What is wrong with thorium nuclear reactors? Well, a lot, really
Thorium: Why We Don’t Want It http://nowarnow.wordpress.com/2012/08/03/thorium-why-we-dont-want-it/ By No War Now / 3 August, 2012
“….. Thorium is just another nuclear industry way of persevering their jobs in an energy production method that does not make sense for our planet. Thorium requires mining rare earth elements. Thorium requires the changing of laws to process monazite, currently categorized as “‘prescribed substance’ and the sole domain of the government” per the Atomic Energy Act (Canada and China work in thorium, http://nextbigfuture.com/2012/08/canada-and-china-work-on-thorium-candu.html).
Thorium continues the predatory practice of extracting public money to support its development and operations. Of course, you won’t learn this from the schills and trolls who want to convince you that thorium is the answer to our energy needs and ought be part of our “clean energy” package. Mining is not, and has never been, a clean energy production practice. Especially when it involves uranium. Continue reading
Don’t be sucked in by ‘spin’ promoting thorium nuclear reactors
thorium is merely a way of deflecting attention and criticism from the dangers of the uranium fuel cycle and excusing the pumping of more money into the industry….. the nuclear industry itself is also sceptical
‘ these arereally U-233 reactors,’ This isotope is more hazardous than the U-235 used in conventional reactors, he adds, because it produces U-232 as a side effect (half life: 160,000 years), on top of familiar fission by-products
Don’t believe the spin on thorium being a ‘greener’ nuclear option Ecologist, Eifion Rees 23rd June, 2011 It produces less radioactive waste and more power than uranium but the UK would be making a mistake in looking to it as a ’greener’ fuel. The Ecologist reports….. nuclear radiologist Peter Karamoskos, of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), says the world shouldn’t hold its breath.
‘Without exception, [thorium reactors] have never been commercially viable, nor do any of the intended new designs even remotely seem to be viable. Like all nuclear power production they rely on extensive taxpayer subsidies; the only difference is that with thorium and other breeder reactors these are of an order of magnitude greater, which is why no government has ever continued their funding.’ Continue reading
Unlikely that Israel would attack Iran
Four reasons why Israel probably won’t attack Iran Telegraph, By David Blair World August 23rd, 2012 “…..1. War with Iran would be bad for Israel. The Iranian people would probably respond to outside attack by rallying behind their leaders and strengthening a deeply unpopular regime. Iran would hit back through Hizbollah in Lebanon and by trying to close the Strait of Hormuz, with serious civilian casualties in Israel and incalculable consequences for the global economy. In Syria, Bashar al-Assad would have the opportunity to pose alongside Iran as a dual victim of a Zionist plot against the Muslim world. It might be just the boost that Assad needs. And the best the Israeli air force could achieve would be to delay – not derail – Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Continue reading
Syrian envoy responds forcefully to suggestion of Israel attacking Syria
Syrian envoy: We’ll destroy Israeli nuclear facilities with 20 missiles Jordanian media report that Syria’s ambassador in Amman, Bahjat Suleiman said that his country is capable of destroying Israel’s nuclear facilities should Damascus come under attack YNet, Roi Kais 08.23.12, Continue reading
Michigan’s initiative for renewable energy jobs and economy
Counterpoint: More renewable energy will create jobs, rein in energy costs M Live Micigan, By Todd Fettig , August 23, 2012, Opponents of increasing Michigan’s renewable energy standard should rethink their obstruction to more Michigan-made energy, more jobs, more clean air and water, and more opportunities for Michigan manufacturers and businesses to compete in the clean energy economy.
They should also rethink using paid and unpaid mouthpieces like former state Sen. Ken Sikkema and Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Rick Baker to spread misinformation and distortions about what the bipartisan Michigan Energy, Michigan Jobs proposal will actually do.
Mark Fisk Just as flat-screen TVs that cost $6,000 in 2002 cost less than $450
today, renewable energy is also getting cheaper with innovation and new technology. Michiganders should know one fact up front: The Michigan Public Service Commission clearly states that renewable energy now costs $58 per megawatt/hour LESS than the cost of building a new coal plant. Continue reading
New fast Lithium Ion Battery for electric cars
New Korean Lithium Ion Battery for EVs Charges in Under 1 Minute http://www.greenoptimistic.com/2012/08/21/korean-lithium-ion-carbonized-battery/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheGreenOptimistic+%28The+Green+Optimistic%29#.UDbvH8FlT4Y By Ovidiu Sandru August 21, 2012 A new lithium ion battery developed in Korea could make those long waiting times for an electric car to charge become history. A team of researchers at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) claim they can build a battery that can charge in less than a minute, 30 to 120 times faster than a classic Li-Ion battery. Continue reading
In Africa – uranium mining down: solar energy up
Areva suspends Trekkopje uranium mine project, Paul Langley’s Nuclear history Blog, 24 Aug 12 Areva has decided to suspend the Trekkopje uranium mine project. …. Rumours already started in October Areva planned to abandon the Trekkopje uranium mine project as part of a massive restructuring program that is to be set up in reaction to a drop in demand caused by the German nuclear phase-out and the Fukushima disaster….
Solar Project Aims to Becomes Largest in West Africa By Steve Leone, Associate Editor, RenewableEnergyWorld.com October 25, 2011 DALLAS, Texas — An American-based investment group has secured a power purchase agreement with the Namibian government to build a 500-megawatt photovoltaic power plant near the capital of Windhoek.
If built, the plant would represent the largest solar installation in West Africa, and could eventually include wind generation and grow up to 1 gigawatt. The group, led by Washington-based project developer SSI Energy Solutions (SSIES), is the parent company of Africa Energy Corp., which was set up for the Namibia project. Partners in the project include former SunEdison CEO Jigar Shah, Tom Amis and Nik Patesh of clean-energy law firm Cooley LLP, Eric Henderson of the Beacon Group and Adam Stern and Gary Kleiman of The Gemstone Group……. The project is far bigger than any solar project currently online in the southern hemisphere. South Africa, which borders Namibia, has garned the most interest in the region for large-scale developments…. http://nuclearhistory.wordpress.com/2012/08/23/areva-suspends-trekkopje-uranium-mine-project/
Nuclear power as a solution to Climate Change? not really possible or desirable
Realistically the world might build 100 or so new reactors over the coming decade or so – .. Over this same period a similar number of existing reactors will reach the end of their lives and close, leading to a net growth rate close to zero.
Does the world need nuclear power to solve the climate crisis? Nuclear power looks expensive and repulsive compared to increasingly affordable renewable energy, argues Oliver Tickell, The Guardian, 20 Aug 12, “…..this is the question: does the world need nuclear power for us to solve the climate crisis, as Monbiot claims? To borrow a second thought, this time from Margaret Thatcher, must we accept that there is no alternative?….. Continue reading
Just exactly who should pay for San Onofre’s repairs and restart?
If San Onofre nuclear plant is restarted, who pays? The San Onofre nuclear plant must first be deemed safe to restart. But with costs already mounting, it’s unclear who would foot the bill. By Abby Sewell, Los Angeles Times August 22, 2012
Nearly seven months after the San Onofre nuclear power plant was closed because of a leak, officials are grappling with whether it makes financial sense to bring the plant fully back online, and if so, who should pay for the necessary repairs. Continue reading
Huge solar rooftop system completed in Denmark
Largest N. Europe Rooftop Solar Power System Using REC Panels by Energy Matters, 24 Aug 12, Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) has announced completion of the largest rooftop solar panel system in Northern Europe.
The system sits atop the headquarters of insurance company Topdanmark in Ballerup, near Copenhagen in Denmark. Completed last week, the system features 3,042 REC Peak Energy Series solar panels and has an annual production capacity of 752,000 kWh – enough to meet the needs of almost 200 households.
600 tonnes of electricity generation related carbon emissions will be avoided through the system each year…. http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3353
Japan’s government likely to select the zero nuclear power option
government officials said Tuesday that the council is now most likely to select the zero-nuclear option.
Japan Weighs End to Nuclear Power WSJ, By MARI IWATA and TAKASHI MOCHIZUKI 23 Aug 12, TOKYO—The Japanese government is likely to decide to eliminate all nuclear power over the next two decades in a new long-term energy plan that comes amid strong public opposition to atomic energy and ahead of national elections expected in the next few months, said government officials familiar with policy discussions. Continue reading
Extracting uranium from oceans: very worrying questions arise
Extracting Uranium from oceans offers a mixed bag of possibilities Examiner, AUGUST 22, 2012 BY: DAVID HERRON Oak Ridge National Labs (ORNL) yesterday announced a new technique for efficiently harvesting uranium from the ocean. This raises the possibility that Uranium supplies will be much deeper and longer lasting than previously thought.
For the environmentally minded it raises a quandary…. there are radiation risks galore…. there is the huge spectre of more nuclear accidents and radiation exposure…..
It would appear this material could be used to target other materials. For example there are concerns over supplies of lithium, or of rare earth metals, or various other minerals, some of which are present in ocean water. Could this material be tailored to target extraction of
those materials from the ocean, providing a source of raw materials that is independent of digging rocks out of the ground? If so it could reduce the amount of hard rock mining operations around the world.
Maybe the material could be used in environmental mitigation, in that there are sites poisoned by releases of toxic metals into the ocean.
But what if corporations so efficiently mine the oceans certain metals that it actually affects the chemical balance of the ocean? The existing chemical balance in the ocean is vital to the food chain, and changing that balance would clearly have some effect on the living things in the ocean. Do “we” even have a clue about the potential impact?…
Court ruling on uranium company’s insurance policies
Court rules in uranium mine cleanup dispute http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/23/court-rules-in-uranium-mine-cleanup-dispute/#ixzz24VeeQu7N
– vcstar.com The Associated Press VCStar.com August 23, 2012 SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) – The state Supreme Court has ruled a uranium company’s insurance policies may cover costs of cleaning up contamination at a former mine in northwestern New Mexico.
The ruling on Thursday sends the dispute back to a district court to
determine what insurers must pay for, if any, involving a cleanup by
United Nuclear Corp. at the Northeast Church Rock mine near Gallup.
The site is adjacent to the Navajo Nation.
The court decision hinged on an insurance provision excluding coverage
for pollution damages unless the discharges were “sudden and
accidental.” The court concluded the term “sudden” meant unexpected
rather than happening over a short period of time. An insurance
company had contended its policies provided no liability coverage
because environmental damage at the mine happened over many years.
Legal action against relicensing Seabrook nuclear power plant
Beyond Nuclear et. al. take NRC to federal court in Seabrook relicensing: Wind power vs. nuclear power Beyond Nuclear 23 Aug 12, Three environmental groups (Beyond Nuclear, Seacoast Anti-Pollution League and the New Hampshire Chapter of the Sierra Club) have taken the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit (Boston, MA) in a legal challenge to NextEra Corporation’s application to extend the operating license of New Hampshire’s Seabrook nuclear generating station application from 2030 to 2050.
The citizen groups want the court to remedy this injury by ordering NRC to re-admit the groups back into Seabrook hearing process to review the wind energy alternative to the relicensing of the nuclear power station for 2030 to 2050. Oral arguments by the parties in the case are likely to be heard in the Boston federal court by early 2013…. http://www.beyondnuclear.org/nuclear-reactors-whatsnew/2012/8/22/beyond-nuclear-et-al-take-nrc-to-federal-court-in-seabrook-r.html
Weakness of India’s nuclear safety agency
India’s nuclear safety report warns of Fukushima-like disaster NDTV, Edited by Sabyasachi Dasgupta August 23, 2012 New Delhi: The national auditor’s report on India’s nuclear safety has raised concerns over a weak regulatory body. In its report on the
Atomic Energy Regulatory Board’s (AERB) performance audit, the Comptroller and Auditor General has warned a Fukushima or Chernobyl-like disaster if the nuclear safety issue is not addressed by the government. Continue reading
1 This Month
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity – go to https://nuclearinformation.wordpress.com/
Now until to February 10, 2026 Radioactive waste storage in France: the debate is finally open! How to participate?
-
Archives
- February 2026 (66)
- January 2026 (308)
- December 2025 (358)
- November 2025 (359)
- October 2025 (376)
- September 2025 (258)
- August 2025 (319)
- July 2025 (230)
- June 2025 (348)
- May 2025 (261)
- April 2025 (305)
- March 2025 (319)
-
Categories
- 1
- 1 NUCLEAR ISSUES
- business and costs
- climate change
- culture and arts
- ENERGY
- environment
- health
- history
- indigenous issues
- Legal
- marketing of nuclear
- media
- opposition to nuclear
- PERSONAL STORIES
- politics
- politics international
- Religion and ethics
- safety
- secrets,lies and civil liberties
- spinbuster
- technology
- Uranium
- wastes
- weapons and war
- Women
- 2 WORLD
- ACTION
- AFRICA
- Atrocities
- AUSTRALIA
- Christina's notes
- Christina's themes
- culture and arts
- Events
- Fuk 2022
- Fuk 2023
- Fukushima 2017
- Fukushima 2018
- fukushima 2019
- Fukushima 2020
- Fukushima 2021
- general
- global warming
- Humour (God we need it)
- Nuclear
- RARE EARTHS
- Reference
- resources – print
- Resources -audiovicual
- Weekly Newsletter
- World
- World Nuclear
- YouTube
-
RSS
Entries RSS
Comments RSS
nuclear-news 