2012 March « nuclear-news

Alas, ‘fast breeder’ reactors don’t solve the nuclear waste problem

Ultimately, however, the core problem may be that such new reactors don’t eliminate the nuclear waste that has piled up

Can Fast Reactors Speedily Solve Plutonium Problems? The U.K. is grappling with how to get rid of weapons-grade plutonium and may employ a novel reactor design to consume it , Scientific American, By David Biello | March 21, 2012 The U.K. has nearly 100 metric tons of plutonium—dubbed “the element from hell” by some—that it doesn’t know what to do with.

The island nation does not need the potent powder to construct more nuclear weapons, and spends billions of British pounds to ensure that others don’t steal it for that purpose. The unstable element, which will remain radioactive for millennia, is the residue of ill-fated efforts to recycle used nuclear fuel. Continue reading →

March 26, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | - plutonium, reprocessing, UK | Leave a comment

General agreement that Iran is nowhere near having the nuclear bomb

Intel shows Iran nuclear threat not imminent, Business Recorder, MARCH 24, 2012 The United States, European allies and even Israel generally agree on three things about Iran’s nuclear program: Tehran does not have a bomb, has not decided to build one, and is probably years away from having a deliverable nuclear warhead. Continue reading →

March 26, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Iran, politics international, weapons and war | 1 Comment

Earthquake close to planned vast uranium mine in Australia

26 March 12 BHP Billiton’s planned new mega uranium mine at Olympic Dam in South Australia will be the world’s largest man-made hole. The planned open-pit mine would be 4.1 kilometres long, 3.5 kilometres wide and 1 kilometre deep. It is hard to imagine the size of this thing, and of its impact on the environment.

Just for one consideration – Australian airway flight paths will have to be changed, because this gigantic hole will have such an effect on the weather as to change the wind patterns in the region!

But – for another consideration – this uranium orebody it is situated on an earthquake fault. The current succession of earthquakes must surely cause South Australia to reconsider the wisdom, or otherwise, of siting the monster mine there! – Christina Macpherson

SEISMIC SURGE IN FAR NORTH: 3.9 EARTHQUAKE NEAR ROXBY DOWNS, Coober Pedy Regional Times, 26 March 12, A 3.9 magnitude earthquake has struck near Olympic Dam in South Australia’s Mid – Far North overnight, in addition to a spate of 4 separate earthquakes in the Far North of the state in the past week.

The succession of medium to significant earthquakes has promted Geoscience Australia to begin setting up seismic monitoring equipment in the Far North where three of the earthquakes occured last week including a 6.1 magnitude quake….. The most recent earthquake which occured overnight is not far from the townships of Roxby Downs and Andamooka near the Stuart Highway, and situated within relatively close proximity to a number of the state’s mining and prospecting operations including the Olympic Dam uranium mine, whose massive orebody engulfs the 35km Masher’s Fault. …… http://cooberpedyregionaltimes.wordpress.com/2012/03/26/seismic-surge-in-far-north-3-9-earthquake-near-roxby-downs/

March 26, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA, safety | Leave a comment

More earthquakes as a result of climate change

The world we inhabit has an outer rind that is extraordinarily sensitive to change. While the Earth’s crust may seem safe and secure, the geological calamities that happen with alarming regularity confirm that this is not the case……….
Our planet is once again in the throes of an extraordinary climatic transformation — this time brought about by human activities……

Let the sleeping giant lie A changing climate isn’t just about floods, droughts and heatwaves. It brings erupting volcanoes and catastrophic earthquakes too By Bill McGuire -Guardian News, 25 Mar 12, The idea that a changing climate can persuade the ground to shake, volcanoes to rumble and tsunamis to crash on to unsuspecting coastlines seems, at first, to be bordering on the insane. How can what happens in the thin envelope of gas that shrouds and protects our world possibly influence the Earth-shattering processes that operate deep beneath the surface?

The fact that it does reflects a failure of our imagination and a limited understanding of the manner in which the different physical components of our planet — the atmosphere, the oceans and the solid Earth, or geosphere — intertwine and interact. Continue reading →

March 26, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, climate change | Leave a comment

A deeply corrupt nuclear industry

The corrupt Government and nuclear industry alliance, Independent Australia, 20 March 12, Nuclear power is inherently unsafe, and only continues because of an insidious alliance between Governments and a deeply corrupt nuclear industry. Joe Giambrone comments. “….. Japan’s devastation is our wake-up call. This was a General Electric manufactured reactor, of which there are more than 20 similar units operating in the US, right now.

Local communities in America reject these ticking time bombs, reactors designed for several decades’ use, which are then re-licensed to operate for several more decades beyond their specifications. The motivation for this re-licensing is clearly monetary and not safety related. The plants are literally crumbling and critical cooling pipes are worn so thin as to be the width of a sheet of paper. Numerous plant failures are expected by many observers in the coming few years.

But as local entities and state governments vote to stop these hazards and shut them down, the federal government claims authority over “safety” (sic) and simply ignores the demands of the people living at the grounds zero. Continue reading →

March 26, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties | Leave a comment

Indigenous peoples’ new network to oppose nuclear waste dumping on Aboriginal land

It mentioned the Tao, who live on the outlying island of Lanyu (蘭嶼, also known as Orchid Island), as well as Aboriginal tribes in the US and Australia, as examples of indigenous people becoming victims of nuclear waste disposal on their traditional lands.

Groups to propose Aborigine network, Taipei Times, 23 March 12 SENEGAL CONGRESS:The network would give voice to the global Aboriginal community and focus on issues like nuclear waste disposal, environmental groups said. Environmental and Aboriginal groups yesterday said they would propose the establishment of an Aboriginal network at an upcoming congress in Senegal, with the aim of uniting global support for Aboriginal people on environmental issues. Continue reading →

March 26, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, indigenous issues | Leave a comment

Gordon Brown claims Dalgety Beach radiation more dangerous than estimated before

Brown claims evidence of ‘disturbing’ radiation risk at Dalgety Bay The former prime minister is handing over a dossier to the MoD highlighting the heightened danger of radiation. News STV, 25 March 2012 Former prime minister Gordon Brown says he has
seen new evidence of “disturbing” levels of radiation at a Fife beach where wartime military aircraft were incinerated. Continue reading →

March 26, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | environment, UK | Leave a comment

UK farmers welcome govt support for renewable energy projects on farms

Farm renewable energy boost, Farming News, (UK) , March 25, 2012 FARMERS’ leaders have welcomed Government plans to exempt small-scale renewable energy schemes on farms from planning regulations. Continue reading →

March 26, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | decentralised, UK | Leave a comment

Israeli citizens reach out for friendship with Iranians

Amid war fears, Israelis reach out to Iran, Gulf News, 26 March 12, Citizens use social media, build website and set up an art exhibit to show opposition to Tel Aviv’s threats “….. a small but growing number of Israelis trying to reach out to Iranians, even as Israeli
politicians warn with growing frequency and intensity that Israel might strike to halt Tehran’s suspected nuclear weapons program. Continue reading →

March 26, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

USA – nuclear powered drones? Well, not just yet.

No Go On A Nuclear-Powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle? http://blogs.ottawacitizen.com/2012/03/25/no-go-on-a-nuclear-powered-unmanned-aerial-vehicle/ Ottawa Citizen, David Pugliese, March 25, 2012. There have been a number of articles lately about the U.S. developing a new unmanned aerial vehicle in secret. Dave Majumdar, at Air Force Times, recently had an article about how the U.S. Air Force’s decision to postpone development of a next generation unmanned combat aircraft suggests that service might be developing something else in the “black world.” Continue reading →

March 26, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Reference, USA, weapons and war | Leave a comment

Nuclear power and HEALTH – theme for April 2012

What are the health effects of ionising radiation?

Very high doses of radiation: death within hours or days, due to damage to brain and nerves

High doses: death within weeks, due to damage to the gastrointestinal tract, to the bone marrow, where blood cells are formed.

Lower doses: less severe:radiation sickness (nausea, fatigue and vomiting). Sterility. Some years later – cancer, (especially of thyroid), diseases of digestive organs, bone, & muscle.

Genetic effects: cell damage passed on to later generations

US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Fact Sheet on Biological Effects of Radiation – Cancers associated with high dose exposure (greater than 50,000 mrem) include leukemia, breast, bladder, colon, liver, lung, esophagus, ovarian, multiple myeloma, and stomach cancers. Department of Health and Human Services literature also suggests a possible association between ionizing radiation exposure and prostate, nasal cavity/sinuses, pharyngeal and laryngeal, and pancreatic cancer.

March 25, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's themes | Leave a comment

Japan’s secretive nuclear culture will prevent investigation of Fukushima radiation cover-up

“It sounds, it looks…like a major cover up,”

However, Escobar says, it is unlikely Japanese authorities will ever investigate the case – “everyone will bow and nothing will be solved.” And the reason is in what Escobar calls the “cultural element”. “Japan is really ritualistic and secretive society.”

VIDEO Mystery of lost Fukushima radiation emails ‘a major cover-up’ http://www.rt.com/news/japan-fukushima-email-deleted-285/ 23 March, 2012 The Fukushima Prefecture government apparently deleted emails with reports on data vital to safely evacuate people from that area, according to fresh appeared revelations. But as Pepe Escobar told RT, it is unlikely Japan will investigate. Continue reading →

March 24, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, secrets,lies and civil liberties | Leave a comment

Disappearance of Fukushima radiation data in March 2011

Fukushima Pref. deleted 5 days of radiation dispersion data just after meltdowns Mainichi Daily News, 23 March 12 The Fukushima Prefectural Government revealed on March 21 that it deleted five days of early radiation dispersion data almost entirely unread in the wake of the meltdowns at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.

The data from the System for Prediction of Environmental Emergency Dose Information (SPEEDI) — intended to predict the spread of radioactive contamination, information vital for issuing evacuation advisories — was emailed to the prefectural government by the
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

According to the prefecture’s disaster countermeasure office, just after the March 2011 quake and tsunami, its dedicated SPEEDI terminal was unable to receive data due to effects of the disasters. Therefore, prefectural officials asked the Nuclear Safety Technology Center, which operates SPEEDI, to send data via email on March 12, 2011 — one
day into the nuclear crisis. The Nuclear Safety Technology Center thensent the data hourly starting at 11:54 p.m. that day.

The Fukushima Prefectural Government, however, deleted all the data it received from March 12 to about 9 a.m. March 16….. http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20120322p2a00m0na012000c.html

March 24, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, secrets,lies and civil liberties | Leave a comment

Hundreds arrested in protest against Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant

Kudankulam nuclear plant protests: Vaiko among 500 held Times of India, Mar 23, 2012, TIRUNELVELI, TN: Leaders of various parties and outfits, including MDMK leader Vaiko, were on Friday arrested here when they attempted to proceed to Idinthakarai, the epicentre of protests against Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, to express their solidarity with the locals demanding the scrapping of the Indo-Russian project.

Leaders and volunteers of MDMK, PMK, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Nam Tamizhar Iyakkam and Popular Front of India and Anti-Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant People’s Movement co-ordinator ‘Kolathur’ Mani were arrested at Palayamkottai here, police said.

They were arrested in view of the ban orders in force in the entire Radhapuram taluk under which Kudunakulam and Idinthakarai falls. Earlier, they participated in a rally organised here to condemn the central and state governments for their ‘atrocious’ attitude in going ahead with the project and the crackdown on People’s Movement Against Nuclear Engery (PMANE), spearheading the protest…… http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Kudankulam-nuclear-plant-protests-Vaiko-among-500-held/articleshow/12380791.cms

March 24, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | civil liberties, India, opposition to nuclear | Leave a comment

« Previous Entries Next Entries »