My respects to the UK Column team and I hope ATVOD will be rebuffed!
The Leveson inquiry promised that bloggers and internet groups would NOT be targeted but ATVOD has unilaterally changed the rules of the Leveson recommendations
In March 2011, an earthquake and tsunami devastated the eastern coast of Japan. Thousands of people were killed, and scores more were displaced as a result of the natural disaster. The earthquake and resulting tsunami caused the meltdown of a nuclear power station located in Fukushima Prefecture. Radioactive material leaked into the Pacific Ocean, and the area surrounding the plant became irradiated. This led to the development of an exclusion zone around the plant, and the evacuation of cities near the stricken nuclear site.
But more than three years after the event, journalists still struggle to report on what exactly is going on with the region’s recovery and cleanup efforts. TEPCO, the utility that managed the nuclear reactor, has been criticized for not being forthcoming with the public, or with the victims of the tragedy … or, even with the government. Today on Global Journalist, we take a look at what’s going on in Fukushima, and look at some of the challenges reporters face in covering stories like these in Japan.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Los Alamos National Laboratory says it made mistakes in packing waste that has been linked to a radiation leak at the government’s underground nuclear waste dump, but it remains unclear if the violations or its use of organic cat litter to absorb moisture played a role in the accident.
In a letter released by state regulators Thursday, lab officials told the New Mexico Environment Department that their internal probe of the handling of the toxic waste from decades of nuclear bomb building has uncovered several violations of its Hazardous Waste Facility Permit. The lab says it failed to follow proper procedures in making the switch from inorganic to organic litter and in its lack of follow up on waste that tests showed to be highly acidic.
The shortcomings were described as “unacceptable” by Principal Associate Lab Director Terry Wallace, according to an internal memo.
Teams of scientists and engineers are still trying to determine exactly what caused a barrel from Los Alamos to burst, and whether the switch in cat litter helped fuel what is suspected to have been some kind of reaction in the highly acidic waste that also contained lead.
Despite hundreds of experiments to date, investigators have been unable to create any reaction that would have caused the container to leak like it did on Feb. 14, sending radioactive particles into the air above the half-mile deep repository and contaminating 22 workers with low levels of radiation.
The accident has also indefinitely shuttered the mine, which is the nation’s only permanent repository for plutonium-contaminated gloves, tools and clothing from the federal government’s nuclear facilities.
According to the memo obtained by The Associated Press, Wallace told employees at a meeting Monday that the probe is focused on 16 barrels of highly acidic, nitrate-salt-bearing waste, including the drum that leaked at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. Ten of the other barrels are also underground at the mine in Carlsbad, New Mexico, while five are in temporary storage and under special monitoring at a private waste facility in Andrews, Texas.
Wallace is quoted in the memo as saying that a technical review “identified certain conditions that might potentially cause an exothermic reaction inside a drum. Among them are neutralized liquids, a low pH and the presence of metals.”
“The low pH findings should have prompted a pause in work to ensure appropriate technical and regulatory reviews of next steps,” Wallace said.
Wallace indicated that the lab’s focus is now on correcting the processes to prevent any recurrence. “We need to get this right and set best practices for the entire Complex.”
The state Environment Department said it was reviewing “these initial violations and plans to take appropriate actions once it concludes its independent review of the incidents at WIPP and LANL,” using acronyms for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant and the Los Alamos National Laboratory, respectively.
The state investigation is just one of many into the leak and an underground truck fire six days earlier at the U.S. Department of Energy facility.
Initial probes by federal regulators identified a host of management and safety shortcomings at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant.
Labour have accused the party of contradicting their opposition to new nuclear projects after a senior Assembly Member visited the country
Senior Plaid Cymru Assembly Members have been accused of “rank hypocrisy” after joining a nuclear fact-finding trip to Japan despite outspoken opposition to nuclear energy.
The party has long been opposed to the construction of new nuclear power plants in Wales, but late in June its economic spokesperson Rhun ap Iorwerth travelled with delegates visiting the country.
His trip was paid for by the firm behind the controversial Wylfa B nuclear site planned for Anglesey, which he represents as an AM.
Calum Higgins, Welsh Labour’s prospective candidate to stand for the Carmarthen East and Dinefwr Westminster seat, said the trip flew in the face of Plaid Cymru’s policy and had undermined the party’s leadership.
He said: “Senior Plaid politicians going on international trips funded by nuclear power companies is rank hypocrisy.
“Plaid’s policy on nuclear power is clear.
“They oppose new nuclear development like Wylfa B, which would bring thousands of jobs and £10bn investment to Wales.
“Their own website professes: ‘We reaffirm our opposition to the construction of any new nuclear power stations in Wales’.
“That a member of Plaid’s ‘Cabinet in waiting’ has decided to disregard his leader and ignore his own party shows the clear splits at the top of the party.”
Plaid’s nuclear policies have been criticised since Mr Iorwerth announced his apparent support for plans to build a new reactor at the Wylfa Newydd site.
The new proposals were announced in Westminster, where powers to approve large-scale energy developments are held, in 2010.
A fresh reactor on the site was put forward as one of eight possible new nuclear reactor locations in the UK. Work would be carried out by Horizon Nuclear Power, a company which was implicated in the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
While running in last year’s by-election on the island, Mr Iorwerth said he supported development of the site if it was done “for the benefit of Anglesey”.
Labour’s Mr Higgins said this apparent disconnect between decisions on Anglesey and central Plaid views revealed a rift in the top tiers that needed to be put down by the party’s leader if future policy was to be believed.
He said: “Leanne Wood needs to explain if she approved this trip and why. She must also be clear on her party’s policy. Who should we believe: Plaid Cymru’s leader, or their economic spokesperson?”
The decision to travel to Japan has also been slammed by a senior Plaid Cymru figure, who spoke anonymously to the Wales Eye investigations blog.
They are reported to have said: “This is a complete nonsense. Voters believe, rightly, we are opposed to nuclear power yet here we are accepting junkets from nuclear companies because they may be creating a few new jobs.”
John Dixon, who was Plaid Cymru’s chair from 2002 to 2010, told Wales Eye the fresh controversy showed the party’s policy on nuclear energy was incoherent. He said: “On nuclear energy, whether the party is for or against depends on who you speak to.”
But Mr Iorwerth said he joined the delegates visiting Japan so he could properly represent the people of Anglesey and ensure their interests were promoted.
He said: “My role is to be as objective as possible about the challenges and opportunities of continued power generation at Wylfa.
“It was vital in my role as AM representing all of the people of Anglesey to be a part of the delegation to Japan.
“There was much opportunity for frank discussion, and the interests of the people of Anglesey were at the core of my contribution to those discussions.”
How to start World War 3?Step 1) Hack IDF Twitter account; Step 2) Tweet that Israel’s secret nuclear facility has suffered a potential leak after shelling; Step 3) wait for US response… It appears (though for now has not been confirmed) that the Israel Defense Force’s Twitter account was hacked by the Syrian Electronic Army who then tweeted “#WARNING: Possible nuclear leak in the region after 2 rockets hit Dimona nuclear facility” The Tweet was deleted soon after – not before all major newswires picked it up – and the report has been denied by the IDF. We can only imagine the market response to this tweet if US traders were not all out buying beers and burgers..
The Tweet was deleted minutes later after this image (of the Syrian Electronic Army) was tweeted…
and this…
But The IDF was quick to note it was not correct…
Israeli army is investigating how posting appeared on its official Twitter account saying there was risk of nuclear leak after rocket hit Dimona facility, military spokesman says on condition of anonymity in accordance with regulation.
Tweet was later deleted; army spokesman declines to comment on possibility the official account was hacked
Study shows muddy seabed off Fukushima coast has higher levels of contamination
July 03, 2014
“We are learning that the nuclear accident didn’t contaminate the entire ocean, but created spots that tend to have higher radioactive levels than others,” said Blair Thornton, a researcher from the University of Tokyo’s Institute of Industrial Science. “We want to continue investigating.”
The Hanoitimes – The Netherlands exceeded Spain to become the third largest importer of Vietnamese tuna in the bloc.
Vietnam’s tuna exports to the Netherlands hit nearly 8.9 million USD in the first four months of this year, representing a year-on-year surge of 123 percent, in spite of an overall decrease in the European Union .
Therefore, the Netherlands exceeded Spain to become the third largest importer of Vietnamese tuna in the bloc.
The General Department of Vietnam Customsattributed the surge to an impressive rise of as high as 396 percent in the export of tuna fillet in the context of dropping shipment of other tuna products.
Statistics from the Netherland-based International Trade Centre showed that over the past five years, the European country recorded an increase of 143 percent in tuna imports, becoming the world’s 11 th biggest importer of this product.
During the first half of the year, overall tuna imports (excluding canned tuna) remained below last year’s level in Japan. Imports of fresh and frozen tuna, including loins, totalled 113 162 tonnes compared with 129 410 tonnes imported in the same period in 2012.
Notably, imports of all types of frozen tuna, except albacore, remained below last year’s levels during the January to June period in 2013. Supply shortfall for frozen skipjack was particularly high at – 47%.
Despite the weakening yen, imports of red meat quality frozen tuna loins were stable during the first half of the year. Supplies during this period increased from the Republic of Korea and China but dropped significantly from Fiji and also from Indonesia. Viet Nam was the only source that increased supply from Southeast Asia.
Beth Grant will join Walmart as director of Global Seafood
SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SCOM] July 3, 2014
Beth Grant, a veteran seafood buyer who is well known in the industry, is leaving US Foods to join Walmart as director of global seafood, reports Tom Seaman of Undercurrent News. Walmart confirmed the move.
Jeff Franzblau, who was director of Seafood Category Management at US Foods earlier left the company to move to Restaurant Supply Chain Solutions – the buying firm for Yum! brands…
The Hanoitimes – Vietnam’s proposed nuclear power program remains controversial, with a number of issues hotly debated: Does the country really need to build a new 15-20 MW research reactor? Who will be Vietnam’s partners? Which technologies should be used for the reactor and where should it be located?
No need for a high-capacity reactor right now
Vietnam already has a nuclear reactor. The research reactor, in the city of Da Lat,serves some important functions – preparing the labor force for the nuclear power program, carrying out basic research, making radioactive isotopes, , taking neutron pictures, conducting neutron beam research and testing materials.
In terms of training, a high-capacity reactor offers no real advantage over a reactor with low capacity, like Da Lat’s present reactor.
Helium has many uses besides filling children’s birthday balloons–it’s importantly used in MRI machines, wafer manufacturing, and welding. Helium is also used to cool the Large Hadron Collider–120 tons of liquid helium, to be exact–and other particle accelerators that teach us about how the smallest bits of matter behave.
Helium-3, an isotope or form of helium with two protons and one neutron, is especially useful for low-temperature physicists, who use this substance to research quantum properties, and its study has provided breakthroughs in understanding “hydrodynamics of intricately ordered systems, the microscopic theory of electrons in metals” and more. The price of this isotope remained stable for decades at a price of about $100 per liter, as reported by Nature Physics. But then something happened:
But after 11 September 2001, in the interest of national security, the US government started using helium-3-based neutron detectors (‘radiation portal monitors‘) to uncover any potential bomb-making components entering the country. That increased demand, coupled with a large order from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 2008, suddenly revealed that the US Department of Energy was allocating helium-3 faster than it could be produced. In 2008, the demand reached 80,000 litres, becoming unsustainable.
Since then, the U.S. has scaled back the use of the substance in these monitors, but there is not enough of both regular helium and helium-3 to go around. Researchers are adapting by “using cryogen-free technology that (although prone to vibration) is compatible with dilution refrigerators and superconducting magnets,” Nature reported. Helium-3 derives from the decay of tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen produced in the production of nuclear weapons–as nuclear weapon production has fallen, so has helium-3 abundance. It can also be found on the moon, so if we ever needed a plentiful supply of helium-3, we could get it there. But that would obviously be quite an undertaking.
The situation is worse today (for both helium and helium-3) than it when it was declared “unsustainable” in 2008, and that price has gone up by a factor of 2.5 each year since then. And demand is increasingly outstripping supply (for example, Cornell scientist Robert Richardson said that helium balloons will one day cost $100). So, physicists will have to start using less, writes Northwestern University William Halperin writes in Nature. That means funding will have to be found for projects to use new methods for keeping stuff cool, or technology to conserve helium and prevent it from evaporating.
The situation may get much worse beginning in 2021, Halperin writes. That year, the U.S. is set to close its strategic reserve of helium, which it draws from to alleviate market pressures.
YEREVAN—The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has indicated its support for the Technetium 99m Medical Isotope Production Project at the newly formed Medical Isotope Production Division of the Yerevan Physics Institute (YerPhI). The research and production program will use an 18 MeV (million electron-volt) proton beam of an IBAC18 cyclotron particle accelerator to be installed at a newly renovated facility of the physics institute by the end of 2014. The Technetium is produced by irradiating Molybdenum with a proton beam from the cyclotron.
Technetium (99mTe) is the most widely used isotope for medical imaging today with over 30 million diagnostic medical imaging scans every year world-wide. When injected into patients it produces radiation similar to x-rays which are used to image internal organs. This isotope has a half-life of 6 hours, meaning that half of the remaining isotope decays every 6 hours. Thus 94% of the Technetium injected into a patient decays within 24 hours resulting in minimal radiation exposure. Exposure is about the same as from an x-ray.
According to the Scientific Center of Radiation Medicine and Burns, Armenian Ministry of Health, the need in Armenia for the isotope 99mTe is 5,000 doses per year. Due to its rapid decay, and due to the fact that currently this isotope must be shipped from abroad, there is in Armenia only enough of this isotope to treat 1,000 patients per year. Thus 80% of Armenian patients have no access to this medical imaging technology. There is, in Armenia, a need for a non-stop supply of the isotope 99mTe.
The goal of the Isotope Production Division of the Yerevan Physics Institute is to develop the technology of direct 99mTe production in order to cover the need of Armenian clinics and their patients. Senior scientists at the Yerevan Physics Institute, together with recent physics and engineering graduates and graduate students are preparing the facilities for the manufacture, purification, and testing of this isotope in a newly equipped laboratory at the institute’s facilities in Yerevan. Special efforts are being implemented to assure quality and safety. This project is one of many bringing the benefits of science to the Armenian public.
Germany is achieving record levels of energy from solar and wind power (74% on one day) The State of Schleswig-Holstein is close to 100% renewable energy, from starting just 8 years ago.
Fukushima Japan Gov’t-funded Study: Fukushima has released up to 120 Quadrillion becquerels of radioactive cesium into North Pacific Ocean — Does not include amounts that fell on land — Exceeds Chernobyl total, which accounts for releases deposited on land AND ocean. Plutonium has been found in soil around Fukushima, including in a children’s playground.
Climate Change. USA In what might be a very important precedent A federal judge has blocked a coal project in the wilds of Colorado because federal agencies failed to consider the future global-warming damages from burning fossil fuels.
Scientific Reports (Nature.com), Mar. 4 2014: The total amount of decay-corrected 134Cs in the [subtropical] mode water was an estimated about 6 PBq [petabecquerels, i.e. 6 quadrillion becquerels] corresponding to 10–60% of the total inventory of Fukushima-derived 134Cs in the North Pacific Ocean. […] The decay corrected ratio of 134Cs/137Cs in soils has been calculated to be 1.0, which suggests that the total amounts of 134Cs and 137Cs released from FNPP1 were equivalent. […] the total amount of Fukushima-derived radiocesium in the North Pacific remains uncertain, because it has been difficult to obtain sufficient samples of water, especially from subsurface and deep waters, in the vast North Pacific Ocean […] Estimates of the total 134Cs released to the North Pacific Ocean ranged from 10 PBq (direct discharge of 4 PBq + atmospheric deposition 6 PBq) to 46 PBq (16 + 30 PBq). Thus, the 6 PBq inventory accounts for 10–60% of the total release. However, the total inventory in the subtropical region derived from the activity in STMW [Subtropical Mode Water] may be underestimated, because CMW probably carried the radiocesium into the subtropical region, too […] The estimated inventory in the subtropical region (6 PBq or 10– 60% of the total inventory) is probably a lower limit of estimation because contribution of CMW [Central Mode Water] was not counted. […]
Note: The study states that up to 46 PBq of 134Cs is estimated to have been released into the North Pacific Ocean from Fukushima Daiichi. Yet, it also states that the 6 PBq in the study area represents between 10-60% of the total 134Cs released into the North Pacific Ocean. If the 10% figure is used, the total release into the N. Pacific would equal 60 PBq of 134Cs. The study also states the releases of 134Cs and 137Cs were equivalent, resulting in a total of 120 PBq into the N. Pacific. This total does not include releases deposited on land or in other bodies of water.
Chernobyl Comparison: A report by the Nuclear Enrgy Agency states that when more detailed deposition data eventually became available, the United Nations estimated the total Chernobyl release of 137Cs at 70 PBq. 134Cs is estimated to have been 53.7% of the 137Cs — approximately 38 PBq of 134Cs — resulting in a total of 108 PBq. Unlike the Fukushima total reported above, this does include all 134Cs and 137Cs releases from Chernobyl — not just what was deposited in the ocean.
Russia announces enormous finds of radioactive waste and nuclear reactors in Arctic seas August 28, 2012 by BellonaEnormous quantities of decommissioned Russian nuclear reactors and radioactive waste were dumped into the Kara Sea in the Arctic Ocean north of Siberia over a course of decades, according to documents given to Norwegian officials by Russian authorities and published in Norwegian media. “…..The catalogue of waste dumped at sea by the Soviets, according to documents seen by Bellona, and which were today released by the Norwegian daily Aftenposten, includes some 17,000 containers of radioactive waste, 19 ships containing radioactive waste, 14 nuclear reactors, including five that still contain spent nuclear fuel; 735 other pieces of radiactively contaminated heavy machinery, and the K-27 nuclear submarine with its two reactors loaded with nuclear fuel.
Bellona’s two decades on the case
“Bellona has worked with this issue since 1992 when we first revealed the dangerous nuclear waste laying at the bottom of the Kara Sea,” said Bellona President Frederic Hauge.
He acknowledged, however, that a precise accounting from the Russian side could hardly be expected given Russia’s own ignorance of the extent of the dumped radioactive waste………
Making way for oil exploration
Bellona’s Igor Kurdrik, an expert on Russian naval nuclear waste, said that, “We know that the Russians have an interest in oil exploration in this area. They therefore want to know were the radioactive waste is so they can clean it up before they beging oil recovery operations.” He cautiously praised the openness of the Russian report given to Norway and that Norway would be taking part in the waste charting expedition.
Bellona thinks that Russia has passed its report to Norway as a veiled cry for help, as the exent of the problem is far too great for Moscow to handle on its own.
The most crucial find missing
Kudrik said that one of the most critical pieces of information missing from the report released to the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority was the presence of the K-27 nuclear submarine, which was scuttled in 50 meters of water with its two reactors filled with spent nuclear fuel in in Stepovogo Bay in the Kara Sea in 1981.
Crikey Clarifier: what’s all the fuss about rare earths? http://www.crikey.com.au/2014/07/01/crikey-clarifier-whats-all-the-fuss-about-rare-earths/ by Crikey Intern Bondi resident Natalie Lowrey was suddenly released without charge on Friday night after five days’ detention in a Malaysian prison. Lowrey, who was born in New Zealand, was arrested last week in Kuantan, Malaysia, for protesting against the processing of rare earths by Australian minerals giant Lynas Corp. We delve into some of the issues surrounding the case.
What are rare earths?
Rare earths are chemical elements found in the earth’s crust that are vital to many modern technologies, including electronics such as speakers, computers, hybrid cars and wind turbines. Rare earths have unique magnetic, luminescent, and electrochemical properties that help technologies perform more efficiently. They are particularly valuable for use in smartphones, and are in high demand.
What is Lynas Corp, and what is it doing in Malaysia?
Lynas Corporation Ltd is an ASX 100 listed company based in Sydney, Australia. It is currently constructing the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP), a rare earth processing plant at Gebeng, near Kuantan, Malaysia.
Lynas’ rare earth project has sparked protests in Australia and Malaysia over fears about possible negative health, environmental and economic impacts once the plant begins its operation, as it will produce radioactive material as a waste product. Although the rare earths are extracted in Western Australia, the potentially hazardous processing will take place in Malaysia.
Is there any evidence processing rare earths is dangerous?
Mitsubishi Chemicals Asian Rare Earths, a plant in Bukit Merah, Malaysia, was shut down in the 1992 after at least eight cases of leukaemia and a sudden surge in birth defects and miscarriages in the area. The plant was finally closed after an eight-year battle and is currently undergoing the largest clean-up in the rare earth industry at a cost of US$100 million. Cleaning up requires digging up the entire area of contamination and entombing it inside a mountain.
A spokesperson from Lynas told Crikey: “The Asian Rare Earth plant used the waste from tin mining as its raw material. Lynas raw material contains naturally low levels of thorium, which are 30-40 times lower than rare earth concentrates from tin mine tailings. By all international standards, the Lynas raw material is classified as safe, non-toxic and non-hazardous.”
But Dr David KL Quek, former president of the Malaysia Medical Association, has said:
“Thorium is an acknowledged waste product from the planned Lynas refinery of rare earth ores. Due to the various refining processes thorium will be enriched and concentrated to levels which could reach quantities that are difficult to contain or be safely sequestrated.
“Based on the preliminary Environmental Impact Agency report, thorium residues would lead to a sizeable radioactivity dose of some 62 Becquerel per gram. For 106 tonnes this would be an enormous quantity of radioactive residual thorium.”
Wastes from production will include radioactive thorium and uranium and their radioactive decay products such as radium and radon. Australian authorities have explicitly refused to allow the wastes to be shipped back to Australia for safe disposal.
Why Malaysia?
The Malaysian government has been more open to rare earths processing than the Australian government.
Phua Kai Lit, an associate professor of the Jeffery Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences at Monash University in Malaysia, told Crikey: “The Prime Minister, as well as the Chief Minister of the state of Pahang, are both strong supporters of the project. Similarly, political appointees such as the various ministers from ministries involved with the project echo the government’s line. The head of the main regulatory body, the Atomic Energy Licensing Board, also echoes the government’s line.
“The government has been criticised for granting a two-year TOL [temporary operating licence] in spite of no detailed environmental impact assessment or health impact assessment. Only a preliminary environmental impact assessment was carried out,” he said.
A spokesperson told Crikey Lynas plans to recycle the waste from the LAMP refining process into co-products such as plaster boards and cement. Two out of three of these products have been certified as non-radioactive by the Malaysian Atomic Energy Licensing Board.
The AELB is in charge of approving and monitoring radioactive industries and received an undisclosed sum by Lynas Corp in 2011. However the AELB denied the sum was a requirement.
nuclear-news 