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Fuel rods melted in Fukushima nuclear reactor no. 1

The company says the water level inside reactor No. 1 was much lower than it thought, exposing about 1.5 metres of the fuel rods.

It says the rods have likely melted and workers are still trying to cool them in water at the bottom of the pressure vessel.

Japan’s stricken nuclear plant has new leak  ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), By North Asia correspondent Mark Willacy and wires, 12 May, 11 The operator of Japan’s crippled Fukushima nuclear plant says rods inside one of the reactors have most likely melted after being fully exposed.

Continue reading →

May 12, 2011 Posted by | - Fukushima 2011 | Leave a comment

Fukushima reactor no. 3 is leaking radiation

“Reactor 3 at the damaged Fukushima nuclear power station is leaking” — TEPCO says Cesium at 620,000 times above limit, ENE NEWS, May 11th, 2011“Reactor 3 at the damaged Fukushima nuclear power station is leaking” — TEPCO says Cesium at 620,000 times above limit « Energy News

May 12, 2011 Posted by | - Fukushima 2011 | Leave a comment

Analysis of the nuclear industry’s future

In his analysis, Abbott explores the consequences of building, operating, and decommissioning 15,000 reactors on the Earth, looking at factors such as the amount of land required, radioactive waste, accident rate, risk of proliferation into weapons, uranium abundance and extraction, and the exotic metals used to build the reactors themselves.

Why nuclear power will never supply the world’s energy needs,(PhysOrg.com)  12 May 11, –”….In an analysis to be published in a future issue of the Proceedings of the IEEE, Derek Abbott, Professor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Adelaide in Australia, has concluded that nuclear power cannot be globally scaled to supply the world’s energy needs for numerous reasons. The results suggest that we’re likely better off investing in other energy solutions that are truly scalable. Continue reading →

May 12, 2011 Posted by | 2 WORLD, business and costs | Leave a comment

Refuting Guy Page’s pro nuclear spin

 What’s important to remember is that Entergy and the nuclear industry are driven by only one thing — money. It’s not about doing the right thing by the environment or society. People fear and distrust this industry, because they know in their hearts that it’s wrong. It’s wrong to dump legacy costs on our grandchildren. It’s wrong to have a technology that when (not if) it fails the results are catastrophic for generations. They distrust the industry, because they know that when the time comes to clean up the mess, those responsible will have taken the money and run.

The only people who don’t see this are those who are paid not to.

The unacknowledged human cost of nuclear power, VT Digger by Deb Katz, 12 May 11 Guy Page lays out all of the predictable arguments in support of nuclear power; it’s clean, it’s safe and no one has ever died from nuclear power. As the communications director for the Vermont Energy Partnership, of which Entergy is a member, he suffers from the same problem as Entergy; their messaging is out of sync with their reality.

………The claim that no one has ever died from radiation poisoning is beyond the pale. Continue reading →

May 12, 2011 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

Daily radiation exposure of Fukushima’s schoolchildren

Children and teachers at a fifth of the 1,600 schools in Fukushima are receiving at least 20 millisieverts of radiation per year, said Nakate, according to readings from the government. That’s the limit for a nuclear power plant worker, according to Japan’s nuclear safety commission.

Children Don Masks, Hats in Fukushima as Radiation Looms, Bloomberg, By Takahiko Hyuga and Shigeru Sato – May 11, 2011  Students at theShoyo Junior High School in Fukushima are wearing masks, caps and long-sleeved jerseys to attend classes as their exposure to radiation is on pace to equal annual limits for nuclear industry workers. Continue reading →

May 12, 2011 Posted by | - Fukushima 2011, health, Japan | Leave a comment

Nuclear renaissance not viable, say experts, even from Exelon!

Power complexes that combine increasingly plentiful and cheap natural gas with renewable sources like wind and solar power are now seen as a financially viable, safer and cleaner alternative.

Why The Days Of Rampant Nuclear Power Growth Are Over, Business Insider, Merrill Goozner, The Fiscal Times | May 9, 2011 “……..Experts say the heavy subsidies needed to build new nuclear plants and the increased costs from tougher safety standards are a nonstarter given the nation’s fiscal crisis.  As a result, nuclear is a less competitive option for producing electricity than a mix of cheap natural gas, wind and even solar power, which is rapidly declining in cost. Although prospects for a revival seemed bright only a few years ago, the steep price tag, coupled with the festering problem of disposing of spent nuclear fuel, creates a hostile environment for investing in nuclear power. Continue reading →

May 12, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, USA | Leave a comment

Northern Japan: bank problems as business clients fear radiation

“This is such a tragedy for the people of Fukushima, particularly our youth,” said Toyo System’s Shoji, who has two children. “Radioactive contamination has literally jeopardized the seeds and soil of our future growth.”

Nuclear Fear Snags Loan Push by Fukushima Banks as Clients Flee Radiation,  Bloomberg, By Shigeru Sato and Shingo Kawamoto – May 11, 2011  “……Daito and larger rivals in the prefecture, Toho Bank Ltd. (8346) and Fukushima Bank Ltd., are three of the worst five performers on Japan’s 83-member Topix Banks Index (TPNBNK) since the March 11 quake and tsunami. They are struggling to keep customers and prevent loans from souring…… Continue reading →

May 12, 2011 Posted by | - Fukushima 2011, business and costs, Japan | Leave a comment

Dangers of fire and other threats to US nuclear reactors

On other fronts, the NRC has acquired a reputation for being lenient and too close to industry. For instance, despite compelling evidence after September 11, 2001, that reactors could be vulnerable to terrorist attacks, the NRC still allowed many security gaps. And the NRC has allowed reactors to continue operating despite known design problems and deteriorating equipment that could lead to a loss of coolant and fuel damage. At some two dozen of the nation’s reactors, spent fuel sits in unsecured, above-ground storage pools — a radiological threat underscored by recent events at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. The potentially lethal waste in those pools far exceeds the stored rods in Japan….

A more likely nuclear nightmare HUFFINGTON POST, By Susan Q. Stranahan, 11 May 11“……..Fires regularly occur at the 104 U.S. nuclear plants, nearly 10 times a year on average. Continue reading →

May 12, 2011 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

Students boycott their own convocation ceremony in anti-nuclear protest

TISS students protest against Ramesh – Hindustan Times, 11 may 11“……The students – some carrying placards, others sporting yellow-and-black t-shirts with anti-nuke slogans, several more sporting black bands – greeted the minister by raising slogans when he arrived at the TISS Deonar Campus to deliver the convocation address Wednesday afternoon.”We are protesting against the 9,900-MW Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project in Ratnagiri in Maharashtra and other mega-projects in Orissa and Jharkhand. Thousands of common people are being displaced or uprooted there,” said Pranab Doley, an organiser of the protest.
He said that since the student community is feeling strongly about these huge developmental projects, they decided to boycott their own convocation ceremony in which they would have been presented their coveted degree certificates at the hands of the minister…..
TISS students protest against Ramesh – Hindustan Times

May 12, 2011 Posted by | India, opposition to nuclear | Leave a comment

Graduating students show opposition to Jaitapur nuclear plant

TISS students greet Ramesh with anti-nuke placards,TNN | May 12, 2011,MUMBAI: As students of the Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS) walked up to the podium to get their medals during the 71st convocation ceremony from the chief guest, they handed him pocket-sized anti-nuclear placards in return.
For, the chief guest was Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh and the students were staging a silent protest against the Jaitapur nuclear power plant in Maharashtra and the Posco steel project in Orrisa.  While about 30 graduating students boycotted the convocation ceremony, several others wore anti-nuclear Tshirts and badges.
Students of TISS have been very active on the Jaitapur issue and five were also arrested two weeks ago when they participated in a protest yatra from Tarapur to Jaitapur.
TISS students greet Ramesh with anti-nuke placards – The Times of India

May 12, 2011 Posted by | India, opposition to nuclear | Leave a comment

European Commission chief says nuclear safety must include terrorism risks

EU nuclear safety test must cover ‘man-made’ events: Barroso, Google News, (AFP) –  12 May, 11, BRUSSELS — Tests on the ability of Europe’s nuclear power plants to withstand disasters should include man-made events, the head of the European Commission said Wednesday.European nuclear regulators and EU energy chief Guenther Oettinger meet Thursday to draw up the parameters for a safety sweep of Europe’s 143 nuclear reactors in the wake of the Fukushima atomic crisis in Japan…..
Oettinger is pushing for simulated responses to terror attacks and plane crashes to be undertaken as part of the exercise, while regulators from Europe’s 14 nuclear nations want to limit them to natural disasters.
AFP: EU nuclear safety test must cover ‘man-made’ events: Barroso

May 12, 2011 Posted by | EUROPE, safety | Leave a comment

Police warning to anti nuclear protestors

Police Warn Of Stern Action Against Trouble Makers In Protest Against Plant, KUANTAN, May 11 (Bernama) — Police warned today that stern action will be taken against anyone trying to create chaos from the protest against the building of a rare earth plant in the Gebeng industrial area here.

Pahang police chief Datuk Saifuddin Abdul Ghani said the “protest programme”, including demonstrations and lecture sessions, was being closely monitored.

……The protestors alleged that the processing of rare earth would cause radiation injurious to the health of people in and around the area.

Social activists claimed that the plant would produce 20,000 tonnes of radioactive waste a year.

The sessions organised by the Atomic Energy Licensing Board and the state government to explain the project to the people do not seem to have had much impact…..http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=585620

May 12, 2011 Posted by | general | Leave a comment