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USA Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s safety claims are not convincing

the initial round of (inadequate) Nuclear Regulatory Commission safety assessments found enormous levels of risk at U.S. plants — particularly the backup systems that caused the problems in Japan. While the NRC’s summary blandly assured that “all the reactors would be kept safe, even in the event their regular safety systems were affected by these events,” the detailed reports by the inspection teams made it clear that these bromides were anything but reassuring.

Why They Don’t — and Can’t — Get It Right HUFFINGTON POST< Carl Pope,  05/17/11 Well, now we know that not one but three of Japan’s Fukushima reactors suffered core meltdowns within hours of the earthquake and tsunami that cut off their diesel-generated backup power. Continue reading →

May 19, 2011 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

Why Japan’s nuclear hierarchy cannot be trusted about Fukushima disaster

Virtually any nuclear engineer connected with the industry he or she supports cannot be fully trusted right now to give us the full truth about Fukushima because the truth is simply too damaging to the nuclear industry and they know it. The attitude that the industry has,  as well as the ugly reality that this same energy is tied to the economy which supports full on capitalism, must be scaled back Tokuhiro advised.

Interview with Akira Tokuhiro, Nuclear Engineer: Fukushima and the Mass Media HUFFINGTON POST, Vivian Norris, 19 May, “Only the mass media can put the kind of pressure on TEPCO and the Japanese government to bring about major change. This will cost at least 10 billion dollars if not 20-30 billion to clean up. It will take at least 10 years if not 20 and roughly 10,000 people working on the cleanup. The nuclear business is global. This needs an international effort to clean up Fukushima.”
— Nuclear Engineer Akira Tokuhiro

In an email today, Japanese born, U.S.-educated nuclear engineering professor Tokuhiro wrote the following: Continue reading →

May 19, 2011 Posted by | Japan, spinbuster | Leave a comment

Fukushima crisis is much worse than authorities say

VIDEO   ….. Fukushima Reactors a Raging Nuclear Inferno | Peak Oil News and Message Boards   Peak Oil News, May 19, 2011  Professor Christopher Busby, who sits on the European Committee on Radiation Risks, told RT yesterday that the reactors at Fukushima are a raging nuclear inferno and he believes at least one of the reactors is now outside its containment structure and emitting vast amounts of radiation into the atmosphere. Continue reading →

May 19, 2011 Posted by | Resources -audiovicual | Leave a comment

Global nuclear industry slowdown, as investment in renewables grows

The deepening nuclear debate over nuclear energy in France, meanwhile, may have global implications…….Even France’s allegiance to nuclear appears to be loosening…..several candidates vying to take on Nicolas Sarkozy in the presidential election next year have called for France to begin shifting from nuclear to renewable energy.China and the U.S. are also showing signs of strain over the issue…..In the U.S., nuclear investment plans are wavering

A Worldwide Nuclear Slowdown Continues – Technology Review,  May 18, 2011, By Peter Fairley“……….The German government has already identified renewable energy as the future, setting plans to boost renewable generation to 50 percent of electrical consumption by 2030 (from 17 percent last year) and to 80 percent by 2050.

….Germany’s accelerated nuclear phase-out may also threaten plans in Eastern Europe by undermining support for subsidies. Continue reading →

May 19, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, France | Leave a comment

UK’s Trident nuclear fleet costs soaring above 25 billion pounds

New Trident fleet cost will top £25bn Defence secretary Liam Fox announces new funding but says Lib Dems will oversee review into ‘alternatives’ Richard Norton-Taylor and Allegra Stratton  guardian.co.uk,   18 May 2011, The cost of a new fleet of Trident nuclear missile submarines could more than double to £25bn by the time they are built, the defence secretary, Liam Fox, told MPs. Continue reading →

May 19, 2011 Posted by | weapons and war | Leave a comment

UK govt letting EDF, Centrica, AREVA plan nuclear safety?

it’s very much in the hands of EDF, Centrica, RWE, E.ON, Areva, Westinghouse and the rest to propose the form of modifications….I can’t see any of those parties putting forward suggestions that will significantly increase the cost of their reactor designs and plant lay-outs for the first new nuclear power stations.

Why are we trusting the nuclear giants to suggest safety improvements? Rowena Mason, Telegraph UK,  May 18th, 2011 “…….Today Mike Weightman Britain’s solemn chief inspector of nuclear concluded that nuclear power in Britain is largely safe. Or “has no need to be curtailed”, as he put it…….. he’s willing to let the industry make some suggestions about how their systems could be better, rather than dictate specific modifications. Continue reading →

May 19, 2011 Posted by | politics, UK | Leave a comment

Nuclear Regulatory Commission wants anti terrorism plans for reactors

NRC seeks nuke anti-terror plans |Security Info Watch Nuclear plant operators required to submit plans by June 10, Brattleboro Reformer (Vermont) 05-18-2011 WASHINGTON (AP) — The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is demanding that operators of the 104 U.S. nuclear reactors submit detailed information about plans to respond to a possible terrorist attack.

NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko said Wednesday that operators must submit by June 10 details about plans, equipment and personnel in place to respond to a terrorist attack. The agency has required nuclear power plants to prove their ability to respond to terrorism since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington…….NRC seeks nuke anti-terror plans |

May 19, 2011 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

Ontario politicians want permanent ban on nuclear transport over Great Lakes

Ontario NDP calls for ban on nuclear shipments on Canal, Great Lakes, Siobhan Morris, 610 CKTB News5/18/2011 The provincial NDP is asking the McGuinty government to permanently squash shipment of steam generators across the Welland Canal and Great Lakes. Environment Critic for the New Democrats, Peter Tabuns raised the issue at Queen’s Park Wednesday. Tuesday, Bruce Power pulled its request for US permission for a shipment from Owen Sound to Sweden. They need that approval because the trek would take boats into American waters.Bruce Power hit pause on the project in Canada in March. The company said the delay was to allow more time to discuss their plan with concerned groups, especially First Nations. Environmental groups & Great Lakes mayors worry about contamination of drinking water should there be an accident. Tabuns says the government has failed in its basic duty to protect the citizens of Ontario. He wants to know why it has not asked for an environmental assessment of the plan……News Talk 610 CKTB :: Ontario NDP calls for ban on nuclear shipments on Canal, Great Lakes :: Local News – Story

May 19, 2011 Posted by | Canada, politics | Leave a comment

Inadequate radiation testing of Fukushima nuclear workers

Radiation tests lacking / Nuclear plant workers unsure of internal exposure levels, The Yomiuri Shimbun, 19 may 11, Nearly two months after the start of the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, only 10 percent of workers there had been tested for internal radiation exposure caused by inhalation or ingestion of radioactive substances, due to a shortage of testing equipment available for them.

Tokyo Electric Power Co., operator of the crippled nuclear compound, is finding it impossible to use testing apparatus set up inside the facility because of high radiation levels recorded near the equipment.

A number of personnel working to overcome the nuclear crisis at the facility are increasingly alarmed by their lack of internal exposure testing. Some have said they may have to continue to work at the facility without knowing whether their radiation exposure levels have exceeded the upper limit set by the government……Radiation tests lacking / Nuclear plant workers unsure of internal exposure levels : National : DAILY YOMIURI ONLINE (The Daily Yomiuri)

May 19, 2011 Posted by | - Fukushima 2011, health, Japan | Leave a comment

Congressman calls for moratorium on licenses for nuclear reactors

Markey highlighted several key findings as evidence that the NRC should immediately suspend all pending nuclear reaction licensing applications until the following issues are addressed:……

Markey introduced legislation (HR 1242) that would impose a moratorium on new nuclear reactor licenses or license extensions until the facilities adopt new safety measures…..

Markey Cites New Report to Call For Nuclear Moratorium, Fire Engineering, By Chad Brand, CQ Staff Congressional Quarterly Homeland SecurityMay 16, 2011The fallout of the continuing crisis at Japan’s Fukushima power plant has Rep. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., warning that the United States is not doing enough to ensure the safety of it own nuclear facilities. Continue reading →

May 19, 2011 Posted by | politics, USA | Leave a comment

USA has 23 nuclear reactors the same type as Fukushima

Interview with Akira Tokuhiro, Nuclear Engineer: Fukushima and the Mass Media HUFFINGTON POST, Vivian Norris, 19 May “……..There are 23 reactors in the U.S. like the one in Fukushima. It takes a lot of money to build a reactor but then it becomes a money-maker once it is paid off and is run for as long as possible making as much profit as possible. This MUST become about our common future, and it does require an international effort. This is NOT a Wall Street bailout, this is much more serious and needs immediate attention and action. We MUST put the future of humanity and our planet before constant profits and crazy out of control capitalism. A great deal of information has finally been coming out these past few days and if you need more information on the technical aspects of the core meltdowns and explanations which are updated fairly often, please follow Arnie Gunderson at http://www.fairewinds.com
Vivian Norris: Interview with Akira Tokuhiro, Nuclear Engineer: Fukushima and the Mass Media

May 19, 2011 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

A good business move for Japan – from nuclear to solar?

new solutions for solar power installation in Japan’s relatively small geographic areas. “The [irradiated] agricultural land near the Fukushima power plant is no longer usable, so why don’t we convert that into solar plants?” …alculation from Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology: “Rice produced on one hectare of land yields a yearly revenue of 1.58 million yen, while a solar plant on the same surface would generate a revenue of 7.5 million yen.”

Why Japan’s Shift Away from Nuclear Is Good for Business,  TIME,  By Lucy Birmingham / Tokyo Wednesday, May 18, 2011 “…….New legislation is expected to help diversify the nation’s energy portfolio. A new feed-in tariff (FIT) will oblige utility companies to buy all the power generated through renewable sources connected to a grid, at fixed, premium rates. Continue reading →

May 19, 2011 Posted by | decentralised, Japan | 1 Comment

America losing the chance to switch from nuclear power to renewables

The U.S. is obviously not going to build many new nuclear plants — but time is running out for us to jump on the clean-energy bandwagon.”….

Why They Don’t — and Can’t — Get It Right HUFFINGTON POST Carl Pope,  05/17/11 ….pattern of obviously foolish risks reflects the behavior of not just one company but of many — it’s simply how the nuclear industry operates.

And the industry clearly doesn’t want more effective oversight. Continue reading →

May 19, 2011 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

False sense of security as Tepco misleads public on Fukushima nulclear cleanup

Tepco Misleading Public Over Nuclear Crisis,  Bloomberg, By Tsuyoshi Inajima and Yuji Okada – May 17, 2011 Tokyo Electric Power Co. has made misleading statements about when it will stabilize its nuclear reactors crippled by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, said Tetsuo Ito, head of the Atomic Energy Research Institute at Kinki University in western Japan.

The company, known as Tepco, yesterday reiterated the schedule on its so-called road map announced a month ago to achieve cold shutdown of the three radiation-leaking reactors as early as October. Setting a timetable without knowing the condition of the reactor cores doesn’t make sense, Ito said in a phone interview from Osaka.

“Only after understanding what’s going on inside the buildings and reactors, will it be clear what parts of the timetable are achievable,” Ito said. “Devising a road map without that will give the public a false sense of security.”…..Tepco Misleading Public Over Nuclear Crisis – Bloomberg

May 19, 2011 Posted by | - Fukushima 2011 | Leave a comment

Backscatter Airport Radiation Tests Were Faked

Even physics professors question the TSA’s obvious cover-up

The evidence of the TSA’s fakery is now obvious thanks to the revelations of a letter signed by five professors from the University of California, San Francisco and Arizona State University.

TSA Backscatter Radiation Safety Tests Were Rigged, Lew Rockwell.com, by Mike Adams , 18 May 11 It can now be revealed by NaturalNews that the TSA faked its safety data on its X-ray airport scanners in order to deceive the public about the safety of such devices. Continue reading →

May 19, 2011 Posted by | secrets,lies and civil liberties, technology, USA | Leave a comment

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