2011 April 05 « nuclear-news

China detects radioactive cesium 137 from Fukushima

Radioactive cesium detected in more Chinese regions amid Japan nuclear crisis BEIJING, April 4 (Xinhua) — Trace levels of radioactive isotope cesium-137 and -134 were detected in the air of 13 of the Chinese mainland’s 31 provincial-level regions on Monday, up from eight regions on Sunday.Cesium-137 and -134 were detected in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi, Shandong, Shanghai, Inner Mongolia, Jiangshu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei and Ningxia on Monday….Radioactive cesium detected in more Chinese regions amid Japan nuclear crisis

April 5, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | - Fukushima 2011, China | Leave a comment

Anxiety growing in China over poor nuclear safety

Chinese environmental campaigners, citizens on microblogs and even the normally pliant state-run media are questioning why China has no obvious emergency preparedness plan, even though many people here live less than a quarter mile from nuclear facilities….people here were already suffering health problems associated with living close to a nuclear facility and that the cancer rate in the area has increased.

China expanding nuclear power but lacks emergency planning The Washington PostBy Keith B. Richburg, April 2, SHANGHAI — The Chinese government repeatedly offers assurances that the nuclear crisis in Japan poses no radiation risk in China. Officials monitor radiation levels in the air over coastal cities daily now. And planes and ships bringing cargo and passengers from Japan are closely scanned.

But the Chinese government has not told citizens living near nuclear facilities what to do in case of a similar disaster here. Continue reading →

April 5, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | China, safety | Leave a comment

Ontario Power Generation’s flawed statement on nuclear power

the province has never completed an integrated power system plan that would establish the need for new generators…… The environmental impact statement submitted by OPG also fails to consider alternatives to a major nuclear project,

Law association argues nuclear approval process flawed – thestar.com, 4 April 11, John Spears Ontario Power Generation has failed to consider alternatives to building new nuclear reactors at Darlington, the Canadian Environmental Law Association argued Monday.That means it hasn’t submitted an adequate environmental impact statement under federal law, the association told a panel reviewing the proposal for new reactors.And that in turn means the panel isn’t in a position to recommend giving the go-ahead for OPG to proceed with preparing the site for construction, Continue reading →

April 5, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Canada, Legal | Leave a comment

Nuclear Regulatory Commission relicensed Vermont Yankee nuclear plant, despite safety problems

Safety of Vt. nuclear plant cables questioned, Google News, (AP) – 5 April 11, MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Documents show the Nuclear Regulatory Commission gave the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant a new license last month knowing that electrical cables to key safety systems had been submerged in water for long periods of time.A nuclear watchdog group, the New England Coalition, says the issue has new urgency since the nuclear disaster in Japan was caused by tsunami flooding that knocked cooling systems out of service at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant.NRC documents show the agency has been concerned about submerged electrical cables at U.S. nuclear plants for years…… The Associated Press: Safety of Vt. nuclear plant cables questioned

April 5, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, USA | Leave a comment

Comparing Fukushima’s radiation to Chernobyl’s

The Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics of Vienna told New Scientist on March 24: “Japan’s damaged nuclear plant in Fukushima has been emitting radioactive iodine and caesium at levels approaching those seen in the aftermath of the Chernobyl accident in 1986…..The daily amount of caesium-137 released from Fukushima Daiichi is around 60 per cent of the amount released from Chernobyl.”….According to a report from the New York Academy of Sciences, due to the Chernobyl disaster, 985,000 people have died, mainly from cancer, between 1986-2004.

‘No safe levels’ of radiation in Japan, Al Jazeera 5 April 11“………Fukushima as ChernobylThis month marks the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.“There are still no-go areas there, and the workers town has long since been abandoned, and we are seeing radioactive refugees from there, like we are now seeing generated in Japan,” Continue reading →

April 5, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | - Fukushima 2011 | Leave a comment

Global nuclear power industry can’t do “business as usual” – UN chief

UN nuke chief: Japan crisis a ‘major challenge’, STRAITS TIMES 5 April 11VIENNA – JAPAN’S reactor crisis poses a major challenge with enormous implications for nuclear power, the head of the UN’s atomic watchdog said on Monday, while separately appearing to criticise the operator of the crippled complex.Yukiya Amano, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, also stressed that the global nuclear community cannot take a ‘business-as-usual approach.’ Lessons must be learned from the fact that the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant has been leaking radiation into the environment ever since it was hit March 11 by a massive tsunami, he said…….UN nuke chief: Japan crisis a ‘major challenge’

April 5, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Uranium miners desperately hyping their product

Buying Opportunity: Uranium Prices And Producers Are Poised To Rebound ETF DAILY NEWS, Jason Simpkins, 4 April,11 …….those closest to the situation do not believe that Japan’s disaster will be the death knell for nuclear power. On the contrary, they see it as a short-term blip that will drive antsy speculators out of the market and make room for investors looking to profit from the energy of the future…….there is still a gaping need for an alternative energy source that doesn’t carry the monetary [?] or environmental [?] cost of fossil fuels…….. A Buying Opportunity Indeed, the growth prospects for nuclear power remain strong, as do the prospects for its yellow cake fuel……..

April 5, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Fukushima radiation and the marine food chain

there is a very strong likelihood that caesium, iodine and strontium could accumulate in the food chain from phytoplankton and algae to edible fish.

The World Today – Scientists monitor fallout from Fukushima 04/04/2011 The World Today , 4 April 11, ELEANOR HALL: Conservation groups and marine scientists say they remain very concerned about the ocean fallout from Japan’s crippled nuclear plant. The Japanese government says it could take months to stop radiation leaking from the plant. Continue reading →