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Time running out for action on Climate Change

Five years to act on climate: report The Age , Tom Arup and David Wroe November 11, 2011THE world has just five years to make ”urgent and radical policy changes” or lock in dangerous climate change, the world’s leading energy agency has warned, sparking a debate about whether Australia should shift to gas or renewable energy.

The 2011 World Energy Outlook – released by the International Energy Agency late on Wednesday night – finds the world is on track to build enough fossil-fuel power stations, energy-intensive factories and buildings by 2017 to close the door on keeping climate change to a safe level…… The outlook says coal consumption needs to peak well before 2020 if the world wants to halt global warming at a 2 degrees rise, which scientists say is needed to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

If energy and climate policies currently proposed by all world governments – including Australia’s carbon tax – are put in place, temperatures will rise by 3.5 degrees. If the world remains on its current path of growth in fossil fuels global temperatures will rise by 6 degrees, the outlook says.

Agency chief economist Fatih Birol said if by 2017 there is not a start to major new clean infrastructure investments ”the door to 2 degrees will be closed”. ”I am very worried,” he said, ”if we don’t change direction now on how we use energy, we will end up beyond what scientists tell us is the minimum. The door will be closed forever.”

The outlook comes as nations prepare to converge on the South African city of Durban later this month for the next round of global climate change negotiations, but there is almost no expectation significant progress on a global pact will be made.

The agency’s report says emissions from existing fossil-fuel power plants, factories and buildings have already locked in 80 per cent of the emissions allowed by 2035 to keep carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere to 450 parts per million, the maximum possible to keep temperature rises to 2 degrees. The other 20 per cent will be eaten up by 2017 on current development trends the outlook says….  http://www.theage.com.au/national/five-years-to-act-on-climate-report-20111110-1n9he.html#ixzz1dRh1PZbd

November 11, 2011 Posted by | 2 WORLD, climate change, Reference | Leave a comment

Environmental groups to tale legal action, if NRC approves Westinghouse nuclear reactor design

Environmental group raises new objections to AP1000 reactor Charlotte Business Journal by John Downey, Senior Staff Writer, November 10, 2011 Environmental groups opposed toWestinghouse    ’s AP1000 nuclear reactor contend the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has no authority to approve the reactor’s design until it considers design changes recommended by the Fukushima Task Force on lessons learned from the Japanese nuclear accident.

John Runkle, an environmental lawyer from Chapel Hill, says the AP1000 Oversight Group is prepared to go to court to attempt to block certification of the design if, as expected, the commission goes ahead with approval. Continue reading →

November 11, 2011 Posted by | Legal, USA | Leave a comment

Japanese people using crowdsourcing to track radiation

 Safecast Draws on Power of the Crowd to Map Japan’s Radiation PBS Newshour 10 Nov JEFFREY BROWN: Now, tracking the spread of radiation in Japan eight months after the tsunami caused a nuclear accident.

Japanese people are using new technology and the power of crowdsourcing to find hotspots.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/science/july-dec11/japanradiation_11-10.html

November 11, 2011 Posted by | Resources -audiovicual | 2 Comments

Nuclear issues looming in USA Republican presidential debates

Ron Paul got cheers and applause in Las Vegas when he said: “What right does 49 states have to punish one state and say, we’re going to put our garbage in your state? I think that’s wrong.’’

In South Carolina, though, things play differently

 Nuclear Waste Is Likely to Come Up at Next Debate NYT By MATTHEW W. WALD, November 10, 2011, Most of the Republican presidential candidates said exactly the right thing about nuclear waste when they debated in Las Vegas in October — that they were against opening the proposed repository at Yucca Mountain. But when they meet in Spartanburg, S.C., on Saturday, that will be exactly the wrong thing to say. Continue reading →

November 11, 2011 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

New safety worries about Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear plant design

 

 

The public interest groups maintain that the NRC has given priority to the construction schedules of these corporations instead of resolving the continuously emerging problems with the design.   

Nuclear Expert Cites New Concerns About Westinghouse Reactor Design Based On Fukushima Disaster ENews Park Forest 10 Nov 11 Groups say design approval can’t legally be finalized until Fukushima lessons are incorporated, and that NRC plans to shove costly design corrections onto Georgia, South Carolina customers   DURHAM, N.C.  – Nuclear engineer Arnie Gundersen has documented at least six areas of unreviewed safety concern involving the Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear plant design based on the ongoing Fukushima disaster, and he says these problems require full technical review by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission before the plant design can be “certified.”  Today public interest groups filed his report – which expands on problems identified by a federal task force – with NRC commissioners who are considering a final vote on the plant design without responding to a long list of problems raised earlier by experts within and outside the industry.

The Fairewinds report and the legal motion can be found at www.ncwarn.org.  A video presentation by engineer Gundersen will be posted today both at www.ncwarn.org and at www.fairewinds.com Continue reading →

November 11, 2011 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

Taxpayers and ratepayers petition NRC on nuclear safety

Taxpayers and Ratepayers United, et al.; Environmental Impacts of Severe … Middle East North Africa Financial Network – ‎11 Nov 11 (Nuclear Regulatory Commission Documents and Publications/ContentWorks via COMTEX) — SUMMARY: The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the Commission) has received 15 petitions for rulemaking (PRMs), each dated August 10, August 11, …http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?storyid=%7B0448c247-6832-40a7-ae0e-028ca23f029c%7D

November 11, 2011 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

In closed meeting of nuclear trade group, NRC warns on safety issues

NRC chair warns nuclear industry against complacency, says it must resolve long-running issues Washington Post, By Ray Henry, Associated Press,  November 10 ATLANTA — The country’s top nuclear safety regulator warned power companies against complacency Thursday and said the agency must push ahead with new rules prompted by a nuclear crisis in Japan while also resolving long-running issues involving fire protection and a new analysis of earthquake risks. Continue reading →

November 11, 2011 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

India’s nuclear propagandist, Abdul Kalam is a fake

 From our Antinuclear correspondent in India, 9 Nov 11  I was reading Kalam’s report on how Koodankalam was safe and why nuclear is the future for India when I had a suspicion about his educational background. All his rantings seemed very unscientific to me so I did some research and found out that HE IS A TOTAL FAKE! He has only a degree (bachelor’s in science) BSc and the prefix Dr. has been conveniently been added by him in front of his name to promote himself as a doctor of science. In fact he has not received even an honorary doctorate degree from any institution or group as they sometimes arbitrarily give someone a doctorate even if they have just a fifth standard education in India (as in the case of Kurananidhi, former chief minister of Tamil Nadu who according to a report in Facebook apparently  has stashed away 3500 crores of indian rupees in Swiss Banks (an astounding amount).
 Abdul Kalam and  his missile tests were actually a botched job covered up by the BJP govt to save their face. Kalam is probably under threat that he will be revealed if he takes a anti nuke stand on Koodankalam so I’m sure if We bring the truth out about him and make it public, this would help the Koodankalam movement a great deal.
‘What is so sacrosanct about A.P.J. Abdul Kalam?’
ARVIND SWAMINATHAN writes from Madras: The larger-than-life, conversation-stopping image of the former President of India A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is the fruit of assiduous self-promotion, audacious political opportunism and pumped-up nationalism, combined with the gee-whiz ignorance of an uncritical media.
# A missile technologist who is routinely confused for a “nuclear physicist”.
# A scientist without a formal PhD—who was turned away from the Indian Institute of
Science (IISc) because he didn’t have the “requisite scientific credentials”—who happily uses
the appendage “Dr”. Continue reading →

November 10, 2011 Posted by | India, secrets,lies and civil liberties | 8 Comments

Kudankulam nuclear power plant good for the rich, and Russia, not for the poor

The nuclear debate Electricity for whom? Deccan Herald Bharat Jhunjhunwala, 10 Nov 11
Diversion of just 2 per cent of present power generation can meet the needs of all of India’s unelectrified households.
Local people are opposing construction of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu. People of Ratnagiri in Maharashtra are opposing the Jaitapur nuclear plant. Mamata Banerjee has scrapped the proposed nuclear power plant in Purba Medhinipur. Continue reading →

November 10, 2011 Posted by | India, politics | Leave a comment

Strength and determination of India’s anti nuclear movement

Protests galore expected in Kudankulam  IBN Tamil Nadu |  Nov 10, 2011   Press Trust of India Chennai: Extending support to locals agitating against Kudankulam Nuclear Power project, about 100 anti-nuclear activists will embark on a yatra from Madurai to the site on Thursday.

The activists, under the aegis of Chennai Solidarity Group for Kudankulam Struggle would start their journey from Madurai on November 10 and stop at towns and villages en route to Kudankulam to explain “the terrible environmental and health effects of nuclear energy.”

At Kudankulam, they would conduct a national seminar titled “National Conference on Safety issues at Nuclear installations in India.” The Yatra will culminate in Chennai on November 13, where a seminar for students would also be held. There are also plans to hold a photo-exhibition, depicting the horrors of nuclear energy, a press release from the group said.

The yatra has been organised by National Alliance of Anti-Nuclear Movements. Some of those attending the yatra are nuclear physicist Suvrat Raju, Prof Banwarilal Sharma, mathematician and former president of the International Congress of Mathematics and Thomas Kochery of National Fishworkers Forum, it said. (Watch CNN-IBN live on your iPad. IBN7 and IBN Lokmat too. Download the IBNLive for iPad app. It’s free. Click here to download now) http://ibnlive.in.com/news/tn-protests-galore-expected-in-kudankulam/200859-62-128.html

November 10, 2011 Posted by | India, opposition to nuclear | Leave a comment

Christian Bishop backs Kudankulam anti nuclear struggle

Tuticorin Bishop clarifies stand on Kudankulam nuclear plant row Christian Today, By: George Anthony, 10 November 2011, Rumours that the Church had distanced itself from the people’s movement against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) in Tamil Nadu are just imaginary. The Bishop of the Tuticorin Diocese has affirmed that the Church backed the locals in the struggle….

The Bishop, however, clarified to media that the Church was in solidarity and is continuing to create awareness to warn the people about the environmental and health effects of nuclear energy.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Bishop said he was with the people “morally and spiritually”. “As per the Catholic Church’s teachings and the Tamil Nadu Bishop Council’s resolution, I continue to show my solidarity with my people who are under great fear and anxiety concerning the Kudankulam Nuclear Plant,” he said.
http://in.christiantoday.com/articles/tuticorin-bishop-clarifies-stand-on-kudankulam-nuclear-plant-row/6810.htm

November 10, 2011 Posted by | India, Religion and ethics | Leave a comment

Anti nuclear, anti war protest planned against Obama’s visit to Darwin, Australia

Local activists plan Obama protest News.com.au 10 Nov 11 LOCAL activists angry at US military bases in Australia are planning to protest US President Barack Obama’s trip to Darwin next week. Justin Tutty from Darwin Residents Against War says he expects at least 20 locals to stage a peaceful protest near Parliament when Mr Obama arrives on Thursday.

“Our message is that we don’t want US bases, we don’t want US nuclear warships in Darwin Harbour and we don’t want US troops in Darwin,” Mr Tutty said. There has been speculation Mr Obama will use the visit to make an announcement relating to increasing the US military presence in the Northern Territory.

Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith recently foreshadowed increasing the number of joint training exercises with America in Darwin and the US storing more equipment in the city for disaster and humanitarian assistance.

Already the US and Australia jointly run the Pine Gap spy base near Alice Springs in the Northern
Territory. Mr Tutty said there was little information about what a greater US presence in Northern Territory would mean.

“They have talked about a pre-positioning base and we are very sceptical about the nature of the base because of all the lies we have been told about Pine Gap,” Mr Tutty said.”For so many years they told us that Pine Gap was a communications base, but in the last few years it has come out about its offensive role and it was used to direct dozens of attacks on Iraq.”  http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/national/local-activists-plan-obama-protest/story-e6frfku9-1226190123963#ixzz1dLAjnMoG

November 10, 2011 Posted by | AUSTRALIA, politics international | 1 Comment

Canadian authorities turned blind eye to depleted uranium affected soldiers

Gulf War vets wounded and angry,CNews By Kris Sims, Parliamentary Bureau, 10 Nov 11 OTTAWA — All of Louise Richard’s hair fell out after she came home from the Gulf War. “Ninety-five percent of the casualties we dealt with were Iraqi prisoners of war,” the former army nurse said. “They were obviously totally contaminated with depleted uranium, they had shrapnel, we operated on them, so here we were — hands in guts and breathing all of these things.”
Gulf War veterans say they have been suffering for 20 years after being exposed to depleted uranium in the Persian Gulf in 1991.  Continue reading →

November 10, 2011 Posted by | Canada, depleted uranium, Uranium | Leave a comment

Nuclear waste laboratory workers found to have plutonium in their lungs

Further lung examinations were ordered for two workers whose body scans tested positive for radiation in their lungs and for a third worker whose lungs showed an “anomaly,” 

More tests ordered for plutonium-exposed Idaho lab workers, By Laura Zuckerman, SALMON, Idaho   Nov 9, 2011  (Reuters) – Doctors at a nuclear research lab in Idaho on Wednesday ordered further medical tests of 16 workers accidentally exposed to low-levels of radiation from plutonium fuel in a decommissioned reactor. Continue reading →

November 10, 2011 Posted by | incidents, USA | Leave a comment

Unwisdom of attack on Iran, and not much new in IAEA report

despite the rhetoric about last chances, there is still time for a peaceful way out of the crisis. The Obama administration has no stomach nor money for another war, and its generals insist that every way they game the scenarios, America comes out the loser.

The IAEA report: what does it really mean and will it lead to war with Iran?  by 9 November 2011 guardian.co.uk Tuesday’s IAEA report has rekindled the global debate over what to do about the Iranian nuclear programme with a familiar array of options on the table: engage, sanction or attack. The various protagonists are familiar too. Russia is complaining the IAEA report has spoilt the chance of renewed dialogue, the US, Britain and France want a new push towards tighter sanctions, and Israel is threatening to strike unless the international community sorts the matter out in the next few months.

There is something a little phoney about all the sound and fury. There is nothing in the report that was not previously known by the major powers. The West and Israel supplied most of the original tip-offs for the annex on weapons development, while Russia was briefed and no doubt knew one of its own scientists had been lecturing the Iranians on how to make explosive implosion devices (ostensibly for making tiny diamonds).

Furthermore, the bulk of the report is historical, referring to the years leading up to 2003. Continue reading →

November 10, 2011 Posted by | Iran, politics international | Leave a comment

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