2010 July « nuclear-news

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

Hypocrisy as Japan seeks to be nuclear power salesman

Japan emphasises that its technology exports are for the peaceful production of nuclear energy.

But as it knows only too well, the plutonium produced in fission reactors can also be used to produce nuclear weapons.

Anxiety mushrooms over Japanese nuclear exports | The Australian, Rick Wallace, July 15, 2010 IT’S hard not to draw cynical conclusions about Japan’s decision to pursue sales of nuclear technology overseas. One of the country’s most treasured principles appears to have a price as it hawks nuclear systems to India, the Middle East and perhaps other countries. Continue reading →

July 16, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, spinbuster | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin | Leave a comment

Investment grows worldwide in Renewable Energy and Efficiency

Policies that favor the development of a green economy and businesses in the fields of renewable energy and energy efficiency also increased: more than 100 countries enacted some type of policy target and/or promotion policy related to renewable energy by early 2010…...

Global Clean Energy Report: China Surpassed U.S. as Top Sector Investor in 2009, GreenTech by Lora Kolodny on Jul 15, 2010The United Nations Environment Program and the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century today reveal in a pair of new reports that despite an overall financial downturn in 2009, global investments in sustainable energy increased worldwide. Core clean energy investments from private and public sources totaled $162 billion. Continue reading →

July 16, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, renewable | antinuclear, climate change, energy efficiency, renewable energy, renewables, solar | Leave a comment

2 nuclear reactors still out of service

2 Dominion Power reactors offline, The Washington Post, By Lori Aratani July 15, 2010; Dominion Virginia Power has halted the restarting of a reactor at its Surry power plant and taken out of service a reactor at its North Anna power plant.The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says North Anna’s Unit 1 was shut down shortly after 6:30 p.m. Wednesday because of leaks in a steam line.Dominion Virginia Power spokesman Richard Zuercher says the restart of Unit 2 at the Surry plant was halted after a voltage regulator “did not perform as expected.”Surry’s Unit 2 was shut down Sunday night because of a water pipe leak.

Post Now – 2 Dominion Power reactors offline

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

South Korea wants nuclear reprocessing and uranium enrichment

the South Korean government also wants to acquire a uranium enrichment capacity to make the traditional fuel for reactors — another activity banned by the 1974 accord because enriched uranium can also be used for weapons………. South Korea’s ambition is tied to its drive to become a major exporter of nuclear reactors.

U.S. Wary of South Korea’s Plan to Reuse Nuclear Fuel, By CHOE SANG-HUN New York Times, July 13, 2010 “……another nuclear dispute is emerging on the Korean Peninsula — this one between the United States and South Korea. South Korea, which has no oil reserves, derives 40 percent of its electricity from nuclear reactors and is running out of space to store the highly radioactive spent nuclear fuel. Continue reading →

July 15, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics international, South Korea | antinuclear, enriched, fast breeder, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons, plutonium, radiation, radioactive, reactors, reprocessing, uranium | Leave a comment

American Indians confront USA’s ‘Blue Ribbon’ Nuclear Waste Commission

Tribes: Nuclear waste can’t be stored at Hanford, Google hosted news, (AP) – 15 July 2010, RICHLAND, Wash. — Northwest American Indian tribes say highly radioactive waste cannot be permanently stored at the nation’s most contaminated nuclear site.Members of the Yakama, Nez Perce, Umatilla and Wanapum tribes on Wednesday addressed a commission appointed by President Barack Obama to examine U.S. disposal of radioactive waste. It was prompted by his decision not to proceed with the Yucca Mountain waste repository in Nevada…..

The Associated Press: Tribes: Nuclear waste can’t be stored at Hanford

July 15, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | indigenous issues, USA | antinuclear, indigenous, nuclear, nuclear technology, nuclear weapons, radioactive, uranium | Leave a comment

65 years of lies and cover-up about nuclear bomb and radioactivity

When reports of thousands in Hiroshima and Nagasaki afflicted with a strange and horrible new disease emerged, General Groves, at first, called it all a “hoax” and “propaganda” and speculated that the Japanese had different “blood.”

Secrecy, Cover-ups & Deadly Radiation: On the Birth of the Nuclear Age 65 Years Ago The Nation, Greg Mitchell J uly 14, 2010 While most people trace the dawn of the nuclear era to August 6, 1945, and the dropping of the atomic bomb over the center of Hiroshima, it really began three weeks earlier, in the desert near Alamogordo, New Mexico, with the top-secret Trinity test. Its sixty-fifth anniversary will be marked—or mourned, if you will—this Friday, July 16. . Continue reading →

July 15, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons, radiation, reactors | Leave a comment

UK’s Trident nuclear weapons – expensive, unnecessary

“Describing this as a ‘value for money’ review is nonsense – the fundamental question is whether Britain needs a cold war weapons system decades after that conflict ended.

(UK) Nuclear weapon review ‘nonsense’ Morning Star, 14 July 2010, by Will Stone Anti Nuclear campaigners have branded the government’s proposed “value-for-money” review of the multibillion-pound renewal of Trident as nonsense. Continue reading →

July 15, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | UK, weapons and war | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment