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Radiation tablets for Delaware residents near nuclear plant

Delaware residents near nuclear plants urged to take tablets http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/item/45173 October 5, 2012 By Nichelle Polston n the next few days, residents who live within a ten mile radius of the Salem/Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations will have access to some pills that are usually given out during a radiation emergency.
The Delaware Emergency Management Agency and Delaware Division of
Public Health will distribute potassium iodide also known as KI
tablets.  The pills are believed to help protect the thyroid gland
from ingested or inhaled radioactive iodine possibly released in a
radiation emergency. Officials say the medicine does not protect
against external radiation.  If you take a look at Delaware’s
emergency plans developed for use in a nuclear incident, you’ll notice
KI tablets are listed as one of the precautions residents should take
along with evacuation.
Delaware received the tablets due to its participation in a program
led by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The pills are only
being distributed in the event of an emergency related to radiation.
If that happens, emergency officials will inform residents in those
areas through messages on Emergency Action System radio stations. When
the emergency messages are aired they will include instructions on how
residents should react, directions to evacuation routes, emergency
reception centers, and also when to take the KI tablets.
In the meantime, the pills will be distributed next week on October
11th at the Townsend Fire Station.  They’re also available to
residents who live outside the 10 mile radius area and those who
currently want to get rid of their expired KI tablets.  Delaware
Emergency Management Agency Radiological Emergency Planning section
can be reached for more information about the tablets at 302-659-3362.

October 5, 2012 Posted by | health, USA | Leave a comment

Evacuation and Repopulation – Fukushima

Fukushima  Nuclear Crisis Update for October 2nd to October 4th, 2012 Greenpeace International,  by Christine McCann – October 5, 2012 “…Evacuation and Repopulation In spite of efforts by the central government to lift evacuation orders and begin repopulating some areas of Fukushima Prefecture located between 20 and 30 km from the site of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, a new survey conducted by the Asahi Shimbun shows that only 11% of those who evacuated the prefecture have returned.  Approximately 58,000 people lived there before the crisis erupted, and 48% evacuated in the months following the nuclear meltdowns. The area includes Minami-Soma, Tamura, Kawauchi, Nahara, and Hirono… http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/Blogs/nuclear-reaction/fukushima-nuclear-crisis-update-for-october-2/blog/42456/

October 5, 2012 Posted by | Fukushima 2012 | Leave a comment

Nuclear-capable Prithvi II ballistic missile test-fired http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-10-04/news/34260438_1_sleek-missile-strike-range-ballistic-missile  Oct 4, 2012,   BALASORE (Odisha): Sharpening its missile prowess, India today successfully test-fired its nuclear- capable Prithvi-II ballistic missile  with a strike range of 350 km from a test range near here as part of a user trial by the army.

“The surface-to-surface missile was flight tested at around 0907 hrs from a mobile launcher from Integrated Test Range’s launch complex-3 at Chandipur,” defence sources said.

October 5, 2012 Posted by | India, weapons and war | Leave a comment

Idaho National Laboratory, Fined After Radiation Exposures USA

Reuters  |  Posted: 10/04/2012

 

In the violation notice issued on Thursday, federal regulators found Battelle failed to perform real-time air monitoring in November 2011 “to detect and provide early warning to individuals of events that could lead to substantial unplanned exposures to airborne radioactivity.”

SALMON, Idaho (Reuters) – The U.S. Department of Energy fined a nuclear research lab in Idaho more than $400,000 on Thursday for multiple safety violations stemming from two mishaps last year that caused workers to be contaminated with radiation.

“DOE considers these events to be of high safety significance,” …

[…]

He was referring to two incidents in 2011 that exposed employees to radiation at the nation’s leading nuclear research and development center, which is operated by contractor Battelle Energy Alliance.

The lab was fined for failure to prevent contamination of a worker’s hand in August 2011. In November 2011, 16 workers were also exposed to low-level plutonium radiation while preparing fuel plates for shipping …..

[…]
……. including two who inhaled radioactive particles, ….

Continue reading →

October 5, 2012 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The nuclear week that was

Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs

Europe; a leaked draft report from European Commission reveals that all of Europe’s 143 nuclear reactors have safety problems.

UK in somewhat of  a mess in its new nuclear power project. AREVA, China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group, and  China National Nuclear Power Corporation have all pulled out of the project, and  Iberdrola, the Spanish group is rumoured to be about to pull out.  It’s all supposed to be “private enterprise” but clearly needs buckets of Government money to have any hope of ever getting going.

India leaving its democratic principles behind, as it labels anti-nuclear activists as psychiatric cases, and as police terrorise those participating in the anti nuclear movement at Kudankulam. Serious criminal charges have been slapped against more than 150,000 villagers protesting against the Kudankulam nuclear power plant.

France now developing plans for its phaseout of nuclear power.

Japan. the Fukushima cleanup facing very difficult challenges – it requires new technologies that have not yet even been invented. Tokyo continues to get radioactive fallout – measuring more than the level in Fukushima.

USA: the current election campaigning does mention the word “nuclear” – but only in reference to who’s going to be toughest on Iran. Nary a word about USA’s massive nuclear waste crisis.

October 5, 2012 Posted by | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Death of democracy in India: anti nuclear heroes – “Enemies of the State”

A non-governmental fact finding team that visited area found that police personnel had seriously injured many protestors, inflicted physical and verbal sexual abuse on several women, and at least two children had been stripped and tortured

 serious criminal charges have been slapped against more than 150,000, mostly unnamed villagers…. at least 10,000 people are charged with sedition and waging war against the state..

India Clamps Down on Villagers’ Anti-Nuclear Protests, Earth Island Journal, BY NITYANANDJAYARAMAN – OCTOBER 4, 2012 In their eagerness to power the country’s growing economy, ndian authorities are treating opponents of nuclear energy as enemies of the state
If the chief minister of Tamil Nadu has her way, democracy would be dispensed with in the southern Indian state. On two separate occasions this year, chief minister J. Jayalalithaa let loose battalions of armed police on thousands of fisherfolk and farmers to crush their months-long non-violent protest against the unfinished nuclear power plants in Koodankulam and Idinthakrai, two coastal villages in the state.
In March, when she sent out security personnel to quell the protests, police squads blocked roads leading to villages and stopped essential supplies like milk and drinking water from reaching the area. (Read our earlier report on the conflict here.) Continue reading →

October 5, 2012 Posted by | civil liberties, India | 2 Comments

Unmissable Youtube: Nuclear whistleblower Ann Harris

Nuclear Whistleblower: I was asked to leave my church — It’s been a living hell (VIDEO) http://enenews.com/nuclear-whistleblower-i-was-asked-to-leave-my-church-its-been-a-living-hell-video    October 3rd, 2012  
  Interview with Ann Harris
Uploaded by: laborvideo
Upload Date: Sep 13, 2011

Interviewer: What happens is workers who do speak out go through hell, they’re attacked…

Ann Harris, former Watts Bar nuclear plant employee: : A Living Hell. I was asked to leave my church.

Interviewer: …What?

Harris: I was asked to leave my church because people that worked at TVA [Tennessee Valley Authority] — just being seen talking to me… could cost people their jobs. That’s the kind of harassment that you can expect.

 NUKES, TVA, Health & Safety, The NRC & the Nuclear Industry With Ann Harris-Part2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47PeWCIdyX4The Truth About The Nuclear Power Industry With Nuclear Whistleblower Ann Harris “I won’t let them give me that nuke speak crap” Part 2

Nuclear plant whistleblower and health and safety advocate Ann Harris
from Tennessee and the TVA talks about the nuclear power industry, public health issues as well as the connection to the nuclear weapons industry.
She warns that major environmental accidents in the US at these plants is only a matter of time. The interview took place on 7/92011.
Part 1 is at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77vkuPtqN4A
More information at
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/07/19/earlyshow/main20080633.shtml?tag=re…
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/07/20/earlyshow/main20080965.shtml?tag=co…
http://www.bernabeipllc.com/pdfs/Tennessean_June_30_08.pdf
Production of Labor Video Project www.laborvideo.org laborvideo.blip.tv

October 5, 2012 Posted by | Resources -audiovicual | Leave a comment

Serious safety issues at Kudankulam nuclear plant – Supreme Court hears

Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant suffers from ‘serious issues’: Anti-nuclear activists tell Supreme Court
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/kudankulam-nuclear-power-plant-suffers-from-serious-issues-anti-nuclear-activists-tell-supreme-court/articleshow/16670289.cms  4 OCT, 2012  NEW DELHI: Kudankulam nuclear power plant suffers from lack of safety measures and is plagued by several other “serious issues” and must not be commissioned till they are resolved, anti-nuclear activists told the Supreme Court today.

Appearing before a bench of justices K S Radhakrishanan and Deepak Misra, they submitted that the safety measures recommended by Atomic Energy Regulation Board (AERB) have not been put in place and government agencies have not determined till date the site for storing spent nuclear fuel.

“It is clear that KKNPP suffers from several serious issues that need to be resolved before the plant can be commissioned. Lakhs of people living in vicinity of the plant are bound to be apprehensive in such a situation.

“Instead of dealing with these issues and addressing the concerns in a meaningful way, the government has launched a wave of repression and has slapped 8000 sedition cases against peaceful protesters,” said advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioners. He said the government has not complied with the statutory guidelines framed by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) regarding nuclear safety and pleaded with the apex court to restrain the Centre
from commissioning the plant. The bench, however, refused to pass any order and asked the petitioners to implead NDMA.

The petitioners’ counsel also questioned the Centre’s decision of exempting Russian reactor manufacturer firm from liability in case of accident due to defect in the reactor.

October 5, 2012 Posted by | India, Legal | Leave a comment

France planning the move away from nuclear power

French Nuclear Reliance to Drop Without Reactor Halts, EDF Says Bloomberg, By Tara Patel – Oct 4, 2012  Forecasts for rising power use will curb Electricite de France’s ability to satisfy domestic demand even without the closure of more nuclear reactors, Chief Executive Officer Henri Proglio said. That would see the country’s reliance on nuclear power dropping to 50 percent of power production by about 2025 from more than 75 percent now, he said.

That would meet President Francois Hollande’s campaign pledge to reduce France’s dependence on nuclear generation. Progio’s comments come ahead of a national debate on energy which the government has said will lay the groundwork for legislation that could determine EDF’s spending plans on its reactors for decades. Continue reading →

October 5, 2012 Posted by | France, politics | Leave a comment

Youtube: Meeting with NRC’s Chairman Allison M. Macfarlane

Nuclear Safety Hearing – Pt. 4 – Fukushima Update   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yAaDbyBgzQ&feature=player_detailpage#t=119s Oct 1, 2012 by  California Democratic Senator Boxer is chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

On Sept. 12, 2012, she chaired a meeting of her Committee with newly-appointed Chairman Allison M. Macfarlane and the full roster of Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) members. The topic: ‘NRC’s Implementation and Recommendations for Enhancing Nuclear Reactor Safety in the 21st Century.’

This is the final excerpt focusing on Waste Confidence and Consolidation questions.

For viewing efficiency, we have segmented the public video record of the meeting into topic areas and posted them so you can zero in on the issues that interest you.

October 5, 2012 Posted by | Resources -audiovicual | Leave a comment

Fukushima cleanup requires technologies that are not yet invented

AUDIO Top US Nuclear Official: Technologies don’t exist yet to clean up Fukushima site… very difficult to overstate difficulty (VIDEO) http://enenews.com/top-us-nuclear-official-technologies-dont-exist-yet-to-clean-up-fukushima-site-so-theres-a-long-long-way-to-go-with-that-video October 3rd, 2012 

Follow-up to: Gundersen: Fill Fukushima reactors with cement and come back in 100 years — It’s too radioactive (VIDEO)

U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
Uploaded by eon3
Filmed September 12, 2012
Published on Oct 1, 2012
Commissioner William D. Magwood, Nuclear Regulatory Commission: It is very difficult to overstate how difficult the work is going to be at that site. There will need to be new technologies and new methodologies created to be able to enable them to clean the site up and some of these technologies don’t exist yet, so there’s a long way to go with that […] there’s a long, long way to go.

Watch the video here

October 5, 2012 Posted by | Resources -audiovicual | Leave a comment

Massive solar power farm for Japan

SMA Solar Inverters To Be Used In Japan’s Biggest Solar Farm http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3409 5 Oct 12 SMA has been selected as the sole supplier of inverters for Japan’s largest solar power plant.

The 70 megawatt solar panel based project operated by Kagoshima Mega Solar Power Corporation will utilise 140 Sunny Central 500CP–JP inverters. SMA will also supply 1,260 Sunny String Monitors for monitoring the massive solar farm. Continue reading →

October 5, 2012 Posted by | Japan, renewable | Leave a comment

Australian rare earths company Lynas facing further uncertainty in its Malaysian project

Activists and local residents have vowed to shut the plant – the biggest outside China – which has emerged as a controversial issue in the country’s national elections

 opposition politicians and environmentalists have expressed fears that radioactive waste it produces can seep into the ground and water, harming the environment and people’s health.

Hearing on Lynas Malaysia plant postponed http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/hearing-on-lynas-malaysia-plant-postponed/story-fn3dxix6-1226488399907 THE AUSTRALIAN  AAP October 04, 2012  A MALAYSIAN court has postponed until next week a hearing on a temporary operating licence granted to Australian miner Lynas Corp for a rare earths plant, an activist says.

Thursday’s decision to postpone hearing to next Wednesday further delays the start of operations at the $US800 million ($A786.82 million) facility, which has been dogged by environmental protests and concerns about radiation.
Lynas secured the operating licence in early September but Kuantan High Court in eastern Pahang state, where the plant is based, put it on hold later that month after an appeal by activists. Continue reading →

October 5, 2012 Posted by | AUSTRALIA | Leave a comment

Iran’s plan for defusing the nuclear crisis

Iran Offers Plan, Dismissed by U.S., on Nuclear Crisis NYT, By   October 4, 2012 WASHINGTON — With harsh economic sanctions contributing to the first major protests in Iran in three years, Iranian officials have begun to describe what they call a “nine-step plan” to defuse the nuclear crisis with the West by gradually suspending the production of the uranium that would be easiest for them to convert into a nuclear weapon  Continue reading →

October 5, 2012 Posted by | Iran, politics international, USA | Leave a comment

Referendum could mean more renewable energy for Chicago http://www.wbez.org/news/referendum-could-mean-more-renewable-energy-chicago-102911 October 4, 2012 Tricia Bobeda Environmental and labor groups rallied Thursday in support of an energy referendum on the November ballot.

The referendum  will ask Chicago voters whether the city should be able to buy electric service on behalf of residents.

If it passes, the city will be required to hold public meetings about where to buy electricity.

Environmentalists see it as an opportunity to lobby for more investments in renewable energy. Continue reading →

October 5, 2012 Posted by | politics, USA | Leave a comment

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