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The News That Matters about the Nuclear Industry Fukushima Chernobyl Mayak Three Mile Island Atomic Testing Radiation Isotope

The myth of safe ionisng radiation

We are in the middle of a terrifying scientific experiment in which we and our children are the subjects. Let’s face the facts that mixing the profit motive with the most dangerous technology is a very bad idea, and that natural forces and human error are reason enough to admit nuclear power is a mistake. It’s time to move on.

The Myth of Low-Level Radiation, Why safe levels are a myth , Radiation Truth All radiation is dangerous, whether it is natural or man-made. There is no “safe”  amount of radioactive material or radiation. “The U.S. Department of Energy has testified that there is no level of radiation that is so low that it is without health risks”, reports Jacqueline Cabasso, the Executive Director of the Western States Legal Foundation. (full article) Continue reading →

October 1, 2011 Posted by | 2 WORLD, health | Leave a comment

Radioactive contamination of ocean continues from Fukushima

the Fukushima disaster appeared to be by far the largest accidental release of radioactive material into the sea…..

The working hypothesis is that contaminated sediments and groundwater near the coast are continuing to contaminate the seas, …

 fuller understanding of the effect on fish that are commercially harvested will probably take several years of data following several feeding cycles,

Fukushima’s Contamination Produces Some Surprises at Sea, NYT, By DAVID JOLLY, September 28, 2011, Six months after the accident at Fukushima Daiichi, the news flow from the stricken nuclear power plant has slowed, but scientific studies of radioactive material in the ocean are just beginning to bear fruit.

The word from the land is bad enough. ….

Off the coast, the early results indicate that very large amounts of radioactive materials were released, and may still be leaking, and that rather than being spread through the whole ocean, currents are keeping a lot of the material concentrated. Continue reading →

October 1, 2011 Posted by | Japan, oceans | Leave a comment

“Independent” nuclear expert Meserve paid by nuclear industry

Frequent Media Nuclear Expert On Payroll Of Multiple Nuclear Power Companies , Simply Info, September 16th, 2011    This article came out through US news services yesterday frequently quoting a nuclear expert who is claiming newer commercial nuclear power plants are safer or superior to plants like Fukushima. Richard Meserve, the expert in the article claims because Fukushima was built in the 1970′s and that newer plant designs would be much safer.

The bulk of the US power plants were built in the 60′s and 70′s just like Fukushima. The word for word line about newer plants being safer is a standard line from the commercial nuclear power industry. The article cites’s Meserve’s credentials as being a former NRC head and as a consultant to the IAEA. After some research it is clear that this doesn’t even scratch the surface of Meserve’s real allegiances or who who signs his substantial paychecks. Continue reading →

October 1, 2011 Posted by | spinbuster, USA | Leave a comment

Secret negotiations over Mongolia becoming repositary for nuclear waste

the idea has become a political lightning rod, with the opposition Green Party charging that a waste facility could become an environmental and safety nightmare….

the draft agreement, which has not been released but reportedly included a passage referring to Mongolia as a future destination for spent fuel……

“Mongolia is not an awfully democratic state,”

Senior U.S. Official Denies Talk of Foreign Nuclear Waste Site in Mongolia, NTI Global Security Newswire, Sept. 30, 2011, By Elaine M. Grossman WASHINGTON — A senior U.S. Energy Department official on Wednesday disputed reports that the Obama administration has sought Mongolian support for construction of a storage site for international spent nuclear fuel in the Central Asian nation (see GSN, March 30).

The assertion — made by a high-ranking official who asked not to be named in addressing a diplomatically sensitive issue — directly countered remarks offered last spring by a veteran State Department official who leads U.S. nuclear trade pact negotiations. Continue reading →

October 1, 2011 Posted by | ASIA, secrets,lies and civil liberties, wastes | Leave a comment

In USA nuclear industry spending up big on lobbying

In April through June, NEI lobbied Congress, the Commerce Department, the Defense Department, the Executive Office of the President, the Departments of Transportation, Energy, State and Homeland Security Department, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Office of Management and Budget, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, according to the report the NEI filed July 19 with the House clerk’s office….

Nuclear group spent $580,000 lobbying in April, May, June 2011 Forbes, By The Associated Press, 09.30.11,  NEW YORK — The main trade group for the nuclear power industry, the Nuclear Energy Institute, spent $580,000 in the first quarter lobbying federal officials about financial support for new reactors, safety regulations and other issues, according to a disclosure report. Continue reading →

October 1, 2011 Posted by | politics, USA | Leave a comment

Nuclear industry winding down, just look at Flamanville

It has to be acknowledged that, irrespective of Fukushima, new nuclear build was never going to be plain sailing from a technical or financial standpoint.

Just ask EDF, the French state-controlled utility which is currently building the first new nuclear plant in that country for 15 years …

Bailing out on nuclear, The Engineer, [UK] 30 September 2011 | By Andrew Czyzewski “………according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) six developing countries interested in developing a civil nuclear programme have notified it that they have abandoned their plans….

It’s not only politicians and their subjects getting nervous though. Continue reading →

October 1, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, France | Leave a comment

Japan’s Nuclear Agency manipulated public opinion forums

Japan Panel Says Nuclear Agency Manipulated Forums, WSJ, By MITSURU OBE, 30Sept 11 TOKYO—An independent panel advising Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry confirmed Friday that the ministry’s nuclear watchdog was involved in attempts by utilities to manipulate public opinion in favor of nuclear power, a conclusion likely to reinforce public mistrust in the nuclear industry and to raise further hurdles for the restart of idled reactors. Continue reading →

October 1, 2011 Posted by | Japan, spinbuster | Leave a comment

Court action in Canada over approval for nuclear reactors

 federal environmental assessment (EA) of the new reactors is flawed for several reasons, including:

  • it failed to examine a specific reactor or cooling water technology;
  • it failed to consider the long-term environmental effects of radioactive waste; and
  • it failed to look at alternatives to the project, such as green energy…..

 Environmentalists go to court to halt new Ontario nuclear reactors, Northumberland View, Sep 29, 2011  Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, Canadian Environmental Law Association, Greenpeace Canada, and Ecojustice, Waterkeeper.ca Weekly

Risks to Lake Ontario and surrounding communities unclear after flawed assessment

— Environmental groups have asked a federal court to stop government agencies from approving construction of new nuclear reactors at Darlington until an environmental assessment is fully completed and shows the project won’t negatively impact the environment or human health as required by law. Continue reading →

October 1, 2011 Posted by | Canada, Legal | Leave a comment

Radiation lingering in sea near Fukushima

 much of the radioactive material will still be sinking down to the seabed and being absorbed by marine life

Fukushima’s radioactive sea contamination lingers, New Scientist  September 2011 by Andy Coghlan Levels of radiation in the sea off the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear plant remain stubbornly high six months after the earthquake and tsunami struck Japan on 11 March.

After levels peaked at around 100,000 becquerels per cubic metre of seawater in early April, much of the radioactive iodine, caesium and plutonium from Fukushima was expected to rapidly disperse in the Pacific Ocean. Continue reading →

October 1, 2011 Posted by | Japan, oceans | Leave a comment

Uphill struggle for French nuclear company AREVA

During her 12-year tenure, former Chief Executive Anne Lauvergeon bet on a nuclear renaissance and loaded up the company with debt and expanded its operations. But despite the sales pitch, the nuclear renaissance never quite happened.

At Areva, New CEO Confronts a Delicate Job, WSJ, By MAX COLCHESTER And GERALDINE AMIEL, 30 Sept 11 PARIS—Areva SA’s new chief executive faces the delicate task of steering the global nuclear-engineering giant through a widespread industry slowdown. Continue reading →

October 1, 2011 Posted by | France | Leave a comment

Nuclear plant in Georgia leaking radioactive water to ground

Radioactive water found under Ga. nuke plant, Forbes, By RAY HENRY , 09.30.11, ATLANTA — Radioactive water has been found underneath a Southern Co. nuclear power plant in southeast Georgia, but officials said Friday that the leak does not pose an immediate threat to public health and is unlikely to contaminate any drinking water.

The Atlanta-based Southern Co. learned of the leak beneath Plant Hatch in Baxley on Wednesday when it identified radioactive tritium in two test wells about 25 feet below the ground, said Dennis Madison, a utility vice president who oversees the plant. Workers guided by ground-penetrating radar were planning to dig Friday to identify the source of the leak….   http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/09/30/business-multiutilities-us-plant-hatch-leak-georgia_8710682.html

October 1, 2011 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

USA Republicans push for nuclear loans, but attack solar ones

GOP senator: Energy Dept. dragging feet on uranium plant loan guarantee,THE HILL, By Ben Geman – 09/30/11 Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) is pressing the Energy Department to approve a long-sought loan guarantee for an Ohio uranium-enrichment plant amid planned layoffs and “demobilization” of the project if the financing agreement isn’t forthcoming.

USEC Inc. is seeking a conditional approval of its $2 billion loan-guarantee application to the Energy Department for the American Centrifuge Plant.

Portman’s comments come as Republicans are attacking the White House over the $535 million loan guarantee granted in 2009 to solar panel maker Solyndra, which collapsed and filed for bankruptcy several weeks ago.

But while the DOE loan-guarantee program is now under attack from many Republicans who say it exposes the folly of “green jobs” efforts, multiple GOP lawmakers have pushed DOE to provide financing for projects in their states through its various loan programs….http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/184775-gop-senator-presses-energy-dept-to-speed-up-uranium-plant-loan-guarantee

October 1, 2011 Posted by | politics, USA | Leave a comment