Nuclear test moratorium no longer respected by North Korea
North Korea says no longer bound by nuclear test moratorium (Reuters) 17 April 12, North Korea on Tuesday dismissed a rebuke by the U.N. Security Council of its failed long-range rocket launch and said it was no longer bound by an agreement with the United States for a moratorium on missile and nuclear tests and arms inspection.
The Security Council on Monday condemned the North for Friday’s rocket launch and warned of further action if Pyongyang carried out a nuclear test, reflecting concern that it may follow a pattern it set in 2009 with its second nuclear test…… The fate of a planned visit by international inspectors to the North’s nuclear site under the February agreement is also in doubt since Pyongyang raised tensions by going ahead with the rocket launch against international warning…… http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/17/us-korea-north-us-idUSBRE83G12H20120417
30 years later, today’s road workers affected by radioactive spill
Workers sick amid highway radiation scare http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-18/radioactive-discovery-halts-pacific-hwy-upgrade/3957168 April 18, 2012 Road workers were sent for medical treatment after vomiting when suspected nuclear material was unearthed during work on an upgrade to the Pacific Highway on the mid-north coast of New South Wales The materials, which include caesium, were buried north of Port Macquarie after a truck carrying radioactive isotopes from Sydney’s Lucas Heights nuclear reactor crashed in the area in 1980.
The isotopes were being taken to Brisbane, before being shipped to the United States. The upgrade’s project manager, Bob Higgins, says road workers fell ill after unearthing a strange clay-like material.
“As we’ve taken down the cutting there we exposed the face of the existing material (and) came across a clay material that when it’s exposed to air it gets an orange streak through it,” he said. ”There were a number of workers that felt a little bit of nausea and there was a bit of vomiting when they were in close proximity. ”[They went] off to the doctor, but obviously we need to be extremely careful here.”
The Environmental Impact Statement for the highway upgrade had noted some uncertainty about where exactly the containers were buried. Specialists are in the area assessing what to do with the radioactive materials, and if they pose any risk.
Let the Facts Speak: 1980, December 4 PORT MACQUARIE, AUSTRALIA Continue reading
The nuclear renaissance that was not
the big energy lie is being unmasked by the large-scale introduction of renewable energy sources around the globe. The technologies required to harvest the abundant natural energy potentials from renewable resources are proving to be more than enough to supply even our growing energy needs of today, despite being at the beginning of their technological development.
Where is the Positive Image of Nuclear Energy Coming From? Clean Technica, 16 April 12, “….The Nuclear Renaissance that Was Not Most nuclear reactors that are in operation were built in the 1970s or 1980s. That means that the bulk of these highly subsidized power plants are nearing the end of their life and need to be decommissioned. If the nuclear lobby doesn’t manage to turn this situation into a necessity to build new reactors, the nuclear age in the field of electricity production will come to an inevitable end. Continue reading
Rare Earths company has no proper radioactive waste management plan
Unlike the Lynas plant, the other three refineries’ radioactive wastes are sent back to the respective mines.
“Lynas has no concrete radioactive waste management plan. Lynas claims it can store its waste onsite forever.
The Lynas plant, she added, would have 500 tonnes of liquid discharge per hour channelled into the Balok River.
Lynas whitewashing refinery safety concerns, says Fuziah, The Malaysian Insider, By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal April 16, 2012 KUALA LUMPUR, — PKR’s Fuziah Salleh has accused Lynas Corp of whitewashing safety concerns of its planned refinery in Kuantan by claiming there is a “concerted political campaign” against the plant’s construction,
In response, Fuziah accused the Lynas Corp head of “deviating” from the real issue of safety, saying that a simple comparative study showed the Lynas refinery did not support any form of “sustainable development.”
“They are not addressing concerns of safety, whitewashing safety concerns, silent about safety issues. “They have only addressed radiation aspects, external radiation… they are narrow-minded in terms of perspective of radiation,” the PKR vice-president told The Malaysian Insider. Continue reading
Smart grids – we’d be dumb not to use them
Clever energy: why smart grids matter. The Green Piece. 17 April 2012. Smart grids-they’ve been in the news a lot lately and their importance is ever growing. The UK, like countries around the world, is seeking to increase the share that renewable sources play in its energy mix, while also striving for cleaner forms of transport such as electric
vehicles.
As a result, smart grids are set to play an important role in how we manage these changes to our energy generation and use. With increasing reliance on intermittent sources of power such as wind and solar, and increased demand on electricity supplies through the use of battery-powered cars, it is going to become ever more important to properly manage our energy use.
According to a new report from IDC Energy smart grid spending will increase 17.4 per cent globally between 2010-2015; with overall spending set to reach close to $46.4billion in 2015. What is a smart grid? Continue reading
Paladin Uranium shares go further down
Paladin misses targets, shares drop, Peter Ker April 16, 2012 Shares in Paladin Energy are sliding lower this morning, after the uranium miner revealed it had missed production targets yet again and had been forced to reduce its annual production targets.
Uranium production at Paladin’s flagship Langer Heinrich mine was 10 per cent below the company’s target during the first three months of2012, while its secondary mine also missed its production targets.
The missed targets, combined with concerns over Paladin’s debt, was pushing shares were down by 3 cents to 1.77 shortly after 11am…. Many analysts are concerned about Paladin’s debt levels, and the company is looking to sell minority stakes in its non-producing assets as a way to boost cashflow.
Concerns over the debt situation prompted Patersons Securities to downgrade Paladin to a sell earlier this month. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/paladin-misses-targets-shares-drop-20120416-1x2od.html#ixzz1sQlkNcbp
Uranium mining damages health of workers and environment
the World Health Organisation (WHO) acknowledges that Radon, which is a heavy gaseous radioactive chemical, is the second cause of lung cancer after smoking.
Uranium, even when purified, Chareyron said is radioactive and miners cannot really be protected from it.
Concerns over uranium mining New Era, 12 Apr 2012 – by Irene Hoaës WINDHOEK – Renewed concern has been expressed regarding uranium mining activities along the coastal areas and its impact on the environment following tests undertaken by the Commission for Independent Research and Information about Radiation (CRIIRAD) and EARTHLIFE Namibia.
These mining activities have a direct bearing on people’s health as they reportedly cause cancer, especially to people that get exposed to them.
According to CRIIRAD, people that spend 30 minutes to 35 hours at a distance below 25 meters from the waste rock dump, would receive an external radiation dose above the trivial dose of 10 microsieverts per year.
One of the main concerns is uranium concentrates found in underground water sources and on sediments in areas where Rössing and the Langer Heinrich mines are found, especially along the Khan and Gawib rivers.
According to Bruno Chareyron, a Nuclear Physics Engineer and Director of the CRIIRAD Laboratory, the radioactive tailings (waste) of the mines are not covered and dust particles from the tailings are accumulating on bushes and slopes.
“When it rains, this dust is even washed off the waste rock dumps that are situated next to the river banks and therefore deposited into the river system,” the nuclear engineer said. Continue reading
Rapid increase in brachytherapy for breast cancer, but is this wise?
“The most plausible explanation for our data is that women treated with brachytherapy were at increased risk of having a recurrence of cancer in their breast”
A large federally funded study is trying to clarify the risks and benefits of brachytherapy for breast cancer. But the results won’t be out for years.
includes audio. Wider Use Of Breast Cancer Radiation Technique Raises Concern http://www.npr.org/blogs health/2012/04/09/150088892/wider-use-of-breast-cancer-radiation-technique-raises-concern?ps=sh_stcathdl “…..there’s an intense debate under way about whether the approach is being used too widely before there’s clear evidence it’s as effective as the traditional approach. Continue reading
Japanese government’s unseemly haste to prop up the nuclear industry
“recklessly rushing to bring the reactors back online now, saying they meet its lax safety requirements”.. “The nuclear industry and the government…. are trying to pretend they can call Oi safe without improving safety or emergency measures,”
Criticism hits Japan’s plan to restart nuclear reactors NDTV, Agence France-Presse | April 15, 2012 Tokyo: Japan’s plan to restart two offline nuclear reactors came under fire today from media and environmental groups amid doubts over the safety of atomic power after the Fukushima accident. Continue reading
Japan could manage without nuclear power: and it might do so “momentarily”
It was not certain if and when the government could gain approval from regional authorities around the Oi plant for the reactors to be restarted amid persistent public distrust….
Independent studies show that there will be no power shortages,” said Wakao Hanaoka, the Japan campaign manager for the environment watchdog Greenpeace….
Japan may be ‘momentarily’ without nuclear power Google News (AFP) 15 April 12, TOKYO — Japan may go “momentarily” without nuclear power next month when the only one reactor still in operation shuts down for maintenance work, the country’s industry minister warned Sunday. Continue reading
Radiation safety fears in Sri Lanka, due to proximity to India’s nuclear projects
The recent developments in the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli district is making Sri Lanka nervous as the power plant is only 250 kilo meters from Sri Lanka’s northwestern coastal town of Mannar.
Sri Lanka sets up radiation warning system, Apr 14, 2012, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka. Apr 14, Colombo: Sri Lanka has taken measures to establish a warning system to alert to the danger of radiation in an event of a leak from the nuclear plants in neighboring India. Continue reading
Trinidad’s scandal of over-radiated cancer patients
The radiation incident at BLCTC has been shrouded in secrecy from the outset
Over-radiated cancer patients at Lara Centre… Trinidad Express, By Camini Marajh Head Investigative Desk Story Apr 14, 2012 Ninety-one or 40.8 per cent of the 223 cancer patients over-radiated by the Brian Lara Cancer Treatment Centre (BLCTC) are dead.
Continuing Sunday Express investigations into the radiation over-exposure incident at the private facility which is owned by powerful business interests reveal that the board and management of BLCTC failed internationally accepted guidelines on several critical
fronts, specifically: Continue reading
Vermont rallies to keep its right to veto nuclear power plants
“We are demanding justice for an agreement made 40 years ago,” said Sanders, who drew the loudest cheers. He said the state had the right to determine a “safe energy future for our kids and grandkids.”
Organizers estimated the crowd at between 1,500 and 2,000 people.
Shumlin, Sanders rally anti-nuclear protesters By Susan Smallheer, Rutland Herald, April 15, 2012, BRATTLEBORO — More than 1,200 anti-nuclear protesters flocked to the Brattleboro Common on Saturday and listened to three of the state’s top politicians — Gov. Peter Shumlin, U.S. Sen. Bernard Sanders and Attorney General William Sorrell — take turns criticizing Entergy Nuclear and its Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. Continue reading
Growing alarm over the unsafety of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth.
Petitions raise alarm on N-plant, Critics want new safety rules met at Pilgrim station By Jennette Barnes Boston Globe April 15, 2012 Concern about nuclear safety is gaining visibility south of Boston as voters in several communities determine the fate of a petition that aims to shut down, at least temporarily, the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth.
Although the nonbinding questions focus on making the plant safe, rather than closing it permanently, they would, in effect, endorse closing it down for more than four years.
A Town Meeting article passed in Duxbury, Kingston, and Scituate. Marshfield Town Meeting is expected to vote April 23, and Plymouth takes up the issue by ballot May 12. A number of Cape Cod communities are planning votes, as well…..
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2012/04/15/nuclear_activism_gains_momentum_as_south_towns_vote_on_future_of_pilgrim_power_plant/
Thousands of gallons of radioactive water into the river
NRC reveals radioactive water spill at Limerick nuke plant, The Mercury, By Evan Brandt 04/12/12 LIMERICK — “Several thousand gallons” of water containing as much as five-times the government’s “safe” level of radioactive tritium was accidentally released at Exelon Nuclear’s Limerick Generating Station last month and then flushed into the Schuylkill River, The Mercury learned Thursday….. http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20120412/NEWS01/120419797/nrc-reveals-radioactive-water-spill-at-limerick-nuke-plant&pager=full_story
1 This Month
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Cuba Is Not a Failed State – It Is a Besieged State
PETITION: “Global Appeal to Endorse Palestinian Right of Return of Refugees”
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