UPI.com

March 25, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, USA | antinuclear, depleted, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear wastes, radioactive, uranium | Leave a comment

Ionising radiation’s long-term effects include heart disease and stroke

Correcting for other habits known to be associated with both conditions had no impact on their findings, suggesting that the radiation alone was responsible for their findings.

Survive the A-Bomb, Die Prematurely from Stroke and Heart Disease, Brain Blogger, March 24, 2010 | By T. A. McNamee, MD The survivors of the World War II atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki may have considered themselves lucky, at least at first. Shortly thereafter, however, those who didn’t die from radiation poisoning learned that the radiation from the bombings placed themselves and their children at increased risk of cancer. Now, they can add heart disease and stroke to their list of potential medical problems. Continue reading →

March 25, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, health | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

Nuclear double-speak about peace

Nukes are “weapons of peace”, says Kakodkar Mumbai, fullstory Mar 19 (PTI) Nuclear weapons are “weapons of peace” which act as a deterrent, says former Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission Anil Kakodkar.

When India tested its nuclear bombs in 1974 and 1998, sanctions were imposed by many countries but for “us it became a real opportunity and our research and development today has reached a robust level” in some of the technologies, Kakodkar said at a function yesterday.

“The philosophical aspect of nuclear weapons can be peaceful and they act as a deterrent. So, I call them weapons of peace,” he said replying to questions posed by eminent science writer Bal Phondke and Dr A P Thatte, President of Vijnan Bharati, an NGO dedicated to science.

fullstory

March 25, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | India, secrets,lies and civil liberties | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

Who guards the nuclear weapons lab guardians?

…the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) analysis which concluded that DOE needs more independent federal oversight, not less.

Mar 24, 2010The Problem with Providing Nuclear Weapons Labs with Relief from Federal Oversight, The Project On Government Oversight (POGO) Blog, Peter Stockton and Ingrid Drake, 25 March 2010, George Lobsenz’s article in yesterday’s issue of The Energy Daily correctly pointed out that the Department of Energy’s decision to provide the contractors who run the nuclear weapons labs with major relief from federal oversight was done “Without any prior public review or comment.” Continue reading →

March 25, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, USA | cancer, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

Danger in providing nuclear technology to Pakistan

One cannot hand over nuclear power to a country so unpredictable.

Why Pakistan should not get a nuclear deal : Livemint.com Pradip Kumar Saha , March 24, 2010 “….Reports say the two countries [USA and Pakistan] could discuss a civil nuclear deal—nuclear power could help ease Pakistan’s energy woes at least. This has got India worried.There are several reasons why there should be no nuclear deal with Pakistan. Continue reading →

March 25, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Pakistan, politics international | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

Radiation effects: higher birth defects in Chernobyl area

Higher birth-defect rate seen in Chernobyl area NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Amy Norton Wed Mar 24, 2010 – Rates of certain birth defects appear higher than normal in one of the Ukraine regions most affected by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster, according to a new study.The findings, reported in the journal Pediatrics, stand in contrast to a 2005 U.N. report stating that there is no evidence of an increased risk of birth defects or other reproductive effects in areas contaminated by radiation from the Chernobyl accident. Continue reading →

March 25, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | health, Ukraine | antinuclear, cancer, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, radiation, radioactive | 2 Comments

Film on fight of Native Americans against uranium mining

Uranium is NOT My Friend – Care2 News Network, 25 March 2010, This film is about a coalition of Native Americans from the Pine Ridge Reservation (South Dakota) and Environmentalists fighting the largest and most powerful Uranium Mining Company on the Planet. Uranium is Radioactive. …

Uranium is NOT My Friend – Care2 News Network

March 25, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | cancer, indigenous, nuclear, nuclear wastes, radiation, radioactive, uranium | Leave a comment

Uranium Waste Solutions share price plummets

First Uranium ops lose value miningmx, Dewald van Rensburg | Wed, 24 Mar 2010 “….. The value of First Uranium’s subsidiary, Mine Waste Solutions (MWS), which is intended to reclaim gold and uranium from 14 mine dumps, has halved since March 2008, to about $211m. The value of the second operating division, the Ezulwini mine, has also halved since January 2009, to $437m.

First Uranium ops lose value

March 25, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, business and costs | nuclear costs, uranium | Leave a comment

Some U.S. States with nuclear wastes want Yucca dump

House members: Block Energy Dept. from abandoning Yucca nuke waste plan, The Hill, By Ben Geman – 03/24/2010 A bipartisan group of House members whose states contain nuclear waste left over from Cold War weapons production hope to block the Energy Department from walking away from the proposed Yucca Mountain waste dump in Nevada. Continue reading →

March 25, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | USA, wastes | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear wastes, nuclear weapons, plutonium, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

American Indian tribes may develop renewable energy

Report: Tribes key in renewable energy development, Google News, By FELICIA FONSECA (AP) – 24 March 2010, FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — American Indian tribes have huge potential to develop renewable energy resources on their lands but first must overcome a number of challenges, namely financial, according to a report released Tuesday. Continue reading →

March 25, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | indigenous issues, USA | indigenous, renewable energy, renewables, solar | Leave a comment

Anti-radiation emergency exercises in Russia

Russia holds its first anti-radiation exercises Voice of Russia 24 March 2010,

Russia has launched its first radiation emergency exercises in the Far East. The two-day exercises will involve experts and rescue workers from the Emergency Situations Ministry, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Federal Security Service and the Federal Migration Service of Russia. The aim of the exercises is to assess the country’s ability to protect its people in case of a radiation threat.

Russia holds its first anti-radiation exercises: Voice of Russia

March 25, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Russia, safety | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

Disappearance of documents on secret nuclear deal

the country had for decades had a secret agreement with Washington that allowed U.S. nuclear-armed vessels to pass through the island nation’s territory

U.S.-Japan Nuke Agreement Papers Vanished, Ex-Official Says, NTI: Global Security Newswire March 22, 2010 A former high-level Japanese Foreign Ministry official told Tokyo lawmakers Friday that important papers that addressed the island nation’s secret nuclear agreement with the United States appear to have vanished, the Japan Times reported (see GSN, March 17). Continue reading →