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Radioactive for ONLY 300 YEARS, boast Thorium promoters

the waste would have to be stored for around 300 years or so, compared to tens of thousands of years for current reactors.

Only in the world of nuclear technology could a requirement for 300 years of dangerous waste storage be seen as an advantage.

No one talks about safe nuclear power because it doesn’t exist, Canberra Times, Dr Sue Wareham 28 Apr, 2011 , The heading on Julian Cribb’s glowing recommendation of thorium reactor research (April 26, p11) poses the question ”Why is no one talking about safe nuclear power?” The answer is that it doesn’t exist.

Cribb states that thorium reactors do not produce weapons grade material. This is misleading. Continue reading →

April 29, 2011 Posted by | 2 WORLD, technology, Uranium | Leave a comment

Roundup of news on Fukushima nuclear reactor crisis

There is no known  “safe dose” of ionizing radiation, and the government is under increasing pressure to do a full analysis of health impacts that radioactive fallout could have on nursing mothers and infants

Japan Nuclear Update, Clean Energy.org, April 28th, 2011   Sara Barczak › “……..the ongoing nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant continues to present new challenges. The nuclear fuel in reactor Unit 1 is apparently melting with emergency cooling efforts requiring 6 tons of water injected every hour. Continue reading →

April 29, 2011 Posted by | - Fukushima 2011 | Leave a comment

Downplaying of nuclear radiation is an ethical issue

When industry, government, academics and some journalists try to calm public emotions by downplaying radiation risks, they often cause greater offense by disregarding the issue of informed consent.

…. behind the technical argument is an ethical one: I am not willing to wash down tiny amounts of radiation with great volumes of reassurance because I did not give consent…

Nuclear Power, Radioactive Fallout And The Issue Of Informed Consent, Forbes, Jeff McMahon, Apr. 28 2011  Radioactive fallout from the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear accident has awakened debate about nuclear power’s invisible emissions, and familiar camps have assembled along familiar lines: Continue reading →

April 29, 2011 Posted by | 2 WORLD, Religion and ethics | 1 Comment

India’s Environmental Body Urges Delay in Nuclear Power Program

the Environment Appraisal Committee said the data provided by India’s state-run monopoly nuclear power producers, NPCIL, were from 2004 and hence dated.

“Due to various environmental problems including the adverse impact on the marine life, the present proposal is not acceptable,”

India green panel recommends deferment of nuclear plant plans, By Krittivas Mukherjee, NEW DELHI, April 28 , (Reuters) – A panel backed by India’s environment ministry has suggested holding off green approvals for four proposed nuclear reactors on concerns over coastal degradation and safety that intensified after last month’s nuclear disaster in Japan. Continue reading →

April 29, 2011 Posted by | environment, India | Leave a comment

Storm shuts nuclear plant for weeks, in Alabama

Alabama Nuclear Power Goes Down During Storm, on Backup Power, Epoch Times By Jack Phillips, 29 April 11,   A nuclear power plant in Alabama went without power on Wednesday when massive storms hit the South but officials say that it will be weeks before it goes back online. The plant was able to prevent a partialmeltdown due to its backup power systems….. The agency said that it is closely monitoring the situation at the power plant, which went down when power lines were severed during the storm.

“Severe storms in the South last night provided a stark reminder that we are not immune to the effects of natural events,” NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko cautioned. He noted that the plant’s three units went offline and had to be shut down…..http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/united-states/alabama-nuclear-power-goes-down-during-storm-on-backup-power-55507.html

April 29, 2011 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

IAEA confirms that Syria did have a secret nuclear facility

“The facility that was … destroyed by Israel was a nuclear reactor under construction,”

Bombed Syrian plant ‘was nuclear facility site’ says energy agency, News Scotsman, 29 April 2011, By George Jahn and Khaled Yacoub Oweis, THE head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has said for the first time that a target destroyed by Israeli warplanes in the Syrian desert in 2007 was the covert site of a future nuclear reactor, countering assertions by Syria that it had no atomic secrets. Continue reading →

April 29, 2011 Posted by | secrets,lies and civil liberties, Syria | 1 Comment

USA unprepared for power losses from nuclear plants

 Nuclear chief questions emergency power at plants. 28 April 11 By Tennille Tracy, WASHINGTON -(MarketWatch)– The U.S. nuclear chief questioned Thursday whether U.S. nuclear plants are prepared to deal with major losses of power that last several hours or even days.

In a meeting of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko said existing standards for emergency power might not be “reasonable” given the damage that major catastrophes can cause at nuclear facilities…… In the wake of the Fukushima disaster, nuclear experts have raised questions about the adequacy of emergency power supplies at U.S. facilities. They have taken particular issue with nuclear plants that rely on batteries because the batteries have limited lifespans…… http://www.marketwatch.com/story/nuclear-chief-questions-emergency-power-at-plants-2011-04-28

April 29, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, USA | Leave a comment

Worried about their nuclear export sales, Russia promotes safety

Vast commercial interests are tied up in the continued adoption of nuclear power and development of reactors, particularly in emerging markets, which are the primary customers of Russia’s nuclear exports….Some of that market is already drying up (at left, Sergei Kiriyenko, Russia’s top nuclear salesman)

Russia Proposes Stricter Rules for Nuclear Safety, New York Times, By ANDREW E. KRAMER,  April 28, 2011, MOSCOW —”…..Russian officials have announced details of what is emerging as their main response to the disaster in Japan: a proposal to create an international regulatory framework for nuclear power….. Continue reading →

April 29, 2011 Posted by | politics international, Russia | Leave a comment

Japan stopping Greenpeace from monitoring seawater radiation

Greenpeace says Japan restricting its radiation , Straits Times, 29 April 11, TOKYO – GREENPEACE said on Thursday Japan had blocked it from testing seawater and marine life for radiation from a stricken nuclear plant in territorial waters that extend 20km offshore. Continue reading →

April 29, 2011 Posted by | - Fukushima 2011 | Leave a comment

Safety violations at US nuclear plants

News 2 investigates violations at SC nuclear power plants, News 2, 29 April 11,  “……..Since 1990, the Catawba Nuclear Station in York, SC has 8 Severity Level 3 violations, resulting in a total of $250,000 in fines.

The Oconee Nuclear Station in Seneca had 9 Severity Level 3 violations, and 2 Severity Level 2 violations totaling $765,000.

The H.B. Robinson plant in Hartsville had 10 Severity Level 3 violations and 1 Severity Level  2 violation totaling $443,000.

The V.C. Summer plant in Jenkensville had 3 Severity Level 3 violations, with no associated fines.

When it comes to violations and fines, Knight says that not all issues are associated with the danger ofradiation exposure to employees or the public, but “Many such violations, points to a culture of maybe a lack of concern and that’s where I say vigilance and having that safety culture is so critical.”

A further study of the Severity Level 2 violations shows that in 1997 at the Oconee plant there was problem with a 2 pumps over-heating for failing to correctly measure water levels.

In 1998 Oconee had a second Severity Level 2 violation due to faulty instrument calibration which the NRCcalled “a very significant regulatory concern.”….http://www2.counton2.com/news/2011/apr/28/6/news-2-investigates-violations-sc-nuclear-power-pl-ar-1775561/

April 29, 2011 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

USA politicians pledge tax-payer funds, but nuclear industry still failing

Even supporters of the technology doubt that new projects will surface any time soon to replace those that have been all but abandoned…If the builders default, as happened on some nuclear construction projects in the 1980s, the taxpayer liabilities could run into the billions of dollars……

Despite Bipartisan Support, Nuclear Projects Falter, New York Times, By MATTHEW L. WALD, April 28, 2011,    WASHINGTON — In an effort to encourage nuclear power, Congress voted in 2005 to authorize $17.5 billion in loan guarantees for new reactors. Now, six years later, with the industry stalled by poor market conditions and the Fukushima disaster, nearly half of the fund remains unclaimed. And yet Congress, at the request of the Obama administration, is preparing to add $36 billion in nuclear loan guarantees to next year’s budget. Continue reading →

April 29, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, USA | Leave a comment

Corruption of nuclear power regulators

Japan Nuclear Update, Clean Energy.org, April 28th, 2011 “….Much is being made of the corruption of nuclear regulators in Japan, with the New York Times reporting the existence of a culture of complicity that sounds similar to recent charges that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) suffers from regulatory capture. As we reported last week, Wikileaksobtained cables that prove there is a conflict of interest in the NRC’s role to regulate, which is being compromised by their apparent double role as diplomats extolling the benefits of American nuclear technology. This is completely unacceptable considering the NRC’s stated mission, “to ensure adequate protection of public health and safety, to promote the common defense and security, and to protect the environment.” How can regulators objectively regulate when a large portion of their budget comes from the industry? The problem is further compounded by the regulatory “revolving door” which clearly affects decision-making. We don’t need to look far here in the Southeast to see instances of “regulatory capture.” Former NRC Chair Dale Klein joined Southern Company’s board of directors  just months after leaving the NRC and just as the utility giant and its partners accepted the first conditional nuclear loan guarantee of $8.3 billion for the two new proposed reactors at Plant Vogtle in Georgia….. http://blog.cleanenergy.org/2011/04/28/april-28-japan-nuclear-update/

April 29, 2011 Posted by | secrets,lies and civil liberties, USA | Leave a comment

Washington region gets new Renewable Energy Economic Development Alliance

Renewable Energy Economic Development Alliance Formed In Washington North American Windpower  28 April 2011, The Port of Walla Walla and the Southeast Washington Economic Development Association have formed a partnership aimed at promoting the region’s renewable energy resources in the five counties (Asotin, Columbia, Garfield, Walla Walla and Whitman) represented by the two organizations. Continue reading →

April 29, 2011 Posted by | renewable, USA | Leave a comment

Centennial Project – uranium mining’s poor prospects

(USA) Powertech pauses uranium mine Company: Nuke disaster hurt industry, Centennial Project, Coloradoan.com , Apr. 27, 2011“…..The March 11 Tohoku earthquake in Japan and nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant that followed sent uranium prices plummeting….. “This is about as bad a story as you can imagine for the U.S. nuclear power industry,” said Charles Mason, True Chair of energy economics in the economics and finance department at the University of Wyoming, who is writing a book about uranium exploration and its impacts. “It certainly is bad news.”

Once it became clear the quake would lead to prolonged nuclear disaster, nuclear industry forecasters started to predict unhappy consequences for uranium prices….. Powertech’s current financial state could cast even more doubt on the future of the Centennial Project, according to the filing. Powertech said in its report that to maintain “a portion” of its interest in the Centennial Project, the company is required to make “significant” option payments in June.

April 29, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, Uranium, USA | Leave a comment