2012 March 06 « nuclear-news

Nuclear news to March 6th

Christina Macpherson's websites & blogs

Iran. Israel steps up move to attack Ira, while Obama points out the disadvantages. Ultimately, Obama’s agreeing that military action is one option.

Fukushima. As the anniversary of the nuclear accident approaches, many revelations about both the initial story, and the present state, of the Fukushima disaster. A pretty damning report on the Japanese government’s hadndling of the accident, and on the secrecy and cover-ups. The present uncertain state of the reactors, and the perils for the low-paid workforce still grappling to contain the plant and its radiation . Equally uncertain, the masses of radioactive material to be cleared,but where to? TEPCO shareholders take legal action against TEPCO executives. Japan tightens radiation limits for foods.

UK closes its oldest reactor – huge indeterminate costs to bury it. Dilemmas over cost and politics of new reactors. Protestors campaign at Hinkley nuclear site.

Indian government getting lots of flack for its attack on non government organisations that oppose nuclear power, and anti nuclear Koodankulam protests continue, with several religions joining the protest.

International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) “outs” the global financial firms that fund the nuclear weapons industry.

Pakistan test fires a nuclear capable missile.

March 6, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

$100 dollars a day: workers face radiation risks at Fukushima nuclear plant

it’s really important to reduce the amount of radiation that each individual gets and to do that, we need to bring in more people.” Bringing in more workers is going to be hard. Already, 167 workers have exceeded their lifetime radiation exposure limit of 100 milliseverts.

Safety fears at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant 03/05/2012 By majiroxnews TOKYO — Low pay and overwork could trigger a shortage of workers at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The Tokyo Occupational Safety and Health Center warned this week of thesedangers – with workers at the crippled site earning as little as 100 dollars a day.

After the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami crippled Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, conditions of the workers seem to be plummeting. Continue reading →

March 6, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | health, Japan | Leave a comment

‘Outing’ the financial firms that fund nuclear weapons

The institutions most heavily involved in financing nuclear arms makers include Bank of America, BlackRock and JP Morgan Chase in the US, BNP Paribas in France, Allianz and Deutsche Bank in Germany, Mistubishi UFJ Financial in Japan, Credit Suisse and UBS in Switzerland, and Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and Royal Bank of Scotland in Britain.

Over 300 financial institutions funding nuclear firms: NGO ,Economic Times, 5 March 12, http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/over-300-financial-institutions-funding-nuclear-firms-ngo/articleshow/12151557.cms NEW DELHI: A foreign NGO today claimed that more than 300 financial institutions, including some Indian firms, have exposure to 20 major nuclear weapons companies across the world and urged them to stop these investments.

The NGO, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), has also named Indian conglomerate Larsen and Toubro (L&T), which has done some work for Indian Navy and the missile system, in a report released today.

“L&T is involved in the design and construction of five nuclear-armed submarines for the Indian navy, each of which will be equipped with 12 missiles. The company has also tested a launch system for India’s nuclear missiles,” it said. Continue reading →

March 6, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, business and costs | 1 Comment

Muslims, Christians join other religions in opposing Kudankulam nuclear powerr

Religions unite in fight against nuclear plant, TNN | Mar 5, 2012, TIRUNELVELI: In a strong message that all religions are united in the fight against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP), protesters offered special prayers at the Viswamithrar temple situated at Vijayapathi village near Kudankulam, on Sunday.

About 250 villagers, both men and women fasted from Friday onwards to prepare themselves for the ritual of carrying milk pots to the temple. At the break of day on Sunday, people from coastal villages like Chettikulam, Kudankulam, Idinthakarai, Vairavikinaru, Avudayapuram, Thillainagar, Koothankuli gathered at the Pathrakaliamman temple at Kudankulam where special prayers were offered before commencing the rally. After the prayers, 207 women carried the milk pots and went on a rally through Kudankulam, Vairavikinaru, Idinthakarai, Mela Vijayapathi and Keela Vijayapathi to reach the Viswamithrar temple situated on the sea shore at Vijayapathi village.

The rally, which started from Kudankulam at 6am, reached the temple by 7.15am after which special poojas were performed. The villagers, who hailed from all religious denominations, received the ‘prasad’ at the temple and prayed that the KKNPP will be abandoned…..

“People from every religion, including Muslims from Keela Vijayapathi participated in the ceremony and offered prayers at the temple. Among the 207 milk pots, 13 of them were carried by Christians from Idinthakarai. We are together in our fight against the nuclear power plant that will endanger our lives,” said Peter Milton from Idinthakarai, who is also a member of the People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE)…. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/Religions-unite-in-fight-against-nuclear-plant/articleshow/12140823.cms

March 6, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | India, Religion and ethics | Leave a comment

Japan’s radioactive cleanup, a mammoth and uncertain task that will take decades

The waste would remain in the longer-term storage for 30 years, until half the radioactive cesium breaks down. Then it would still have to be treated and compacted using technology that hasn’t been fully developed yet before being buried deep underground in enclosed
containers. ….

Japan cleans up radiation zone, unsure of success, The News, March 06, 2012 FUKUSHIMA, Japan: Workers in rubber boots chip at the frozen ground, scraping until they’ve removed the top 2 inches (5 centimeters) of radioactive soil from the yard of a single home. Total amount of waste gathered: roughly 60 tons.

One down, tens of thousands to go. Continue reading →

March 6, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, Reference, wastes | Leave a comment

India is especially at risk from a nuclear disaster

in India we need to worry much more about all risky development projects, because we have a larger and poorer population, with far lower social safety nets in place than in many other parts of the world, less transparency and regulatory accountability making people more vulnerable to risks than in other, more developed countries. …..

Losing the plot, THE HINDU, LIGIA NORONHA, 4 Mar The response to the anti-Kudankulam protest shows that space for the democratic right of dissent is shrinking. I have been watching with a growing concern the unfolding story around the issue of the nuclear plant at Kudankulam. My concern is at two levels:

One, that it seems bizarre that it should not be expected that there would be an additional concern about nuclear energy post-Fukushima, given the whole new dimension of risk that the
incident brought to light around the nuclear question;

and two, that the manner in which the confrontation is unfolding is an example of a
larger pattern of not wanting any questions or dissent around India’s growth story.
It would indeed have been disturbing if people were not worrying about a nuclear plant post the Fukushima incident, especially in an area which has experienced a tsunami. …. Continue reading →

March 6, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Quebec rejects uranium mining

Quebec Says No to Uranium World Business Report, 4 Mar 12, In 2009, on the North-Shore of Quebec, the population of Sept-ÃŽles, with the help of “Sept-ÃŽles sans uranium”, had expressed its opposition against Terre Venture. The population won, and the company abandoned its project. Continue reading →

March 6, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Canada, opposition to nuclear, Uranium | Leave a comment

Indian government’s unfair attack on 4 non government organisations (NGOs)

Govt’s attack against NGOs lopsided, Hindustan Times, 4 Mar 12, “……..The civil society uprising across India has hurt the government more than the slinging attacks from the opposition. And, the government had been looking to hit back and it did by initiating action against fourTamil Nadu based NGOs for alleged misuse of funds to stall Kudankulam nuclear plant.

Even the officials in ministry of home affairs, which monitors foreign funding to NGOs, agree that finding a clinching evidence of misuse of funds by these four NGOs will be difficult. Continue reading →

March 6, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Where to put over 100,000 tons of radioactive waste materials?

6,800 tons of radiation-tainted rice straw left lying in 8 prefectures, Mainichi Daily News, 5 Mar 12, http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20120303p2a00m0na010000c.html Some 6,800 metric tons of rice straw contaminated with radioactive substances leaked from the crippled Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant remains in eight prefectures with no immediate prospect of disposal, the Mainichi has learned.

Moreover, sludge generated from radiation-contaminated waste water as well as ash tainted with radioactive materials amounts to some 97,000 tons in 12 prefectures — 3.6 times the figure as of July last year, according to the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry. Continue reading →

March 6, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, Reference, wastes | Leave a comment

Obama tries (a bit) to prevent war with Iran

Obama urges Israel to use diplomacy in nuclear stand-off with Iran, THE AUSTRALIAN, AFP March 05, 2012 US President Barack Obama criticised “loose talk of war” as he pleaded for patience in ending the nuclear stand-off with Iran, arguing that sustained international pressure would force Tehran to the negotiating table.

On the eve of White House talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr Obama sought to reassure a powerful pro-Israel lobby by vowing to use force if necessary. Speaking to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in Washington alongside Israeli President Shimon Peres, he said sanctions were working and cautioned against the saber-rattling of recent months.

“Because of our efforts, Iran is under greater pressure than ever before,” he told thousands of delegates at the AIPAC annual policy forum. “Iran is isolated, its leadership divided and under pressure,” he said..

.. US intelligence is said to believe Iran does not currently intend to produce nuclear weapons, though it may be seeking the capacity to do so, and Washington has emphasised the importance of deterrent sanctions and diplomacy.

But Israel is reportedly eager to move more quickly and decisively against Iran’s nuclear activities, using a military strike to prevent it from obtaining even the capacity to take a decision to produce nuclear weapons….. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/obama-urges-israel-to-use-diplomacy-in-nuclear-stand-off-with-iran/story-e6frg6so-1226289117802

March 6, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | USA, weapons and war | Leave a comment

Pakistan fires nuclear capable missile

Pakistan military says nuclear-capable missile test-fired, Can deliver warheads with high accuracy, Gulf News, IANS March 6, 2012, Islamabad: Pakistan on Monday successfully test-fired a nuclear-capable short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile, the military said.

The Hatf-2 missile can travel up to 180km and deliver nuclear as well as conventional warheads with high accuracy, the statement from Inter-Services Public Relations said.
The test is part of the process of validation of a land-based ballistic missile system, it said.
“The test provides an operational level capability to Pakistan’s strategic forces, in addition to the strategic and technical level capability which Pakistan already possesses,” Xinhua quoted the military as saying…. http://gulfnews.com/news/world/pakistan/pakistan-military-says-nuclear-capable-missile-test-fired-1.990638

March 6, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Pakistan, weapons and war | Leave a comment

Rocketing costs for cleaning up nuclear waste

Nuclear cleanup costs expected to skyrocket at Parks, TRIB LIVE News, By Mary Ann Thomas, ASPINWALL HERALD, March 4, 2012 The cleanup costs for the nuclear waste dump in Parks Township are expected to soar from $170 million to at least $250 million and maybe as much as half a billion dollars because of recently discovered complexities of the site and safety considerations. Continue reading →

March 6, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | USA, wastes | Leave a comment

$67 billion lawsuit against executives of nuclear company Tepco

Shareholders to sue Tepco execs for $US67b, SMH, March 6, 2012, Shareholders of Tokyo Electric Power Co Inc, operator of the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant in northeast Japan, are suing the utility’s executives for a record 5.5 trillion yen ($US67.4 billion) in compensation, lawyers said….

. In the biggest claim of its kind in Japan, 42 shareholders filed a lawsuit in the Tokyo District Court on Monday accusing 27 current and former Tepco directors of ignoring multiple warnings of a possible tsunami and of failing to prepare for a severe accident, lawyers for the shareholders said in a statement.
They want the executives to pay damages to Tepco, which would then use the money to compensate those affected by the disaster.

There is deep public anger over Tepco’s handling of the crisis and the perceived arrogance of top management, including underplaying the seriousness of the disaster in its early stages and delays in compensating those forced to leave their homes. Government officials
have walked a tightrope between that taxpayer anger and keeping afloat a firm that provides electricity to 45 million people in Japan.
Japan’s trade minister last month approved nearly $US9 billion in additional support for Tepco to help compensate victims of the crisis, but said the government would not go ahead with a plan to inject more money into the utility unless it had more say in its management.

“By seeking to hold individuals responsible, we want to correct the collective and systemic irresponsibility in the nuclear industry,” Hiroyuki Kawai, one of the lawyers, told a news conference.
Kawai said the record compensation was based on calculations by a government-appointed experts’ panel of what Tepco might have to pay to victims and businesses. The company has forecast an annual net loss of 695 billion yen……. http://www.smh.com.au/business/world-business/shareholders-to-sue-tepco-execs-for-us67b-20120306-1ueup.html#ixzz1oN2tudjN

March 6, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, Legal | Leave a comment

Solar industry’s bright prospects in Japan

New Tariff, Nuclear Halt May Fuel Japan Solar Demand By MARI IWATA, March 5, 2012, TOKYO—Japan may become a bright spot for the solar industry due to regulatory changes and its nuclear power crisis, which equipment makers from home and abroad hope will help offset a profit outlook clouded by oversupply, falling prices and shrinking demand elsewhere.

A new feed-in tariff designed to boost industrial use of renewable energy will come into force this summer, with the government likely to recommend Tuesday rates that utilities should pay for renewable energy-sourced electricity and periods during which they should buy it.

Around the same time, the last of the country’s fleet of 54 reactors will be shut pending government decisions on Japan’s nuclear future.

The new feed-in tariff and the vacuum left by idled nuclear capacity are contributing factors to a European Photovoltaic Industry Association forecast of a 50% rise in Japanese solar panel demand in 2012, to 1.5 gigawatts.

Several foreign solar panel and component makers have already set up shop in Japan, putting them head-to-head with big local producers such as Sharp Corp. and Kyocera Corp., who have benefited from local consumers’ faith in locally made products.Kyocera said Monday that it and partner Softbank have been selected by Kyoto City to build and operate two 2.1-megawatt utility-scale solar power plants that together will be able to supply enough power for 1,000 households. They will be the largest such installations in the prefecture, and are due to be operational by July, when the new feed-in tariff takes effect.

SB Energy, a renewable energy unit of Softbank Corp., said separately Monday that it will build two solar farms, one in Gumma and the other in Kyoto…. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204276304577262781511394776.html

March 6, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, renewable | Leave a comment

Older breast cancer patients should not be getting so much radiation treatment

Radiation still used despite evidence of little benefit to some older breast cancer patients, Health Canal, 6 March, 12 http://www.healthcanal.com/cancers/27253-Radiation-still-used-despite-evidence-little-benefit-some-older-breast-cancer-patients.html By Karen N. Peart – Even though a large clinical study demonstrated that radiation has limited benefit in treating breast cancer in some older women, there was little change in the use of radiation among older women in the Medicare program, Yale School of Medicine researchers report in the March Journal of Clinical Oncology. “We were surprised by these results,” said lead author Dr. Cary P. Gross, associate professor of internal medicine at Yale School ofMedicine. “Clinical trials are considered the gold standard of medical research and in this case the trial was influential enough to lead to a change in treatment guidelines. We expected it to have more of an impact on clinical care at the bedside.” Continue reading →