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Despite pro nuclear hype, the industry is in big trouble

Christina Macpherson's websites & blogs

While the captains of the nuclear and uranium industries continue to sing the praises of new nuclear reactors, new types of reactors, and the long term glowing outlook for the industries –  the facts tell something else.

In Germany, the peak association of utility industries now states a clear wish to have all nuclear power cswiftly closed down – all finished by 2020.

USA has had the longest and biggest association with commercial nuclear power.  USA now appears to be leading the way in seriously questioning the viability of the industry.

The Fukushima disaster is not ending any time soon. Nobody dares to estimate the financial cost.  The human and environmental costs are not fully known, but already are extensive.   Japanese survivors of the tsunami and earthquake can now start to rebuild their lives.  Japamese affected by the Fukushima nuclear accident struggle on with uncertainty.

April 9, 2011 Posted by | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Poll shows Americans losing faith in nuclear power

Fox News Poll: 83% Think Nuclear Crisis Like Japan Could Happen in U.S., FoxNews.com, By Dana Blanton  April 08, 2011 Most American voters think a nuclear crisis like what is happening in Japan could happen in the United States. In addition, the number believing nuclear power is not safe is on the rise.

Fully 83 percent of voters think a disaster similar to Japan’s could happen in the U.S., while a small 15-percent minority doesn’t think so. That’s according to a Fox News poll released Friday.

No gender gap or partisan divide on that issue: most men, women, Democrats, Republicans and independents all agree it’s possible a major nuclear crisis could happen here. …..Click here for complete poll results……

Fox News Poll: 83% Think Nuclear Crisis Like Japan Could Happen in U.S. – FoxNews.com

April 9, 2011 Posted by | politics, USA | Leave a comment

Nuclear power industry – a sober warning to investors

“New nuclear generation is already more expensive to build than most other sources of electricity,” it continues, “its liability insurance is effectively socialized and material questions are being raised regarding its waste products.”

Investors Warned: Fukushima Could Ignite Backlash Against U.S. Nuclear Power Industry, Forbes, – Osha Gray Davidson -Apr. 8 2011 A new report by Moody’s Investors Service has a title guaranteed to send chills through the nuclear power industry: “Re-evaluating Creditworthiness for Global Nuclear Generators.”

The report warns that “All nuclear operators…will suffer the consequences that emerge from a post Fukushima environment.” Continue reading →

April 9, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, USA | Leave a comment

Prevention of nuclear meltdown causes radioactive water problem

Cleaning the water could take many years, if not decades to complete. The cost could run into tens of billions of dollars..

Containing a calamity creates another nuclear nightmare, Sydney Morning Herald, Julie Makinen, Ralph Vartabedian April 9, 2011, TOKYO: For nearly four weeks, Japanese emergency crews have been spraying water on the damaged Fukushima nuclear reactors in a desperate attempt to avert the calamity of a full meltdown.The improvised solution to one nuclear nightmare is spawning another: what to do with the millions of litres of water that has become highly radioactive as it washes through the plant. Continue reading →

April 9, 2011 Posted by | - Fukushima 2011, Japan, wastes | Leave a comment

One officer killed on nuclear submarine – it could have been much worse

Officer killed in shooting on British nuclear submarine, Asia ONe News, 9 April 11, LONDON, ENGLAND – A Royal Navy officer was killed and another seriously injured in a shooting on a British nuclear-powered submarine, police said, which was only halted when a visiting politician tackled the gunman.
Another member of the navy was arrested on suspicion of murder following the incident on Friday in the southern English port of Southampton, officials said, stressing that the shooting was not “terrorist-related”. Continue reading →

April 9, 2011 Posted by | safety, UK | Leave a comment

Facts on radioactive spent nuclear fuel rods

How urgent is the situation?
Fairly urgent. The NRC predicts that at the rate we’re discarding rods—about 2,000 tons a year—we’ll run out of existing storage space by 2015…..

Radioactive fuel rods: The silent threat – The Week, 9 April 11, Japan’s nuclear crisis has highlighted the danger of the spent fuel rods piling up outside America’s nuclear plants Continue reading →

April 9, 2011 Posted by | technology, wastes | 3 Comments

Continuing danger of explosion at Fukushima nuclear plant

The nitrogen injection was the latest in a series of efforts to prevent another nuclear catastrophe in Japan,…..Radioactive particles have settled in the area around the plant, contaminating water, vegetables, dairy products and other food. More explosions could spread the poisonous material farther.

But the nitrogen injection itself carries risk, since it could disperse radioactive vapour into the environment………

Explosion still a risk at Japan nuclear plant Workers inject nitrogen gas to reduce chances of blow-up but are running out of space to store radioactive water.  Al Jazeera: 07 Apr 2011 After stopping the leak of highly radioactive water from a crippled nuclear plant north of Tokyo, Japanese authorities have begun injecting nitrogen into part of the facility in order to prevent a hydrogen explosion. Continue reading →

April 9, 2011 Posted by | - Fukushima 2011 | Leave a comment

Germany’s peak utility organisation calls for swift end to nuclear power

The group called on the government to set everything in motion to speed up the transition toward a stable, ecologically responsible and affordable energy mix without nuclear energy.

Association of German utility companies calls for abolishing nuclear power by 2020, The Washington Post, 9 April 11,  BERLIN — Germany’s utility companies want “swift and complete” abolishment of nuclear power in the wake of the disaster at Japan’s Fukushima reactors, says their umbrella organization. The technology should be phased out by 2020 or at the latest by 2023, the German Association of Energy and Water Industries, BDEW, said Friday following a board meeting. Continue reading →

April 9, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, Germany | Leave a comment

Authorities just don’t have accurate data on Fukushima nuclear crisis

nuclear fuel in the core of one of the stricken reactors had probably leaked from its thick steel pressure vessel, its most important protective barrier. If that proved to be accurate, it would raise the prospect of continuing fuel leaks and high levels of radioactive releases that would vastly complicate containment and the cleanup

Lack of Data Heightens Japan’s Nuclear Crisis, New York Times,  By HIROKO TABUCHI and KEITH BRADSHER April 8, 2011  TOKYO — Nearly one month after Japan’s devastating nuclear accident, atomic energy experts, regulators and politicians around the world are still puzzling over a basic question: How much danger is still posed by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant? Continue reading →

April 9, 2011 Posted by | - Fukushima 2011 | Leave a comment

Earthquake prone Diablo a test case for risky nuclear license extension

Diablo is drawing particular scrutiny because of its location in one of the country’s most seismically active areas and its long, troubled history of trying to deal with the risk of a major quake.

Nuclear Crisis Fuels Duel at Diablo, WSJ.com, 8 April 11, By BEN CASSELMAN In Earthquake-Prone California, License Extension Sought for Reactors Poses Major Test for Nation’s Atomic-Power Industry  Japan’s unfolding reactor crisis is fueling a battle over nuclear power across the Pacific, in earthquake-prone California. Continue reading →

April 9, 2011 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

French nuclear company denied license for Calvert Cliffs reactor

US NRC denies license to build nuclear reactor in Maryland   WASHINGTON, April 8 (Reuters) – The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has denied Unistar a license to build a new reactor at the Calvert Cliffs nuclear power station in Maryland due to its foreign ownership, said the watchdog group Nuclear Information and Resource Service.The NRC could not be immediately reached. Unistar is owned by Electricite de France (EDF.PA: Quote)….
US NRC denies license to build nuclear reactor in Maryland | Energy & Oil | Reuters

April 9, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, USA | Leave a comment

Top scientists research radioactive waste in Pacific Ocean

“The levels that we observe are not likely to be dangerous to humans at present, but of course over time the levels will be magnified in the food web and with time the levels in the upper level of the food web and the higher predators will probably lead to levels that might be in conflict with human use of those organisms,”

VIDEO Mid-Pacific search for Japan nuclear water : World News Australia on SBS, *By Jenny Curtis, 8 April 11, A Spanish research vessel that’s just finished testing the waters off the South coast of Australia, will head to the Pacific Ocean to search for traces of radioactive waste from Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant.  Hesperides research vessel is part of the Malaspina expedition that’s analysing the quality of the oceans around the world.Costing around 23 million dollars, it’s an ambitious project with hundreds of the world’s top scientists involved. Continue reading →

April 9, 2011 Posted by | environment, OCEANIA | 2 Comments

Food imports from 12 Japanese areas now banned in China

China bans farm produce imports from 12 areas of Japan because of radiation worries Canadian Business Online, 9 April 11, BEIJING (AP) – China has banned imports of farm produce from 12 areas near Japan’s stricken nuclear power plant. Continue reading →

April 9, 2011 Posted by | - Fukushima 2011 | Leave a comment

The fearful town of Minamisoma.

by far the biggest problem is the Fukushima reactors. I think the accident shows we have to stop building nuclear plants. The radiation doesn’t stop in Japan: it goes all around the world.”

A city left to fight for survival after the Fukushima nuclear disaster – The Irish Times , Apr 09, 2011“……A common plot sees a modern city reduced overnight to a ghostly husk as fears of nuclear contamination empty it of people. Businesses shut and food, water and petrol run out. Old people left behind begin to die. The city mayor makes a desperate televised appeal for help. Such is real life in Sakurai’s city of Minamisoma. Continue reading →

April 9, 2011 Posted by | - Fukushima 2011 | Leave a comment