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Wrap up of the week’s nuclear news

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India is the critical place. Is the world aware of India’s crushing repression of Koodankulam anti nuclear protests? Protest leaders are now committed to fast until death, as thousands of police confront the peaceful gathering of rural people, church leaders, academics in the anti nuclear gathering .  Meanwhile, India develops a family of nuclear capable missiles, leasing a Russian  nuclear submarine to add to its 2 existing nuclear subs.

Nuclear industry slowdown: Czech Republic and Bulgaria now probably abandoning their too expensive nuclear projects.   South Koreans are becoming unsure of nuclear safety, despite government reassurances.  Switzerland court orders shutdown of  Mühleberg nuclear power station.

UK – 102 top business leaders urge Prime Minister to back renewable energy. Globally renewable energy taking off in a big way – China is the leader.  Also in UK, a move to investigate the 1984 mysterious murder of an anti nuclear campaigner who was about to give evidence on the Sizewell nuclear site.

Taiwan  The Tao Aborigines of Lanyu are caught up in a poisonous bargain, as livelihoods and basic services depend now on their hosting a nuclear waste dump. This is what could happen to Australia’s Aborigines. China: concerns over the secrecy and safety of China’s nuclear power, as govt admits to 14 ‘problem areas’

March 21, 2012 Posted by | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

200 arrested as India tries to crush anti nuclear movement

Thousands of Anti-Nuclear Protesters Face Police in India, 200 Arrested Green signal for nuclear power ‘is a red signal for our lives’ Common Dreams , 21 March 12, 

After thousands gathered in Idinthikarai, Tamil Nadu, India on Monday to protest the vastly contested Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant there, police forces came out en masse to repress demonstrations. Over 200 protesters have been arrested including key anti-nuclear organizers.

Thousands of Koodankulam protesters have gathered in front of St Lourdes church (Photo: TEHELKA)Police initiated “operation Koodankulam” arresting protesters and blocking all entry points to the coastal villages surrounding the nuclear power plant….

Since the arrests, thousands have gathered on the grounds of St Lourdes Church in the area as several have begun a hunger strike. “We will continue our protest till we die,” said one protestor. http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/03/20-4

March 21, 2012 Posted by | India, opposition to nuclear | Leave a comment

Is the world aware of India’s repression of its peaceful anti nuclear protestors?

“There is no need for such massive deployment of police here. This is nothing short of state terrorism against a peaceful group of women, children and men fighting for the last seven months in a non-violent manner”

Tension simmers in Koodankulam http://www.asianage.com/chennai/tension-simmers-koodankulam-750 The Asian Age, Mar 21, 2012 – Pradeep Damodaran & Arul Oli | DC | Idinthakarai  Even as engineers and other workers drove in to resume work following the government’s green signal for the Koodankulam nuclear power project, the situation at Idinthakarai, which is less than 10 minutes drive from the nuke plant, is getting more tense by the minute as the ‘fast-to-death’ by the protesters’ leader S.P. Udayakumar and 14 others entered the second day on Tuesday. Continue reading →

March 21, 2012 Posted by | civil liberties, India | 1 Comment

As Tamil Nadu govt turns against them, Koodankulam anti nuclear protestors plan fast till death

  PMANE leaders start fast Tamil Nadu IBN Live Mar 20, 2012 M Abdul Rabi  TIRUNELVELI: Seeking release of the nine arrested anti-Koodankulam plant protesters and revocation of the Cabinet resolution favouring the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP), PMANE (People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy) leaders S P Udayakumar and M Pushparayan began a fast-unto-death at Idinthakarai on Monday.

Speaking to Express, Udayakumar said: “It is very unfortunate that the
state government has changed its decision….. http://ibnlive.in.com/news/kpalnt-pmane-leaders-start-fast/240828-60-118.html

March 21, 2012 Posted by | India, opposition to nuclear | Leave a comment

Global competition for modern clean energy is under way

The Great Renewable Energy Race  (excellent interactive graphics)  http://go.bloomberg.com/multimedia/the-great-renewable-energy-race/ BLOOMBERG MARCH 18, 2012   Global investment in renewable energy climbed to a record $260 billion last year, and the race for clean power is just getting started.

We reported last week how new solar and wind technologies are approaching price parity with traditionally cheaper coal- and gas-burning power plants. Today, the world’s regions go head-to-head….

Where the Wind Blows

The wind energy market started in the U.S. in the 1980s, in a drive for greater energy independence. Investment shifted to Europe  in the 1990s, drawn by grants, incentives and so-called feed-in tariffs,  which encourage cost reductions by locking in long-term prices  at favorable rates.

Turbine installations moved to Asia in 2009. By 2011, China, the world’s biggest wind investor, was installing 20 gigawatts of wind power a year, three times as much as the U.S., the second biggest investor. Asia will remain the most active region for wind investment until 2019, according to BNEF estimates.

Where the Sun Shines

Japan dominated solar installations in the 1990s, when the market remained small. In 2004, European feed-in tariffs abruptly shifted the solar focus to Europe, where it remains today.

The decline in crystalline solar silicon prices has been dramatic. As the cost of producing solar approaches parity with retail electricity purchased from the grid, installations are expected to shift from utility-scale solar fields to smaller-scale rooftop projects. The biggest share will move to Asia next year, according to BNEF: China’s total solar capacity is expected to climb to 272 gigawatts in 2030 from less than 1 gigawatt today. http://go.bloomberg.com/multimedia/the-great-renewable-energy-race/

March 21, 2012 Posted by | renewable, Resources -audiovicual | Leave a comment

Israel to replace nuclear reactor with linear accelerator for nuclear medicine

Israel to phase out civilian atomic reactor by 2018     Particle accelerator to replace aging, fuel-short reactor By Dan Williams SOREQ, Israel, March 20 (Reuters) – Israel is phasing out a civilian nuclear reactor to which it has admitted foreign inspectors while keeping a second reactor, widely believed to have produced atom bombs, off-limits, officials said on Tuesday.

The small facility at Soreq, which began operations in 1960 with a one-time stock of uranium fuel from the United States, will be replaced by 2017 or 2018 by a particle accelerator fulfilling many of the same research and medical functions…..
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/20/israel-nuclear-idUSL6E8EK3AS20120320

March 21, 2012 Posted by | health, Israel | Leave a comment

An attack on Iran would cause them to develop nuclear weapons

Iran will produce nuclear weapons if attacked: Russia Google News By Dmitry Zaks (AFP) –21 March 12, MOSCOW — Russia warned Tuesday that Iran would have no option but to develop nuclear weapons if it came under attack from either the United States or Israel over its contested atomic programme.

“The CIA and other US officials admit they now have no information about the Iranian leadership taking the political decision to produce nuclear weapons,” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Moscow’s Kommersant FM radio.
“But I am almost certain that such a decision will surely be taken
after (any) strikes on Iran,” Lavrov said…..
Lavrov argued that Russia was not defending an ally but trying to avert a broader conflict or possible nuclear arms race from breaking out in the region.

He added that Israel’s threats against Iran were only pushing other nations on poor terms with the West to consider pursuing their own nuclear weapon drives. “This happening… around Iran are forcing a lot of Third World countries to pause and realise that if you have a nuclear bomb, no one will really bother you. “You might get some light sanctions, but people will always coddle you, they will court you and try to convince you of things,” Lavrov
said…. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article ALeqM5i25pBIKzb20mmapAw75iuwAa8ucA?docId=CNG.886eb52df8eb9735aee24d498123d774.c1

March 21, 2012 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

Non nuclear energy strategy would save Ontario $billions

Nuclear power too costly, Ontario Clean Air Alliance argues  The Star, John Spears Business Reporter, 20 March 12, Abandoning nuclear power in favour of imported electricity from Quebec and new, high-efficiency natural gas plants, would save Ontario billions, says the Ontario Clean Air Alliance. Continue reading →

March 21, 2012 Posted by | business and costs, Canada | Leave a comment

USA, Iran and the doctrine of pre-emptive strike

The Bush-Obama Pre-Emption Doctrine By MICHAEL CROWLEY |  TIME | March 20, 2012 Writing at CNN.com, former CIA Director Michael Hayden, an adviser to Mitt Romney, makes a provocative point. If Barack Obama’s threat of military action to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon is serious, doesn’t that amount to a policy of… pre-emption? Continue reading →

March 21, 2012 Posted by | USA, weapons and war | Leave a comment

“Radiation Stories part 3 – Koothamkulam” film on anti nuclear protest

Nuclear nuances THE HINDU, MARIANNE DE NAZARETH, 20 March 12,  It’s an old story, almost 20 years old, says filmmaker Amudhan.R.P, about the people’s movement against the Koodankulam nuclear plant.

People have become more aware of the problems of nuclear energy post Fukushima and this has helped the movement gain momentum, in and around Koodankulam and
Idinthakarai villages. In his film “ Radiation Stories part 3 – Koothamkulam” Amudhan has tried to capture the anti-nuclear movement.

Amudhan’s 80-minute film, in Tamil with English subtitles, was screened recently in Bangalore by Pedestrian Pictures. …… “Twenty years ago the police arrested us,” says one woman. “We were against it even then.” “We will give up our lives but we don’t want the reactor. Ninety percent of us don’t want it here as the radiation will affect
us all and kill our future generations.”….

.  “The entire middle class is trained to think that nuclear energy is the only way out for us in a power crisis. I want to counter that campaign and sensitise people on the true issue,” said Amudhan. http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article3016255.ece

March 21, 2012 Posted by | Resources -audiovicual | Leave a comment

Iowa democratic Senators on tour to oppose nuclear power

Democratic senators launch anti-nuclear tour Iowa Politics,  Mar 20, 2012 | by Jason Clayworth | A group of 10 Iowa Senate Democrats today launched an anti-nuclear tour.
“It’s an argument about why this is really bad policy for the state,” Continue reading →

March 21, 2012 Posted by | politics, USA | Leave a comment

Civil liberties gone, as Tamil Nadu government moves to crush anti nuclear protest

Civil society members warn of “nuclear Nandigram” THE HINDU, CHENNAI, March 21, 2012 Civil society members, including former judges, writers, scientists, academicians, filmmakers and lawyers, have condemned the Tamil Nadu government’s decision “to give the green signal to commissioning of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) and the massive deployment of police force to crush the peaceful agitation.” Continue reading →

March 21, 2012 Posted by | civil liberties, India | Leave a comment

Protestors, police gear up for Vermont Yankee’s probable new licensing

 Big protest planned at Entergy nuclear plant Bloomberg BRATTLEBORO, VT. 21 March 12 A new license term for Entergy Corp.’s Vermont Yankee nuclear plant is expected to be greeted this week with big protests.

Anti-nuclear activists say hundreds are expected for an event at midday Thursday in which protesters will march from the town common in Brattleboro to the local corporate offices of Entergy. Organizers say they’re planning for some of the participants to be arrested. Brattleboro Police Chief Eugene Wrinn says his force is coordinating with the Vermont State Police and Windham County sheriff’s office in preparing for the event…. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-03/D9TJL2M80.htm

Citizens groups to hold retirement party for Entergy’s Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant Vt Digger, On Wed, March 21, 2012 several organizations that have been working to replace Vermont Yankee upon its scheduled retirement will hold a retirement reception in Room 10 at the Vermont Statehouse at 5 pm.
Activists and legislative dignitaries will meet to recognize the end of Vermont Yankee’s service to the Vermont electrical grid. After 40 years, the state’s original Certificate of Public Good will expire. Decisions regarding the continued operation of the plant have yet to
be determined….. .  http://vtdigger.org/2012/03/20/citizens-groups-to-hold-retirement-party-for-entergys-vermont-yankee-nuclear-power-plant/

March 21, 2012 Posted by | general | Leave a comment