nuclear-news

The News That Matters about the Nuclear Industry Fukushima Chernobyl Mayak Three Mile Island Atomic Testing Radiation Isotope

Pentagon Single-Bid Contracting Hurting Taxpayers -POGO

This news is startling because, according to FPDS-NG (it’s not my number, so don’t shoot the messenger), single-bid offers accounted for $185 billion spent in base contracts and exercised options by DoD in FY 2011, and rules were violated in 31 of the 78 contracts sampled by the IG.

By SCOTT AMEY

Oct 15, 2012

Last week, the Department of Defense (DoD) Inspector General released a report finding that single-bid guidance isn’t being followed and, as a result, “the Services have not realized potential cost savings associated with increased competition and re-competing $390.9 million in contract modifications. DoD also cannot accurately assess the percent of improvements in DoD achieving effective competition.” Specifically, the DoD IG found:

The Services did not follow DoD single-bid guidance when awarding 31 contracts, valued at approximately $656.1 million, out of the sample of 78 contracts awarded as competitive, valued at approximately $1 billion, that we reviewed. Specifically, contracting offices:

  • issued 16 of 31 single-bid contracts, valued at $165.3 million, without advertising solicitations for 30 days;
  • issued 8 of 31 single-bid contracts, valued at $471.0 million, without adequately determining price reasonableness; and
  • issued 7 of 31 single-bid contracts, valued at $19.8 million, without advertising solicitations for 30 days and adequately determining price reasonableness.

In addition, the IG found that DoD did not “develop specific steps to prevent 39 of 47 contract modifications, valued at $390.9 million, from exceeding the 3-year limitation on awarding contract modifications without first recompeting.”

Continue reading →

October 15, 2012 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Thai government urged to confirm link to Cambodia’s Nuclear aspirations

By  | October 14, 2012 at 6:36 am

Thailand News

“But environmental activist Witoon Permwongsacharoen of the Foundation for Ecological Recovery said Cambodia consumed only 1,000 megawatts of electricity per year, meaning there was no need for the country to invest in nuclear power.”

““Cambodia itself doesn’t need such a large-scale power plant,” Mr Santi said. “The project will likely supply electricity to neighbouring countries, including Thailand. The Thai government should make it clear whether it is involved.””

Anti-nuclear activists have called on the Thai government to clarify its involvement in Cambodia’s controversial plan to construct a nuclear power plant in the border province of Koh Kong.

Activists suspect collusion between the Thai government and Cambodia over alleged plans to build a nuclear power plant on the island of Koh Kong, just south of the Trat province border. (Maps from KohKongResort.com)

Continue reading →

October 15, 2012 Posted by | Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Documenting ian, blog – showing the truth behind the nuclear disaster in Fukushima area (Video and Photos)

Decontamination (part 1)

I am filming all this week in Fukushima Prefecture, and today I began in the city of Date, which lies about 50 kilometers to the west of the damaged nuclear power plant.  After the meltdown, the wind blew the radiation westward, and so the contamination spread far beyond the 20 kilometer evacuation zone initially established by the government.
At the Sugano family home in the city of Date, the decontamination has only just began, although it has already been a year and a half since the meltdown.
After the meltdown, the family sensed they were in danger so they packed all their bags and prepared to leave at a moment’s notice.  But the government never evacuated the city of Date.
Eventually, two months after the meltdown, the entire village of Iitate, which lies next to Date, was evacuated when the government finally admitted that the radiation had spread further than initially announced.
My documentary about the evacuation of the entire village of Iitate, which lies next to the city of Date, is here:
In the city of Date, the Sugano family and their three children, aged 9, 5 and 4, remained in their home for three months waiting to be evacuated.  When their property was finally tested, one of the hotspots was found to be 70 microsieverts (!), seen on the map below at line 14 marked HS 3:
The city of Date tested the homes of all its residents.  When hotspots were found, it was decided not to evacuate the entire city of Date, but rather to make a decision on a house by house basis.  In other words, a family would only receive assistance to evacuate if their house was deemed a hotspot.  Neighborhoods were torn apart, with some families being evacuated and some homes deemed “safe”.  Anyone unlucky enough to have a home deemed “safe” was now faced with having to live literally next door to an evacuated home deemed a hotspot.

October 15, 2012 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

UAE issues new nuclear liability law -Disaster Liability capped at around $700 million

by Adam Lane on Oct 15, 2012

The UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has issued a new Federal Law covering civil liability and compensation for nuclear damage that could occur as a result of a nuclear accident.

“This Law was drafted in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage as amended by the 1997 Protocol, which the UAE acceded to in August 2012. The establishment of such a robust nuclear liability regime is another step forward of the UAE Government’s responsible approach to develop a solid regulatory framework for the peaceful nuclear energy programme.

“This new liability regime provides a clear and predictable process for the public and nuclear industry to deal with compensation for damages that may arise in the case of a nuclear accident,” said H.E. Hamad Al Kaabi, the UAE’s permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), speaking at a press conference held at the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation HQ.

The new law makes the operator of a nuclear facility solely and exclusively liable for damages that arise from a nuclear incident as defined by the 1997 Vienna Convention. The operator’s liability has been set at 450 million Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), equivalent to around US $700 million.

Continue reading →

October 15, 2012 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

We are duty-bound to protect our people from nuclear mishaps – Sri Lanka

Oct 15, 2012 04:45 pm

Whether an agreement is signed with India or not, Sri Lanka will implement a disaster management action plan in case of nuclear accidents or a radiological emergency, Minister Champika Ranwaka said following the conclusion of the first round of talks in New Delhi on civil nuclear cooperation.

Addressing a press briefing in Colombo today (15) the Minister of Power and Energy stated that the government is duty bound to protect its people and therefore “no one can question it,” as same as its India’s sovereign right to set up a nuclear plant.

The first round of talks between India and Sri Lanka on comprehensive civil nuclear cooperation was held on Friday (October12) in New Delhi.

We had informed India in May 2011 about our intention to inter a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries based on Article 09 of the 2nd Convention, on early notification of nuclear accidents, he said. 

Thereafter various informal discussions and exchanging of documents between two parties representing the countries took place while a formal discussion was held in New Delhi last week, Patali Champika Ranawaka said.

He stated that the talks included nuclear applications, technological assistance, technological transfers, capacity building of officials here as well as about the nuclear safety and response to nuclear accidents, and that India had agreed to participate in this process. 

Continue reading →

October 15, 2012 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Nuclear renaissance in India? Russia to strengthen nuclear, economic ties

New Delhi, Oct 15 (IANS)

India and Russia Monday decided to accelerate their economic ties and agreed to factor in New Delhi’s liability concerns in their techno-commercial negotiations for units III and IV of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant.

“We discussed the preparatory work for units III and IV. A techno-commercial agreement is being negotiated,” External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna told reporters after talks with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin. 

“I have no doubt that we will arrive at a mutually satisfactory result,” Krishna said.

Krishna was responding to a question on the progress on units III and IV of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, which is embroiled in differences over perceptions over India’s civil nuclear liability.

Continue reading →

October 15, 2012 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

New Study! US, UK munitions ‘cause birth defects in Iraq’ -Prof Busby responds (Video)

UPDATE
Chris Busby responds to the study. video here

Iraqi birth defects surge from US depleted uranium ammo Christopher Busby RT/

 

“The study found a “footprint of metal in the population,” Mozhgan Savabieas fahani, one of the lead authors of the report said. Savabieas fahani is an environmental toxicologist at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health.

“In utero exposure to pollutants can drastically change the outcome of an otherwise normal pregnancy. The metal levels we see in the Fallujah children with birth defects clearly indicates that metals were involved in manifestation of birth defects in these children,” she said.”

Published: 14 October, 2012, 13:33

US and UK weapons ammunition were linked to heart defects, brain dysfunctions and malformed limbs, according to a recent study. The report revealed a shocking rise in birth defects in Iraqi children conceived after the US invasion.

Titled ‘Metal Contamination and the Epidemic of Congenital Birth Defects in Iraqi Cities,’ the study was published by the Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. It revealed a connection between military activity in the country and increased numbers of birth defects and miscarriages.

Continue reading →

October 15, 2012 Posted by | Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Video: Japanese receiving biased information — Hundreds of thousands or more may die of cancer from Fukushima disaster

http://enenews.com/expert-japanese-receiving-biased-information-hundreds-of-thousand-or-more-may-die-of-cancer-from-fukushima-disaster-but-that-is-all-hidden-from-view-video/comment-page-1#comment-295529
Published: October 14th, 2012 at 10:44 pm ET
By 

Dr Stephen Hickey, School of Biology, Chemistry and Health Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, England; Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Technology, Staffordshire University, England

And the information that they receive from the government and the officials channels and the media is biased. Individuals in Japan and anybody affected by the disaster have only one option and that is to take responsiblity for themselves and their family. And to act as a rational human being to take what measures are practicable and beneficial for themselves. […]

There are going to be at least tens of thousands and possibly hundreds of thousand or more of people in the future dying of cancer or having children with birth defects, but that once again is all hidden from view.

Watch the full video here

 More here on UK University and military connections….

British government’s PR for the nuclear industry – playing down Fukushima risk

Revealed: British government’s plan to play down Fukushima Internal emails seen by Guardian show PR campaign was launched to protect UK nuclear plans after tsunami in Japan • Read the emails here  Guardian UK, 19 Aug 12, 

British government officials approached nuclear companies to draw up a co-ordinated public relations strategy to play down the Fukushima nuclear accident just two days after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan and before the extent of the radiation leak was known.

https://nuclear-news.net/2012/08/20/british-governments-pr-for-the-nuclear-industry-playing-down-fukushima-risk/

  Continue reading →

October 15, 2012 Posted by | Uncategorized | 1 Comment

world’s largest defence group -French to swoop on British nuclear fuel -Sunday times

FRANCE is preparing an audacious multi-billion-pound tilt at Urenco, Britain’s state-backed nuclear fuel producer.

Areva, the nuclear reactor developer controlled by the French state, hatched the plan after Urenco’s biggest investors — two German utilities and the British government — put their stakes up for sale.

The move sets the scene for a political showdown over the control of a strategically important industry just days after the dramatic collapse of merger talks between BAE Systems and EADS. That deal fell apart because German, French and British politicians could not agree on the ownership of what would have been the world’s largest defence group.

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/business/energy_and_environment/article1147406.ece

October 15, 2012 Posted by | Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Emotional Anti-Nuclear Protest Rally Hibiya Park | Tokyo Oct. 13 2012 (Video)

Published on Oct 14, 2012 by 

This protest video includes a beautiful song sang by a beautiful women, as well as, massive drum core action and video evidence of micro kettle actions by the Tokyo Metro Police.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P45L69xfwn4

 

October 15, 2012 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Celebrations in Lithuania as Election Authority rejects new nuclear plant project

VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — Lithuania’s election authority says nearly two-thirds of voters have rejected the idea of building a new nuclear power plant.

The Central Election Commission says that with 45 percent of precincts counted some 64 percent of votes cast in the referendum were against the new plant, while 36 percent were in support. The commission says the vote proportion is unlikely to change.

ingress_image

Although the Sunday referendum was non-binding, a strong ‘no’ vote could torpedo Lithuania’s plans to build the facility along with neighbors Estonia and Latvia and Japan’s Hitachi.

The current center-right government says the plant is necessary to wean Lithuania off its energy dependence on Russia, while critics say the project is too expensive and the Fukushima catastrophe has cast an indelible shadow over Japanese nuclear technology.

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-10-14/lithuanians-reject-new-nuclear-plant-project

 

 

 

 

 

 

Belarusian anti-nuclear activists ‘blacklisted’ by Lithuanian government

Belarusian anti-nuclear campaigners Tatyana Novikova, a Bellona contributor, and Nikolai Ulasevich were on Wednesday refused entry to neighboring Lithuania on the grounds that the Baltic country’s government had declared them “personae non grata” and potential threats to the national security of that and other European Union nations.Bellona, 28/09-2012

Continue reading →

October 15, 2012 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Breaking! Radioactive kitchenware shipment ordered out of Canada -Global problem?

CBC – Sat, 13 Oct, 2012 4:38 PM EDT
 
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) ordered that a small shipment of radioactive kitchenware, that found its way to the Port of Montreal, be taken out of the country.

The CNSC issued an order on Oct. 5, demanding that the contaminated container be sent back to India by Hanjin Shipping Canada — the company that delivered the cargo to Montreal’s port last May.

André Régimbald, the director of nuclear substance regulations for the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, said “this was a relatively low-risk package or container and therefore, there was no need at that time to take immediate strong measures to get the container out of the port.”
According to the order issued to Hanjin Shipping Canada, the utensils inside the two-cubic-foot box are contaminated with Cobalt-60, a radioactive isotope often used for medical radiation.
The Canadian Borders Services Agency (CBSA) found the merchandise during routine scans performed on incoming cargo.
Régimbald said the kitchenware’s radioactivity could stem from a failure to properly recycle medical devices.
“There could have been a source that is used in medical devices,” he said. “[Devices] to treat cancer, are very high-level sources and thereplacement and disposal…is extremely regulated and it is possible that the source was inadvertently misplaced or misdisposed and found its way in the recycling industry, was melted with other metals and the metal was used to produce all sorts of manufactured goods.”
Continue reading →

October 15, 2012 Posted by | Uncategorized | 3 Comments