nuclear-news

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

Support for a diplomatic solution to issue of Iran’s nuclear programme

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)  issued a statement on Friday expressing support for Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities. 
NAM reiterates its principled position that diplomacy and dialogue are the only way for a long-term solution of Iran’s nuclear issue. NAM encourages all Member States to contribute positively to that effect…..
International officials call for diplomatic solution to Iran nuclear issue TEHRAN TIMES, 19 Nov 11– A number of international officials, including the Russian foreign minister, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, and Indian prime minister, have called for the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program to be resolved through diplomatic channels.
However, the 5+1 group countries (the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany), during a meeting of the 35-member International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors in Vienna, which opened on Thursday and closed on Friday, approved a draft resolution criticizing Iran for its nuclear activities but deferred any discussion of new United Nations sanctions until the spring.  Continue reading →

November 19, 2011 Posted by | Iran, politics international | 1 Comment

Ontario Power Generation can’t afford nuclear clean-up costs

One more nuclear risk – the dwindling value of cleanup funds  One more risk of nuclear power: Ontario Power Generation recorded a third-quarter loss because of a sharp decline in the value of funds set aside for nuclear clean-ups…..

 funds set aside for future nuclear plant de-commissioning and for nuclear waste treatment performed poorly, recording a loss of $16 million, compared with gains of $287 million a year earlier.

November 19, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, Canada | Leave a comment

For the first time, Japan bans radiation contaminated rice

Japan issues ban on Fukushima rice contaminated by radiation, Vancouver Sun, AFP November 17, 2011 TOKYO — Japan on Thursday announced its first ban on rice produced near the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant after samples showed
radioactive contamination well above legal limits.

The findings will further worry nervous consumers, already fretting over the safety of domestic produce, despite its previous solid safety reputation. Authorities in Fukushima prefecture say rice produced near the stricken atomic power plant contained caesium they measured at 630 becquerels per kilogram (2.2 pounds). The government safety limit is
500 becquerels.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura ordered Fukushima Governor Yuhei Sato to restrict shipments of rice from Onami — from where the samples were sourced — according to an agricultural ministry
official…..
Environmental campaign group Greenpeace said Thursday it had detected radiation in fish sold at Japanese supermarkets, although radiation levels were still well below the government safety limit of 500 becquerels.
According to its own research carried out between October 12 and November 8 in eastern Japan, 47.3 becquerels of cesium per kilogramme were discovered in cod while traces of radiation were also found in other fish, including tuna.  http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Japan+issues+Fukushima+rice+contaminated+radiation/5726394/story.html#ixzz1e6mhWM7x

November 19, 2011 Posted by | environment, Japan | Leave a comment

USA prepared to act on any nuclear proliferation activities by North Korea

Obama: US will act vs NKorea nuke proliferation Google News, (AP) –17 Nov 11 CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — President Barack Obama said Thursday that the United States will act firmly against any nuclear proliferation activities by North Korea. Continue reading →

November 19, 2011 Posted by | North Korea, USA, weapons and war | Leave a comment

European Union bans X-ray airport body scanners

EU bans airport body scanners over cancer fears Zee News, 18 Nov 11 London: The European Union has banned the controversial airport body scanners over fears the X-ray technology could cause cancer, a media report said.  Continue reading →

November 19, 2011 Posted by | EUROPE, safety | Leave a comment

Rising risk of nuclear conflicts, says Russian military chief

Nikolai Makarov, Russia Military Chief, Sees Rising Risk Of Nuclear Conflicts Huffington Post, 17 Nov 11 MOSCOW — Russia is facing a heightened risk of being drawn into conflicts at its borders that have the potential of turning nuclear, the nation’s top military officer said Thursday.

Gen. Nikolai Makarov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian armed forces, cautioned over NATO’s expansion eastward and warned that the risks of Russia being pulled into local conflicts have “risen sharply.” Makarov added, according to Russian news agencies, that “under certain conditions local and regional conflicts may develop into a full-scale war involving nuclear weapons.”

A steady decline in Russia’s conventional forces has prompted the Kremlin to rely increasingly on its nuclear deterrent. The nation’s military doctrine says it may use nuclear weapons to counter a nuclear attack on Russia or an ally, or a large-scale conventional attack that threatens Russia’s existence.

Russia sees NATO’s expansion to include former Soviet republics and ex-members of the Soviet bloc in eastern and central Europe as a key threat to Russia’s security…. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/17/nikolai-makarov-russia-nuclear-conflict_n_1100100.html

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

USA persists with radiation airport scanners, while Europe bans them

Europe bans X-ray scanners,The Economist, Nov 16th 2011,   by A.B. THE X-RAY body-scanners that are found in some airports in America have been banned in the European Union. Doubts have long persisted about the safety of these machines, which emit a minute amount of radiation, and the EU has explicitly linked such doubts to its decision, announced at the start of the week. As the press release has it:

In order not to risk jeopardising citizens’ health and safety, only security scanners which do not use X-ray technology are added to the list of authorised methods for passenger screening at EU airports.

That’s not exactly going to cheer up American travellers, who are already struggling to understand why the Transportation Security Administration decided that the X-ray scanners were suitable for them to use. Another kind of body-scanner is available, which uses radiofrequency technology that has not been linked to cancer scares. These are installed in some American airports, such as Atlanta and Dallas, and will be the scanner of choice in Europe… http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2011/11/body-scanners-0

November 19, 2011 Posted by | health, USA | Leave a comment

France’s nuclear watchdog warns of safety flaws in reactors

France must tighten nuclear security after Fukushima, watchdog says, By RFI 17 November 2011 France must urgently improve safety in its 58 nuclear reactors in the wake of Japan’s Fukushima disaster, an official report published Thursday said. The head of the French nuclear watchdog warned of “small faults that could have serious consequences”. Continue reading →

November 19, 2011 Posted by | France, safety | Leave a comment

    Next Entries »