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Wikileaks: report on nuclear trafficking

NUCLEAR SMUGGLING INCIDENT/PORTAL DETECTION AT BUJUMBURA – Telegraph, 2 Feb 2011, Passed to the Telegraph by WikiLeaks 9:00PM GMT 01 Feb 2011(SBU) “……..Post wishes to alert the Department and Washington agencies per reftel that it has received a report indicating a potential incident of illicit trafficking in nuclear and/or radiological materials. The report was generated by the Defense Attach (DATT) after a meeting with host government intelligence officials, who brought the suspect material into the room. Information concerning this report was initially relayed to PMAT by telephone at 1035Z, and further information was transmitted by email at 1151Z.2.(S/NF) Details of the incident follow:…..”NUCLEAR SMUGGLING INCIDENT/PORTAL DETECTION AT BUJUMBURA – Telegraph

February 2, 2011 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

More oversight planned for Entergy’s Vermont nuclear power plant

“I am deeply concerned with Vermont Yankee’s lack of transparency about serious problems that continue to be discovered around the plant,”

Vermont To Create Oversight Committee For Entergy Nuclear Plant – WSJ.com,By Naureen S. Malik, Dow Jones  NEW YORK  2 Feb 2011, -Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin has ordered the state utility regulator to appoint a new oversight committee for Entergy Corp.’s (ETR) nuclear plant amid worries over radioactive-material leaks. Continue reading →

February 2, 2011 Posted by | safety, USA | 1 Comment

Troubled Hartsville nuclear power plant to get more federal scrutiny

SC nuclear plant under increased fed oversight – Bloomberg, HARTSVILLE, S.C. (AP), 2 Feb 2011, — Federal nuclear regulators say they will increase oversight of a power plant near Hartsville.The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said in a news release Tuesday additional oversight of the H.B. Robinson nuclear power plant comes after two electrical fires and a plant shutdown in March. The company also reported a problem with an emergency diesel generator and had an excessive number of unplanned reactor shutdowns last year…….As part of the oversight, the plant will be subject to additional inspections by the commission. Those inspections have not been scheduled. SC nuclear plant under increased fed oversight – Bloomberg

February 2, 2011 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

More taxpayer money needed if USA nuclear industry is to survive

Financial Uncertainty……There’s no clear solution to this problem other than even more aggressive intervention by the government…..Bigger subsidies might also be necessary to get investors to stomach the high upfront costs and slow returns of nuclear reactors…..

Why Are New U.S. Nuclear Reactor Projects Fizzling? The Atlantic- Daniel Indiviglio 1 Feb 2011, About a year ago, President Obama announced a new initiative to encourage the construction of a new generation of nuclear energy reactors. The plan sought to provide $55 billion in loan guarantees for these projects. Matthew Wald of the New York Times provides a progress report today: there hasn’t been much. Two are moving forward, and the others are struggling. What’s the holdup? Continue reading →

February 2, 2011 Posted by | general | 2 Comments

Power of mining companies to remove a Prime Minister

A snip at $22m to get rid of PM, The Age, Mark Davis,February 2, 2011 HOW much does it cost to bring down a prime minister? The answer: a tad over $22 million.That’s how much the mining industry spent in six weeks last year on its campaign against Kevin Rudd’s plan for a resource super profit tax.The advertising and public relations campaign dominated the airwaves in May and June. Continue reading →

February 2, 2011 Posted by | AUSTRALIA, politics | Leave a comment

Uranium mining’s risk in times of flood

Beach study warns of risk if uranium mine floods By Aaron Applegate, The Virginian-Pilot, February 2, 2011 Massive flooding near a proposed uranium mine in south-central Virginia could temporarily contaminate Virginia Beach’s water supply, a city study released Tuesday found. City officials oppose mining a Pittsylvania County hilltop rich in uranium, fearing a hurricane or tropical storm could destroy landfill-like containers holding radioactive waste and flush contaminants into Lake Gaston, a main source of city water.
The state is exploring lifting a 29-year ban on uranium mining for the Pittsylvania project, about 200 miles from Virginia Beach……Tom Leahy, director of public utilities.  said flooding from past hurricanes, including Camille in 1969, show the area is at risk. Beach study warns of risk if uranium mine floods | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

February 2, 2011 Posted by | Uranium, USA, water | Leave a comment

The waste and water costs of coal and nuclear

200B Gallons of Water Drawn Each Day for U.S. Coal, Nuclear Power, SustainableBusiness.com 31/1 2011, An astounding 200 billion gallons of water withdrawn from America’s water supply each day… and four metric tons of high-level radioactive wastes for every terawatt of electricity produced by nuclear reactors, even though there is no long-term storage solution in place Continue reading →

February 2, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, USA | Leave a comment

Pakistan has greatly accelerated its nuclear weapons program

“The Pakistanis have significantly accelerated production of uranium and plutonium for bombs and developed new weapons to deliver them,”

At 110, Pak N-stock shoots past India’s: The Tribune, Chandigarh, India by Ashish Kumar Sen in Washington DC , 1/2/2011, Pakistan has doubled the size of its nuclear stockpile over the past several years, edging past India and now has more than 100 deployed weapons, according to a Washington Post report. Continue reading →

February 2, 2011 Posted by | Pakistan, weapons and war | Leave a comment

Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant dangerous?

[IAEA] officials, who asked for anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the issue, have said the agency is unhappy with safety and operating standards at the reactor.

Report warns of Iran nuke disaster, Google hosted news,  The Associated Press:, 1/2/2011, VIENNA — The control systems of Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant have been penetrated by a computer worm unleashed last year, according to a foreign intelligence report that warns of a possible Chernobyl-like disaster once the site becomes fully operational. Russia’s envoy to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, also has raised the specter of the 1986 reactor explosion in Ukraine, but suggested last week that the danger had passed. Continue reading →

February 2, 2011 Posted by | Iran, safety | Leave a comment

Young children’s increased cancer risk fron 3-D dental X-rays

“Keeping in mind that the radiation received has cumulative effects, adding unnecessary radiation exposure to the patient may result in a higher biological risks, particularly in the more susceptible young children……

Using 3-D X-rays for orthodontic kids may up radiation risk, Sify News, 2011-01-31 Researchers have indicated that some orthodontists may be exposing young patients to unnecessary radiation when they order 3-D X-ray imaging for simple orthodontic cases before considering traditional 2-D imaging. Continue reading →

February 2, 2011 Posted by | health, USA | Leave a comment

Nuclear lobby does want USA to tighten nuclear safety measures

Ros-Lehtinen’s legislation could also include provisions aimed at strengthening nonproliferation aspects of any future 123 agreement, for example, requiring that Washington seek pledges from partner nations not to enrich uranium or reprocess spent fuel on their territory. Such activities can be useful for power needs but also introduce the potential to advance a covert nuclear weapons effort……..

U.S. Industry Advocate Takes on Lawmaker’s Anticipated Nuclear Trade Measure, Jan. 31, 2011, By Elaine M. Grossman, Global Security Newswire WASHINGTON — An advocate for the U.S. nuclear power industry said last week his group would oppose a powerful House chairwoman’s anticipated measure aimed at altering the terms of future nuclear trade agreements and how they undergo legislative review ( Continue reading →

February 2, 2011 Posted by | politics, USA | Leave a comment

Nobel peace prize recipient, ElBaradei in the spotlight in Egypt

ElBaradei, who is Muslim, sometimes cited his favourite Christian prayer when speaking of his role on the world stage. Attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, it begins: “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.”

Now Egypt’s democratic hope, ex-chief UN nuke inspector familiar with public spotlight, The Canadian Press, By George Jahn  1/2/2011, VIENNA — Thrust to the forefront as Egypt’s democratic hope, Mohamed ElBaradei is no stranger to high-octane public roles. As the chief U.N. nuclear inspector, he stood up to Washington by disputing claims Saddam Hussein was trying to make atomic arms and grappled vainly to end Iran’s and North Korea’s nuclear defiance…… Continue reading →

February 1, 2011 Posted by | Egypt, politics | 1 Comment

Libya and uranium selling deals – Wikileaks

LIBYAN ATOMIC ENERGY ESTABLISHMENT CONFIRMS DESIRE TO SELL URANIUM YELLOWCAKE Passed to the Telegraph by WikiLeaks 31 Jan 2011 ” ………..Gashut affirmed Libya’s commitment to sell its stockpile of approximately 1,000 metric tons of uranium yellowcake as part of the commitments it undertook in connection with its decision in 2003 to voluntarily abandon its WMD programs. Stressing that Libya viewed the question as primarily a commercial one, he noted that prices for uranium yellowcake on the world market had been increasing, and that Libya wanted to maximize its profit by properly timing the sale of its stockpile. Companies from the U.K., France and Canada (he did not say which) had sent representatives to Libya to negotiate for the purchase of the uranium in 2006-2007, and had subsequently tendered offers. Other companies had also expressed interest since then and the GOL had conducted discussions with them; however, only the original three British, French and Canadian companies had actually submitted formal bids to date. The GOL was currently engaged in “active, ongoing communications” with the three original companies and others, but had not yet made a decision as to which offer it was most inclined to accept……… LIBYAN ATOMIC ENERGY ESTABLISHMENT CONFIRMS DESIRE TO SELL URANIUM YELLOWCAKE – Telegraph

 

February 1, 2011 Posted by | MIDDLE EAST, Uranium | Leave a comment

Past nuclear deals between Libya and Russia, France

DEBT, NUCLEAR ENERGY, AND GOLF CARTS: PUTIN VISITS LIBYA – Telegraph – from Wikilieaks, 1/2/2011, “……….During the visit, the two sides also signed — at Libyan insistence — an MOU committing both sides to side a formal cooperation agreement on civilian uses of nuclear energy by the end of 2008. Kozlov noted that Libya hoped to sign a formal civilian nuclear agreement during the visit; Continue reading →

February 1, 2011 Posted by | history, MIDDLE EAST | Leave a comment

Unidentified foreign scientists helping North Korea’s secret nuclear site

the report also cites evidence that foreign scientists visiting North Korea contributed their expertise to construction of the plant. No country of origin was identified.

North Korea Has at Least One Secret Nuclear Site, UN Report Says, Bloomberg, By Bill Varner – Feb 1, 2011 North Korea  likely has at least one secret nuclear facility, in addition to a plant at Yongbyon whose existence was reported last year, according to diplomats who have read a confidential United Nations report. Continue reading →

February 1, 2011 Posted by | North Korea, secrets,lies and civil liberties | Leave a comment

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