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Radiation gradually accumulating in marine life beyond Fukushima

More radiation worries for Japan’s fishing industry – Fishupdate.com, 31 may 11, MORE trouble appears to be on the horizon for Japan’s beleaguered fishing industry, following the country’s disastrous earthquake two months ago.

Greenpeace has said that the radioactive leaks are continuing to seriously affect fish and other marine life.  According to fresh information released by the environmental group high levels of contamination have been found in fish, shellfish, and seaweed from samples taken 12 miles off the coast of the Fukushima plant.

Analysis by laboratories in France and Belgium found high levels of radioactive iodine and radioactive cesium in seafood, according to Greenpeace. Contamination levels were highest in seaweed samples, which contained radiation 50 times higher than official limits…..Greenpeace Radiation spokesman Jan Van Putte said: “Our data shows that significant amounts of contamination continue to spread over great distances from the Fukushima nuclear plant.  Radioactive hazards are not decreasing through dilution or dispersion, but the radioactivity is instead accumulating in marine life.”… More radiation worries for Japan’s fishing industry – Fishupdate.com

May 31, 2011 Posted by | environment, Japan | Leave a comment

How Japanese communities have become nuclear addicts

In a process that critics have likened to drug addiction, the flow of easy money and higher-paying jobs quickly replaces the communities’ original economic basis, usually farming or fishing….the subsidies encourage not only acceptance of a plant but also, over time, its expansion. That is because subsidies ….the system of subsidies and dependency Japan created to expand nuclear power makes it difficult for the country to reverse course.

In Japan, a Culture That Promotes Nuclear Dependency – NYTimes.com,By and May 30, 2011 “…….Tokyo has been able to essentially buy the support, or at least the silent acquiescence, of local communities by showering them with generous subsidies, payouts and higher-paying jobs. In 2009 alone, Tokyo gave $1.15 billion for public works projects to communities that have electric plants, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Experts say the majority of that money goes to communities near nuclear plants. Continue reading →

May 31, 2011 Posted by | Japan, politics | Leave a comment

Experts at Gulf energy forum enthusiastic about renewable energy, not nuclear

Observations and questions from the floor indicated that the case for developing nuclear power had not been to the satisfaction of delegates and other options, solar and geothermal energy in particular, had much to offer and should be explored first.

Solar, not nuclear, power gets the vote of delegates at environment forum  By ROGER HARRISON | ARAB NEWS  May 31, 2011 JEDDAH: Expert delegates at the Gulf Environment Forum’s opening session on nuclear power have suggested solar energy is the way forward. Continue reading →

May 31, 2011 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

Japanese actor punished for his anti nuclear stance

“I received an email from my manager today. ‘Your planned role in a July 8 drama has gone away because of your statements regarding nuclear power plants.’”…

It’s Not Easy Being Antinuclear – Japan Real Time – WSJ* May 30, 2011, By Yoree Koh It’s a difficult time to trumpet the virtues of nuclear energy in Japan, but it appears naysayers are finding that speaking out can have negative consequences. Continue reading →

May 31, 2011 Posted by | civil liberties, Japan | Leave a comment

Farmers in India resolute against Bhavnagar nuclear power plant

Gujarat: Farmers oppose nuclear power plant in Bhavnagar, West: India Today, D. P. Bhattachary  | Mithi Virdi Village (Bhavnagar), May 30, 2011  A storm of resistance is brewing in the mango orchards of coastal Bhavnagar district.

As the Union government proposes to set up a 6,000 Mw nuclear plant at Mithi Virdi village, farmers from the five villages of Jaspara, Mithi Virdi, Khadarpar, Mandva and Sosiya have come together to pledge that they would die rather than give their fertile farmland for the power plant……. Continue reading →

May 31, 2011 Posted by | India, opposition to nuclear | Leave a comment

Works suspended at Fukushima because of stormy weather

Storm suspends work at Japan Fukushima nuclear plant BBC News 30 May 2011 The operator of Japan’s crippled nuclear plant has suspended some of its outdoor work due to a tropical storm, just days after it admitted it was not prepared for harsh weather.

Heavy rain and strong winds are hitting north-east Japan, which was devastated in the 11 March earthquake and tsunami. Continue reading →

May 31, 2011 Posted by | - Fukushima 2011 | Leave a comment

Nuclear events and policies spell gloom for uranium stocks

political pressure continues to mount against nuclear energy…..Many countries have announced in-depth safety reviews of their nuclear reactors, placing moratoriums on any new plants in the near-term…...

Uranium sector hurt by Germany’s ban By Jonathan Ratner, Vancouver Sun,  May 29, 2011 TORONTO – The uranium sector came under some selling pressure on Monday after Germany announced it will shut down all of its nuclear reactors by 2022, reversing a nuclear energy policy put in place in October 2010. Continue reading →

May 31, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, Canada, Uranium | Leave a comment

Shut down nuclear power, says Scottish SNP Party

Scotland wants German-style nuclear shutdown, says SNP, The Scotsman 31 May 2011 By Andrew Whitaker GERMANY’S decision to shut its nuclear power plants has sparked a furious row in Scottish politics, as a leading SNP politician claimed the move was the same “route that Scotland wishes to go down”….Nationalist MSPs at Holyrood seized on yesterday’s announcement, with energy minister Fergus Ewing saying that the move “adds further weight” to the SNP’s plans to generate all of Scotland’s energy from renewables within ten years….

May 31, 2011 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

First Nations want uranium ban to stay, in British Columbia

B.C. uranium ban should stay, First Nations leader says.  Straight.com, By Matthew Burrows, May 30, 2011 The president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs does not believe the provincial moratorium on uranium mining should be lifted.

“The Okanagan Nation Alliance has always been opposed to uranium exploration and mining, as has the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs,” Grand Chief Stewart Phillip told the Straight by phone today (May 30). “We’ve never supported uranium exploration and mining, and we’ve always supported those groups and communities that have opposed exploration and mining. And we certainly support a continuation of the moratorium.”

The B.C. Liberals banned the exploration and development of uranium in April 2008…
B.C. uranium ban should stay, First Nations leader says | Vancouver, Canada | Straight.com

May 31, 2011 Posted by | Canada, indigenous issues | Leave a comment

Be wary of the promoters of the uranium industry

There will continue to be a persistent chorus of uranium investors who also have an audience in the media proclaiming uranium to be the ‘contrarian trade of the decade’. But smart investors, before getting caught up in such rhetoric need to ask themselves, “How much does the person who is the source of the information have invested in uranium shares?”

Uranium Stocks Under Siege as Fukushima Continues Spewing Radiation By James WestMidasLetter.com, May 30, 2011 As shares in uranium exploration companies continued to shed value, Japan’s nuclear nightmare is still getting worse. Continue reading →

May 31, 2011 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

Uranium mining – an immoral investment

Uranium industry untenable By Leo Kurtenbach, The StarPhoenix May 30, 2011 In 2009, Dan Perrins chaired Future of Uranium meetings across the province to look into the future of uranium mining in Saskatchewan.

This took place at a time when the uranium industry anticipated ballooning profits, if nuclear power would be used to develop our province’s oilsands.

Approximately 80 per cent of those attending the meetings or making written presentations opposed the expansion of nuclear power, however. Continue reading →

May 31, 2011 Posted by | general | Leave a comment