2010 July 16 « nuclear-news

U.S. nuclear loans – govt favouritism to an uneconomic industry

If the DOE gets its way, US loan guarantees between 2008 and 2011 for nuclear will be triple those for renewables and energy efficiency (see page 4 of the GAO report). Yet the nuclear ‘renaissance’ is struggling to get off the ground while renewables are positively thriving. You do the math.

Nuclear favouritism, Greenpeace International, by jmckeati – July 15, 2010, ……… On Monday it was the International Energy Agency’s Energy Technology Perspectives with its bad news for the nuclear ‘renaissance’. Yesterday it was the EUROTOM Supply Agency and its figures that show that nuclear power isn’t bringing – and can’t bring – energy security to Europe.

Today it’s a report released this week by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) which demonstrates the bias and favouritism shown to the nuclear industry by government and politicians. The GAO has been looking at the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) loan guarantee program (LGP). Continue reading →

July 16, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | spinbuster, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear renaissance, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons, radiation, reactors | Leave a comment

Iranian nuclear scientist – a spy for USA or for Iran?

Was Iranian Nuclear Scientist a Double Agent? | The Atlantic Wire, By Max Fisher July 15, 2010, Alleged Iranian nuclear scientist Shahram Amiri has returned to Iran after 13 months in the U.S. It’s still unclear what happened during his stay and why he returned home. We may never know the full truth, but several new reports point to the possibility that he was an Iranian double agent all along. Under this theory, Amiri would have faked his defection to the U.S. (or allowed himself to be abducted, depending on whose story you believe), where he either fed the U.S. false information or acquired information to send back to Iran or both. Here’s what we know…….

Was Iranian Nuclear Scientist a Double Agent? | The Atlantic Wire

July 16, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, USA | antinuclear, enriched, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons, uranium | Leave a comment

Youth-led anti nuclear movement to launch in August

Think Outside the Bomb to launch “Disarmament Summer”, Beyond Nuclear! 16 July 2010, The youth-led anti-nuclear weapons movement Think Outside the Bomb is set to launch its “Disarmament Summer” (July 30 to August 9) campaign in New Mexico. TOTB will create a permaculture encampment installing gardens and energy efficiency and renewable energy systems that will serve the community of Chimayo, New Mexico long after this summer’s activities have ended. “Disarmament Summer” will culminate with actions at the Los Alamos nuclear weapons lab on Nagasaki Day on August 9th.

Beyond Nuclear – NUCLEAR WEAPONS – Think Outside the Bomb to launch “Disarmament Summer”!

July 16, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

USA nuclear energy – no future without a solution to nuclear waste

Commission on America’s Nuclear Future co-chairman Brent Scowcroft says the future of American nuclear energy depends on whether the U.S. can figure out how to treat and dispose of the resulting waste.

Presidential commission: dealing with waste key to nuclear future – KHQ Right Now Associated Press – July 15, 2010 Continue reading →

July 16, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | USA, wastes | AUSTRALIA, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear weapons, radiation, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

CIA paid Iranian nuclear scientist $5 million

denied he knew any secrets or even that he was a nuclear scientist at all. However, the US officials told The Washington Post that the money would not have been paid for nothing.

Iranian scientist was ‘paid $5 million by CIA’ for nuclear secrets, Telegraph, 15 July 2010, The scientist who claims he was abducted by US spies was paid $5 million by the CIA to disclose Iran’s nuclear secrets, American officials have said. Richard Spencer, Middle East Correspondent Continue reading →

July 16, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Iran, secrets,lies and civil liberties | antinuclear, enriched, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear weapons, uranium | Leave a comment

VIDEO: USA’s need to move to truly clean energy

VIDEO Repower America | Video: Join Michael’s fight for clean energy Repower America, 16 July 2010, “……….The tragedy unfolding in the Gulf underscores the need for America to end our dependence on oil and other fossil fuels, and only a comprehensive bill that sets clear limits on carbon pollution will break the cycle of addiction. We must take aggressive steps to deal with the immediate consequences of the oil disaster, but we must also use this opportunity to address the underlying causes and prevent future disasters like this one.Clean energy will create jobs, strengthen our national security, and ensure America’s prosperity and leadership in the 21st century………..

July 16, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Resources -audiovicual | renewable energy | Leave a comment

Obama to India to push USA’s commercial nuclear sales

India, US flesh out agenda for Obama visit, Sify News, 2010-07-15, “…. US National Security Adviser James Jones wrapped up his two-day visit here, aimed at firming up deliverables for Obama’s state visit in November…..The visit saw India making a renewed push for the easing of exports of dual use technologies, widely seen in India as a potential deliverable during Obama’s maiden visit here in November. The two sides also reviewed steps that remain to be completed to implement their nuclear deal…

India, US flesh out agenda for Obama visit

July 16, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | India, politics international | Leave a comment

Germany introducing nuclear fuel tax

Revenue from the tax would help Germany cut its budget deficit and finance the clean-up of its repositories for nuclear waste.

German nuclear tax to raise 2.3 bln eur-draft law BERLIN, July 15 (Reuters) – The proposed German tax on nuclear power station operators would likely raise 2.3 billion euros annually between 2011 and 2014, a finance ministry draft law obtained by Reuters said.Nuclear power station operators will face a levy of 220 euros per gramme of nuclear fuel (uranium or plutonium)…… Continue reading →

July 16, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Germany, politics | nuclear, nuclear costs, uranium | Leave a comment

USA to spend record amounts on nuclear weapons

boosting spending on nuclear weapons could cause the international community to doubt President Obama’s pledge to reduce the number of warheads the military maintains. “We have to think carefully about what signal we’re sending to other countries,”

U.S. Aims to Increase Nuclear Budget, Even as Arsenal Is Scaled Back, Politics Daily, Christopher Weber, 16 july 2010, The Pentagon has pledged to draw down its number of nuclear warheads, but even as it does, the Obama administration says it must hike spending to maintain the aging nuclear weapons infrastructure, according to a budget document obtained by The Los Angeles Times. Continue reading →

July 16, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | USA, weapons and war | antinuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

Russi now critical of Iran’s nuclear programme

Medvedev’s latest tough statement after he recently stated the Iran was close to developing nuclear weapons is expected to please U.S. officials and improve relations between the two superpowers.

Moscow, Russian Federation (AHN) 16 Julhy 2010, – Just a day after Moscow agreed to expand cooperation with Iran on energy ties despite U.N. sanctions, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said that it was seeking “appropriate” explanations from the Islamic nation on its ambitious nuclear program. He also called Tehran to fully cooperate with international community in this regard. Continue reading →

July 16, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | AUSTRALIA, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

U.S. Nuclear Weapons makers worried about economy

Nuclear Arms Labs Say ‘Fiscal Realities’ Weigh on U.S. Arsenal July 15 (Bloomberg) –– Directors of the three U.S. nuclear weapons laboratories said today they are worried the nation’s fiscal troubles and a lack of political consensus may threaten their ability to maintain the stockpile of warheads………Republicans have criticized as insufficient Obama’s plans to spend $80 billion over 10 years to maintain and modernize the existing weapons…….

Nuclear Arms Labs Say ‘Fiscal Realities’ Weigh on U.S. Arsenal – BusinessWeek

July 16, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

Big nuclear funding Bill now goes to USA Senate

In addition to the $25 billion approved Thursday by a House Appropriations subcommittee, the House included $9 billion for nuclear loan guarantees in a supplemental spending bill that it passed July 1. The Senate must still approve both measures.

House lawmakers approve spending bill that includes $25B for nuclear reactors | By DAVE MICHAELS/ The Dallas Morning News, 15 July 2010, WASHINGTON – House lawmakers approved a spending bill Thursday that includes $25 billion in loan guarantees for new nuclear reactors, an amount that could enable the expansion of North Texas’ Comanche Peak plant.Dallas-based Luminant, which owns the plant, said the additional amount “would be sufficient” to allow funding for its plan to build two new reactors. Luminant said it was “the first alternate” last year when the U.S. Department of Energy selected four nuclear projects to further consider for loan guarantees………… In addition to the $25 billion approved Thursday by a House Appropriations subcommittee, the House included $9 billion for nuclear loan guarantees in a supplemental spending bill that it passed July 1. The Senate must still approve both measures.

July 16, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, USA | antinuclear | Leave a comment

India’s proposed Civil Nuclear Liability Bill under attack in Parliament

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment on Forests is examining the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage
Bill, 2010 that was introduced in the Lower House on May 7 amid stiff resistance from a united opposition……….. Top officials from the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests were also grilled by the panel on the long-lasting effects of a nuclear accident..

N-bill under attack at Par panel meeting, Business Ghana, : 15th July 2010 The Indian Government’s plans to bring the controversial nuclear liability bill virtually came under all round attack with the opposition BJP and Left leaders Tuesday questioned the need for such a move and demanded that it be withdrawn forthwith. Continue reading →

July 16, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | India, politics | antinuclear, nuclear costs | Leave a comment

Russian public wary on nuclear disarmament

More than a quarter of Russians (27 percent) said the pact benefited the entire world.

Most of Russians against nuclear disarmament – poll | Russia | RIA Novosti, 15 July 2010, The majority of Russians (60 percent) are against further nuclear disarmament, with numbers in favor dropping significantly since the end of the Soviet era, the Russia Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM) said on Thursday. Continue reading →

July 16, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Russia, weapons and war | Leave a comment

Claim of illegal uranium mining in Papua

a Papua Legislative Councillor, Yan Mandenas, claimed that Freeport had been covertly mining uranium for at least eight months.

Indonesia demands inquiry into reports Freeport illegally mines uranium, Radio New Zealand International, 16 July, 2010 Indonesia’s House of Representatives has demanded an immediate investigation into accusations that PT Freeport Indonesia is illegally secretly mining uranium in Papua.The Jakarta Globe reports that the House said the multi-national company would need to provide clarification on the matter.The chairman of the House’s United Development Party, Hazrul Azwar, says that if the allegations are true, Freeport could be penalised, including changes to their operating contract with the Government.His statement comes after a Papua Legislative Councillor, Yan Mandenas, claimed that Freeport had been covertly mining uranium for at least eight months.

Indonesia demands inquiry into reports Freeport illegally mines uranium

July 16, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | OCEANIA, secrets,lies and civil liberties, Uranium | antinuclear, nuclear secrecy, uranium | Leave a comment