2011 April « nuclear-news

“Rare Earths” are radioactive, not so innocuous as they sound

why can’t the nuclear countries produce their own nuclear fuels in their own countries? Unconfirmed reports have noted that some countries are dumping their nuclear wastes (rare earth included) in some third world countries under the guise of economic and scientific corporation!

(Malaysia) THE RARE EARTH CONTROVERSY, The Star, by: cheaman, 25 April 11 What is ‘rare earth’? They are ‘actinide’ substances. So what are ‘actinides’, pray tell? Continue reading →

April 25, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | ASIA, technology, Uranium | Leave a comment

Trinamool Congress Party will scrap Haripur nuclear plant

We willscrap Haripur nuclear project: Mamata, News One, Kolkata, April 24 (IANS) Hours after West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said his government would review the proposed nuclear plant at Haripur, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee Sunday said she will scrap the project if her party came to power in the state.

‘Haripur is not the proper place for setting up a nuclear power plant because it is a densely populated area. Fishermen will also be affected. We will do it elsewhere,’ Banerjee said in an interview to a Bengali television channel Star Ananda Sunday night.

……Banerjee’s party has led an intense agitation for the last few years against the state government’s bid to set up the proposed plant in Haripur in East Midnapore district.

Assembly polls are being held in West Bengal April 18-May 10. The results will be declared May 13.

Earlier, Bhattacharjeee said his government would review the proposed plant in the wake of the crisis in the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan after an earthquake and tsunami.

‘The crisis that has engulfed the Japanese nuclear plant after the recent earthquake has led to a re-think and resentment in the world about such nuclear power projects. This is very logical as such a thing has happened even in a developed country like Japan. We have also decided to do a review of the plant,’ Bhattacharjee told a media meet here…….http://www.inewsone.com/2011/04/25/we-will-scrap-haripur-nuclear-project-mamata/45716

April 25, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | India, politics | Leave a comment

University of Chicago Doubts Future of Nuclear Power in U.S.

Safer Nuclear Reactors Impeded By Marketplace, Expert Says, Forbes, by Jeff McMahon, Apr. 22 2011 University of Chicago Panel Doubts Future of Nuclear Power in U.S.

Safer nuclear reactors have been available for years, but the energy market prefers less expensive conventional designs, a nuclear energy expert from Argonne National Laboratory said Thursday.……http://blogs.forbes.com/jeffmcmahon/2011/04/22/safer-nuclear-reactors-impeded-by-marketplace-expert-says/

April 25, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, USA | Leave a comment

90 million people potentially endangered near nuclear plants

Population concentration near a reactor is not a measure of danger, which depends on numerous factors including earthquake risk, quality of maintenance, regulatory oversight and the amount of radioactive material on site. But it does suggest how many people will be at risk if something does go terribly wrong, as happened in Fukushima, and in Chernobyl

90 million live within 30 km of a nuclear reactor, Montreal Gazette, 24 April 11, Study outlines number of people at risk in case of serious accident About 90 million people worldwide live within 30 kilometres of a nuclear reactor, equivalent to the exclusion zone around Japan’s crippled Fukushima plant, a study released Friday shows. Continue reading →

April 24, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, safety | Leave a comment

“Nuclear Science Mafia” condemned by judges

“We are always being told that nuclear power is clean and pure. It’s a complete lie. Who are the people telling it? It’s the scientists who need jobs, postings on nuclear energy boards and state honours,”….Justice Kolse Patil said the government was repeating a lie over and over again so that it would sound true.

Activists of anti-nuclear plant yatra detained THE HINDU, 24 April 11,”………“Why is the government stopping us from going to Jaitapur? Because it does not want the other side of
nuclear energy to reach the people,” Justice Sawant told the meeting. Continue reading →

April 24, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | India, secrets,lies and civil liberties | Leave a comment

Deep underground wall to circle Fukushima nuclear plant?

Japanese government considers underground wall to contain Fukushima radiation Miami Herald, 24 April 11, THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN TOKYO –– The Japanese government is considering building an underground barrier near the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant to prevent radioactive material from spreading far from the plant via soil and groundwater, a senior government official said.

Sumio Mabuchi, a special adviser to the prime minister, revealed the plan Friday at the Japan National Press Club building in Tokyo. The plan is the first attempt to address the risk of contaminated water spreading far from the plant through soil.

According to Mabuchi, the barrier would extend so far underground that it would reach a layer that does not absorb water. The wall would entirely surround the land on which reactors No. 1, 2, 3 and 4 stand……. Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/04/23/2182117/japanese-government-considers.html#ixzz1KUAzGal2

April 24, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | - Fukushima 2011 | Leave a comment

Nuclear reactor shut down takes 10 years, and wastes remain

Ill. congressmen worried over nuclear waste, ABC 7 News, Michelle Gallardo April23, 2011 (ZION, Ill.) (WLS) — U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk and some Republican congressmen toured the Zion nuclear power plant Saturday — it is shut down and slowly being dismantled. The big concern there revolves around what’s being done with more than 1,000 tons of radioactive waste.

It will take 10 years before the now-shuttered Zion nuclear power plant is completely decommissioned. By the time all is said and done, all that will remain of the 38-year-old plant is a 10-acre lot where the reactor’s spent fuel rods will be stored…..http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=8090578

April 24, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | decommission reactor, USA | Leave a comment

Did Indian police target anti nuclear protestor to kill him?

Retired judges want probe into death, Snehal Rebello, Hindustan Times Tarapur, April 24, 2011 Tabrez Sayekar, 30, a victim of the violence in Jaitapur earlier this week, was fired upon at close range, said campaigners spearheading the movement against the nuclear power plant at Jaitapur. Justice (retired) PB Sawant of the Supreme Court and justice (retired) BG Kolse Patil of the Bombay high court, who are part of the campaign, said a judicial inquiry led by a sitting high court judge should be conducted into the death. The state government had ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident three days ago.

“There is suspicion that Tabrez’s death was a targeted killing, and that policemen were injured is not true,” said Sawant. “We don’t trust the magistrate appointed by the state government. We will not accept any conclusions of the report.”

Even when HT, on April 19 contacted Dr Angad Chate, the civil surgeon who monitored the post-mortem report at Ratnagiri Civil Hospital, he said Sayekar succumbed to bullet injuries to his heart, kidney, liver and lungs. But a day later Chate said that just one bullet in the lower abdomen killed Tabrez. When contacted for a clarification on April 21, Chate said, “I have got instructions from the highest authorities not to disclose the report.”…… http://www.hindustantimes.com/Retired-judges-want-probe-into-death/Article1-689000.aspx

April 24, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | India, secrets,lies and civil liberties | Leave a comment

India’s Environment Minister wants ‘pause’ in setting up new nuclear power

Jairam says concerns over N-plants realistic The Times of India Ramaninder K Bhatia, TNN | Apr 24, 2011 LUDHIANA: After the Japan nuclear crisis, Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh wants the Centre to press the ‘pause button’ on the setting up of nuclear power plants, for now. He was in Ludhiana on Saturday to lay the foundation stone for the country’s first in situ bio-remediation plant on Sutlej tributary, Budha nullah, which is polluting the river. ….http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Jairam-says-concerns-over-N-plants-realistic/articleshow/8069081.cms

April 24, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | India, politics | Leave a comment

Retired judges among 135 anti nuclear protestors arrested in India

Activists of anti-nuclear plant yatra detained THE HINDU, 24 April 11,A three-day Tarapur-Jaitapur anti-nuclear plant yatra was stopped the moment it began and hundreds of activists were detained at Boisar in this district on Saturday.

Activists and supporters, including Justices (retired) B G Kolse-Patil and P.B. Sawant, social activist Vaishali Patil, and Admiral (retd) L Ramdas, were whisked away in police vans from Panchmarg Tarapur, where they had addressed a public meeting in the morning. They were brought to the Boisar police station around 4.30 p.m., along with 135 protesters, and detained under Section 68 of the Bombay Police Act.

While Justices Patil and Sawant were released, the rest continued in detention till late evening.

Chandrakant Pavaskar, Additional Superintendent of Police, Thane (rural), told The Hindu that since the activists were at the police station, “We can continue to detain them under Section 68 for violating prohibitory orders. We have kept them since they are planning to go to Jaitapur.”

Heavy police bandobust was in place. The small lane where the meeting was held was lined with police vans and vehicles. Twice the protesters were prevented from going ahead and at this they sat in dharna on the road, blocking traffic. After much deliberation, they agreed to proceed to the police station……..http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/24/stories/2011042463041300.htm

April 24, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | civil liberties, India | Leave a comment

Allegations of Indian govt making false charges against anti nuclear former judge

Kolse-Patil also sought exemplary compensation from the government for “deliberately prosecuting him on false and concocted charges and subjecting him to mental and physical torture”.

Retired judge alleges torture by govt, moves court, Hindustan Times Mumbai, April 23, 2011 Retired judge BG Kolse-Patil has moved the Bombay high court challenging his prosecution for purportedly breaching prohibitory orders and entering Ratnagiri district to participate in protests against the proposed Jaitapur nuclear power plant. Continue reading →

April 24, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | civil liberties, India | Leave a comment

Determined opposition to AREVA’s planned nuclear plant in India

“Say No To Nuclear Power. We Don’t Want To Get Sick,”…”Areva Go Back,”

Protests mount against Indian nuclear plant Inquirer.net, By Phil Hazlewood 04/24/2011 SAKHRI NATE – In the busy Indian fishing village of Sakhri Nate, it’s obvious what the locals think of the plan to build the world’s biggest nuclear power plant just across the creek. Continue reading →

April 24, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | India, opposition to nuclear | Leave a comment

End nuclear energy use – thousands march in Germany

Thousands of Germans march for peace in annual Easter demonstration Google News By The Associated Press 24 April 11,BERLIN — Thousands of Germans demanded peace for the Middle East and an end to nuclear energy use in annual Easter peace marches held in cities across the nation.

Berlin police said some 4,000 turned out for Saturday’s peace march through the heart of the German capital. Many bore signs and banners calling for their army to pull out of Afghanistan.

Peace marches were held in dozens of cities across Germany, including some 200 people who gathered outside of a U.S. military base in Wiesbaden calling for “an end to war and military violence.”. …http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hVBUAkRRam4w7wsf9gfzO8sMw78Q?docId=6647655

April 24, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Germany, opposition to nuclear | Leave a comment

Plutonium and Japan’s censorship of media

Now the Japanese government has moved to crack down on independent reportage and criticism of the government’s policies in the wake of the disaster by deciding what citizens may or may not talk about in public. A new project team has been created by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication, the National Police Agency, and METI to combat “rumors” deemed harmful to Japanese security in the wake of the Fukushima disaster…..”The measures include erasing any information from internet sites that the authorities deem harmful to public order and morality…….

Fukushima Residents Seek Answers Amid Mixed Signals From Media, TEPCO and Government. Report from the Radiation Exclusion Zone Asia Pacific Journal Makiko SEGAWA in Fukushima, 18 April 11

“……There is one particularly telling example of the media shielding TEPCO by suppressing information. This concerns “plutonium”. According to Uesugi, after the reactor blew up on March 14, there was concern about the leakage of plutonium. However, astonishingly, until two weeks later when Uesugi asked, not a single media representative had raised the question of plutonium at TEPCO’s press conferences.

On March 26, in response to Uesugi’s query, TEPCO stated, “We do not measure the level of plutonium and do not even have a detector to scale it.” Ironically, the next day, Chief Cabinet Secretary Edano announced that “plutonium was detected”. Continue reading →

April 22, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | - Fukushima 2011, Japan, secrets,lies and civil liberties | Leave a comment

Wind power in Texas – faster and cheaper than nuclear

rapid growth in the alternative energy field is rapidly chipping away at nuclear power, helped along by new grid and energy storage technologies. This triple threat is undermining the foundational reason for investing in nuclear power, which is (or should be) to get the most abundant and reliable energy bang for the buck.

Wind Power beats Nuclear Power in Texas, Clean Technica, Tina Casey, 21 April 11, Texas has more wind power than it can use, and that partly explains why NRG Energy, Inc. has backed out of a plan to build two new nuclear reactors in the state. To be clear, the stated motivation for the decision was the nuclear disaster resulting from last month’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan, which among other things has affected the regulatory landscape here in the U.S. Continue reading →