What if the West has misjudged Ahmadinejad about nuclear weapons?
Christina Macpherson's websites & blogs
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has certainly come out with some powerful statements against Israel, and he has sounded very threatening.
Yet Ahmadinejad also comes out with some powerful statements against nuclear weapons., and arguing that Iran is not developing them and would never use them, especially as a “first strike”.
We need to remember that Ahmadinejad is a popular leader, trying to function in an Islamic State, – where supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei and the Mullahs wield extraordinary power and influence. Ahmadinejad has to “keep them on side” – has to come out with fiery nationalistic statements. But perhaps he really does believe that nuclear weapons are dangerous, immoral, and unnecessary. Perhaps the world could do worse than Ahmadinejad for an Iranian leader. – Christina Macpherson
Court rules compensation for soldier exposed to depleted uranium
DEPLETED URANIUM CONTINUES TO CLAIM VICTIMS, 14 AUGUST 2011 VOICE OF RUSIA Kosovo, (Pal Telegraph) – A court in Cagliari in Italy has ruled that the Ministry of Defence must pay a half million euros in compensation to the family of a soldier who died from exposure to depleted uranium in NATO bombs that were dropped on Kosovo.
Depleted uranium is used in rockets and bombs for increasing their piercing capacity. It is slightly radioactive and highly toxic. The first Italian death from exposure to it was reported in 2001.
NATO widely used DU munitions during its 1990s campaigns in Kosovo and Bosnia.http://www.paltelegraph.com/world/world-news/9844-depleted-uranium-continues-to-claim-victims.html
Just the bare $115 billion to clean up USA’s Hanford nuclear waste
$115 billion needed to finish Hanford cleanup The News Tribune, BY ANNETTE CARY, TRI-CITY HERALD, 13 Aug 11, The Department of Energy has taken a look at all the environmental cleanup yet to be completed at the Hanford nuclear reservation and come up with a big price tag: $115 billion.
Nuclear weapons an obsolete defense strategy, says Ahmadinejad
 Ahmadinejad says nuclear weapons a thing of the past, Tehran Times, 15 Aug 11, TEHRAN – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said that the 21st century is about knowledge, while nukes are the means of the past and are not going to be a determining force in the world in future.Ahmadinejad made the remarks during an interview with Russia Today (RT) on August 13. His comments were later translated into English by this television network.
Commenting on the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program, Ahmadinejad said, “We do not want nuclear weapons for a few reasons… This weapon is inhumane. Because of our faith, we are against it. Our religion says it is prohibited, and we are religious people.”
“Nuclear weapons have no capabilities today. If any country tries to build a nuclear bomb, in fact, they waste their money on resources and, secondly, they create a big danger to themselves,” he stated.
No country possessing nuclear weapons has benefited from it, Ahmadinejad said, adding, “The Americans have nuclear bombs and nuclear weapons. Could they win in Iraq or in Afghanistan? Could nuclear weapons help the Zionist regime win in Lebanon and Gaza? Could nuclear weapons help the former Soviet Union avoid collapse?”
He added, “Nuclear weapons are the means of the previous century. This century is the century of knowledge and thinking. It is the century of human beings. It is the century of culture and knowledge.”…
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Japan and USA seek treaty to prevent having to pay international nuclear compensation
Japan eyes global nuclear compensation treaty – report, Aug 14, 2011 Reporting by Chikako Mogi; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani, TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan is considering joining a U.S.-led global nuclear compensation treaty in a bid to fend off excessive overseas damage claims related to nuclear accidents, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Sunday, without citing sources.
The U.S., Morocco, Romania and Argentina have agreed to the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage, but the treaty needs at least five countries in order to go into effect.
The newspaper said Japan would start discussions with the United States in the coming week over the pact, which defines the rules for trials for damage claims in countries where accidents happen.
The move comes in the wake of a devastating accident in March at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which leaked radiation and exposed wide-ranging produces from vegetables, tea to water to excessive radioactive materials….http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE77D0C620110814
Florida’s new nuclear plants delayed – perhaps forever
Doubts cloud nuclear pay plan,Utility Products, Power Industry News, BY IVAN PENN, 14 Aug 11, Since 2009, Progress Energy customers have been paying for a nuclear plant that will not generate a kilowatt of power until 2016. Wait, make that 2018. Well, maybe 2021.
Now, more dismaying news. State consumer advocates say they have evidence the plant won’t open until 2027. Indeed, they openly wonder if the plant will ever be built. Continue reading
Continuing radiation dangers in food chain in Japan
Prolonged exposure to radiation in the air, ground and food can cause leukemia and other cancers, according to the London- based World Nuclear Association,
Mushrooms Join Growing List of Radioactive Threats to Japan’s Food Chain, Bloomberg, By Naoko Fujimura and Chris Cooper – Aug 14, 2011 Mushrooms joined the threats to Japan’s food chain from radiation spewed by Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant, as the country expands efforts to limit the effects of the disaster.
Japan is under pressure to enhance food inspections as it has no centralized system for detecting radiation contamination. About two-thirds of Japan’s prefectures now plan to check rice crops, the Mainichi newspaper reported yesterday, citing its own survey. Half of Japan’s rice is grown within range of emissions from the crippled nuclear plant, and farmers are awaiting the results of tests before harvesting begins this month…… Continue reading
Serious safet problems in Hanford nuclear waste cleanup plans
The Hanford project is the most important environmental cleanup program in the nation. It seeks to prevent 56 million gallons of radioactive sludge in underground tanks, some of which are leaking, from contaminating the nearby Columbia River.
Safety doubts raised at U.S. nuclear waste cleanup project, Engineers and scientists say equipment being installed by Bechtel Corp. at the Hanford site in Washington state poses risks, but the Energy Department is letting work continue. By Ralph Vartabedian, Los Angeles Times, August 14, 2011 The Energy Department has asserted that Bechtel Corp. underplayed safety risks from equipment it is installing at the nation’s largest nuclear waste cleanup project, according to government records. Continue reading
Second meltdown in No 3 Nuclear reactor caused Fukushima cleanup problems
Report suggests second meltdown at reactor at Fukushima plant, Asahi.com, BY TOMOOKI YASUDA STAFF WRITER, 2011/08/09, A second meltdown likely occurred in the No. 3 reactor at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, a scenario that could hinder the current strategy to end the crisis, a scientist said. Continue reading
Death of feisty anti-nuclear fighter
Notable deaths around the nation, 14 Aug 11, “….Jackie Hudson, 76, of Bremerton, Wash., a nun and longtime nuclear weapons protester, died Aug. 3 of cancer. The Michigan native moved to Washington in 1993 but remained with the Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids. She was released in June from a Georgia jail after demonstrating at an Oak Ridge, Tenn., nuclear facility. She was among three convicted in 2003 of damaging a Weld County, Colo., missile silo….” http://blog.oregonlive.com/lifestories/2011/08/notable_deaths_around_nation_w_22.html
Even with the recession, renewable energy performing well across the globe
Special report:Renewable energy sector grows despite recession, The Citizen, 13 August 2011, Paris. The renewable energy (RE) sector continues to perform well despite continuing economic recession, incentive cuts, and low natural-gas prices, the Renewables 2011 Global Status Report (GSR) released last month has shown.
In 2010, existing solar water and space heating capacity increased by an estimated 25 gigawatts-thermal (GWth), or about 16 per cent. The report was commissioned by the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21) and produced in collaboration with a global network of research partners.
“The global performance of renewable energy despite headwinds has been a positive constant in turbulent times”, says Mr Mohamed El-Ashry, chairman of REN21’s Steering Committee. “Today, more people than ever before derive energy from renewables as capacity continues to grow, prices continue to fall, and shares of global energy from renewable energy continue to increase.” …..http://thecitizen.co.tz/sunday-citizen/40-sunday-citizen-news/13743-special-reportrenewable-energy-sector-grows-despite-recession.htm
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The Public Counsel’s case against Progress Energy’s plan for nuclear plant costing
Doubts cloud nuclear pay plan, Utility Products, Power Industry News, BY IVAN PENN, 14 Aug 11, “……The Public Counsel’s case rests on the opinion of William Jacobs, a former nuclear plant site manager for Westinghouse. His 35 years of experience in electric power generation and doctoral degree in nuclear engineering have made him a go-to expert for power companies and public utility commissions around the country.
Jacobs makes six points to support his argument that Progress plans to delay construction of the Levy plant until 2027:
* Progress is diverting the attention of key Levy project managers to other activities. Among them: Jeff Lyash, former president and CEO of Progress Energy Florida, whom Jacobs describes as the Progress officer responsible for the Levy project.
* Progress’ own analysis shows that trends in fuel costs are making nuclear power relatively less cost effective than other sources.
* The trend in natural gas prices and lack of progress toward legislation regulating greenhouse gases increase the utility’s “enterprise risk.”
* Progress had hoped to find a partner to share ownership (and financial risk) of the project, but that has become less likely because of cost increases and regulatory delays.
* Public support for nuclear plants has diminished since the meltdown at Japan’s Fukushima plant.
* Finally, Progress, having considered all those factors, seems to be planning for the possibility of delaying the plant opening until 2027.
Jacobs based that last conclusion on the redacted “Scenario Analysis” Progress gave to the Public Counsel’s Office.
In written testimony to the PSC, Jacobs wrote that Progress Energy’s “actions continue to demonstrate doubt as to the likelihood of completion of the project on the current schedule – if at all.” Jacobs uses “if at all” three times in his report referring to the possibility of the plant never getting built.
Progress turned over an unredacted version of the “Scenario Analysis” only after Jacobs completed his report. But the Public Counsel’s office had to agree to keep it secret……. http://www.utilityproducts.com/news/2011/08/1478674934/doubts-cloud-nuclear-pay-plan.html
Volunteers risk health in radiation cleanup outside Fukushima area
“The area itself is relatively highly contaminated,” Kodama says. “Many small children playing around the ground might touch some mud or in some case, eat some sand, which would result in internal radiation..”
Volunteers Take on Dangerous Job of Scrubbing Nuke Contamination, ABC News International. By AKIKO FUJITA (@akikofujita), Aug. 12, 2011 Tatsuhiko Kodama’s voice shakes as he addresses volunteers at Ishigami Daini Kindergarten in the city of Minamisoma, 15 miles from the troubled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant.
The director of the University of Tokyo’s Radioisotope Center is training people how to decontaminate a school filled with radiation spewed from the nuclear reactors. He has explained the process a dozen times before, yet tears well up every time Kodama sees mothers donning masks, fathers taking notes with dosimeters in hand. Continue reading
Palo Verde Nuclear Plant – emergency plans found wanting
planning only for a 10-mile evacuation zone around reactors is inadequate because it doesn’t take into consideration the possibility of having to evacuate a larger area and the consequences of civil disorder that might ensue from gridlocked roads in the scramble to flee…… emergency plans wrongly assume that a severe problem at a nuclear facility would not be accompanied by other emergencies.
Palo Verde nuclear response a worry, Palo Verde’s plans for evacuations debated, by Ryan Randazzo – Aug. 14, 2011, The Arizona Republic, People living within 10 miles of the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station west of Phoenix are well-aware they are in the evacuation zone of Arizona’s only nuclear power plant.
Those 11,545 residents get an annual calendar from the plant’s owners with instructions on what to do in the remote event of a disaster….. Continue reading
Nuclear fuels regulators in Colorado under the thumb of weapons maker General Atomics
“Basically, the judgment of the nuclear fuels industry and its captive regulators in Colorado is not to be trusted when it comes to matters of health, safety, and a clean environment,”
General Atomics subsidiary wants to stop toxic pond tests, By David O. Williams, Real Aspen – August 14, 2011 Rather than seek an appropriate technological solution, managers of a decommissioned uranium processing mill near Cañon City want the state to let them stop testing a radioactive holding pond Continue reading
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