2012 September 19 « nuclear-news

US Department of Energy (DOE) and its conflict of interest about radiation

It’s quite a leap to claim that evacuation zones around nuclear power plants might not be needed based on the chromosomes of 112 irradiated mice.

in 1970, the world’s largest human study of pregnancy x-rays reported that NRC’s harmless dose more than doubles the risk of childhood cancer

A Radioactive Conflict of Interest HUFFINGTON POST, Robert Alvarez on the Conflict of Interest inherent within US DOE radiation research 06/25/2012 Having the Energy Department control radiation health research makes as much sense as giving tobacco companies the authority to see if smoking is bad for you.

Last month, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) heralded an Energy Department funded study indicating that evacuation zones around nuclear power stations might not be needed after a major nuclear accident. Continue reading →

September 19, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | spinbuster, USA | Leave a comment

Chorus of pro nuclear statements from vested interests

Japan’s Nuclear Exit; Nuclear Farce Or Who Is Behind The Resistance To Change Simply Info, September 17th, 2012 | “……..The US decision to intervene uninvited into Japan’s energy debate comes at a time when the nuclear industry worldwide has been attacking Japan and Germany for their phase outs and going after other energy sectors with disinformation campaigns.

Some of the more notable comments made by US officials regarding Japan’s nuclear phase out:

US Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman –
“At a meeting with the DPJ’s policy chief Tuesday, Poneman said that if Japan takes such steps it might have unexpected effects on the United States and other concerned parties, Maehara said.” Continue reading →

September 19, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, spinbuster | Leave a comment

Heat pollution in river due to Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant

Demonstrators take to the water to protest against Vermont Yankee By JOSH STILTS Brattleboro Reformer 09/17/2012 Marlboro residents Rose Watson and Laura Berkowitz share their boat with an unnamed protester during Saturday s Safe and Green flotilla.
More than 100 anti-nuclear activists gathered along the Connecticut River to tell the owners of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant to stop dumping the reactor s thermal discharge into the river.
VERNON — Dozens of protesters flocked to the Connecticut River Saturday afternoon to condemn the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant and its owner, Entergy, for the reactor’s thermal discharge…… State Rep. David Deen, D-Westminster addressed the crowd and spoke about his concerns and those of fellow members of the Connecticut River Watershed Council.
According to a recent report from several hydrologists, the river’s temperature exceeded Vermont Yankee’s permit limit 58 percent of the time between May and October of 2006 through 2010. One of the group’s major concerns is the affect that the increased water temperatures is having on fish that use the Connecticut as their spawning grounds. Continue reading →

September 19, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | climate change, USA | Leave a comment

Germany ready to help Japan go non-nuclear The Local, 15 Sep 12 Germany stands ready to help Japan with the “demanding” goal of phasing out nuclear energy by drawing on its own nuclear exit progress, a government spokesman said on Friday.Steffen Seibert said it was a “big political and social task” to phase out nuclear energy but was worthwhile – and reaped new technological and industrial benefits.

In the immediate wake of the 2011 disaster at Japan’s Fukushima
nuclear plant, Germany decided to shutter its nuclear reactors by 2022
and ramp up the use of renewable power sources.

Japan announced its plan to phase out nuclear power by 2040 on Friday,
apparently bowing to public pressure after last year’s disaster, the
worst atomic accident in a generation.

“You can imagine that Germany, which has now had some experience of
the path towards the future of renewable energy, willingly stands with
all Japanese institutions with help in both word and action,” Seibert
told reporters, before underlining that Tokyo had only just made its
decision.

“The Japanese know what we too know – that they have posed themselves
a very big political and social task,” he said.

“It’s worth it for the nation that goes down this path. It creates new
technological possibilities, it creates new industry export potential,
but it is definitely a very demanding task, as we can say from
experience, he added.

Seibert also said he could see broad scope for Germany and Japan
swapping advice and expertise….
http://www.thelocal.de/national/20120915-44981.html

September 19, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment