Dr Helen Caldicott spells out the nuclear war danger, at USA National Press Club
U.S., Russia, Go On Hair-Trigger Alert http://www.opednews.com/articles/U-S–Russia-Go-On-Hair-T-by-Sherwood-Ross-Conflict_Military_Peace-141010-709.html By Sherwood Ros 10 Oct 14,
Tight control over town meetings, as Japan’s authorities sell the idea of nuclear power
In a statement emailed to Reuters, Greenpeace called the meetings a “farce”. The group said it was clear officials considered the event a one-way conversation without truly addressing residents’ concerns.
Japan pitches nuclear restart in tightly controlled townhalls BY KENTARO HAMADA SATSUMASENDAI Japan Fri Oct 10, 2014 (Reuters) – As part of a plan to restart its nuclear industry, Japan on Thursday began a controversial consultation process with local residents near idled reactors that was criticized for failing to give everyone in the region a say.
More than a year after Japan’s last reactor was shut down in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima disaster, officials began a series of townhall meetings to explain the approval process that cleared the Sendai plant in the southwest of the country for restart.
But local authorities set strict ground rules for the first meeting in Satsumasendai, the coastal city of 98,000 people 1,000 km (600 miles) southwest of Tokyo that hosts the two-reactor Kyushu Electric Power Co facility. “As we saw in Fukushima, once there’s an accident, the impact is felt across a large region,” said Makoto Matsuzaki, an anti-nuclear legislator for Kagoshima prefecture, where Satsumasendai is located.
“They face that risk but have no rights and no say,” said the Japanese Communist Party assemblywoman. “It’s like going to get a risky surgery at a hospital without giving your consent.”…….
The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) approved Sendai’s safety features in September. The plant still needs to pass operational safety checks.
The government says it will defer to local authorities before proceeding, but there are no legally binding rules governing the consultation process. Continue reading
Canada’s public to get iodine pills in wide area around nuclear reactors
Nuclear plants must give iodine pills to nearby residents, regulator says Radiation protection pills will be pre-distributed to people and businesses located near nuclear plants, according to a new regulation announced by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission on Friday. The Star, By: John Spears Business reporter, Oct 10 2014
Residents and businesses near nuclear plants must be given radiation protection pills as a precautionary measure, says Canada’s nuclear regulator.
The pills must be pre-distributed, before any accident occurs, in co-operation with government authorities.
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission announced the new measure Friday, as it published a new regulation. The pills, which contain potassium iodide, block the thyroid gland from absorbing radiation.
The regulation requires nuclear operators to pre-distribute the pills to “all residences, businesses and institutions” within the primary area where the plume from a radiation release would likely spread.
The radius of the area may vary from location to location but “is typically sized in the range of eight to 16 kilometres,” according to the regulation. A 10-kilometre radius from the Pickering nuclear plant would extend from the eastern part of Scarborough to Whitby.
In a larger zone — typically 50 to 80 kilometres — nuclear plant operators must make sure that there is a stock of pills “ready for prompt distribution” and “located so that it can be efficiently obtained by, or distributed to, members of the public when required,” the regulation says.
An 80-kilometre zone would embrace all of Greater Toronto………The regulation also requires nuclear plant operators to deliver emergency preparedness information “in hard copy annually to every residence, business and institution” within the pill pre-distribution area. http://www.thestar.com/business/2014/10/10/nuclear_plants_must_give_iodine_pills_to_nearby_residents_regulator_says.html
Whose finger is now on the nuclear button, in North Korea?
Kim Jong-un Disappearance Leads to Nuclear Weapon Concerns Liberty Voice, by Rebecca Savastio on October 10, 2014. Kim Jong-un’s continuing disappearance has led to speculation about whose finger is on the North Korean nuclear weapon arsenal. The Supreme Leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has not been seen in over a month. Why should the world care? Does it matter to anyone outside of North Korea if he is vacationing, ill, deposed or dead? The fact that North Korea is a nuclear power, though without the capability to launch nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles at the United States, makes the tiny communist nation’s stability of interest for everyone…….
……..The true state of politics within North Korea is an impenetrable mystery. It is disconcerting that the world knows so little about a country it fears so much. Given its nuclear capabilities, any change of government needs to be smooth and stable. Many feel that the only scenario worse than a communist dictator who hates America is a rogue element with nothing to lose. Whether orchestrated by Kim or accomplished without his authority, the moves made by the North Korean officials seem to be a small step in the right direction. The world is waiting to see what happens, because Kim Jong-un’s continuing disappearance had led to speculation about whose finger is on the North Korean nuclear arsenal. http://guardianlv.com/2014/10/kim-jong-un-disappearance-leads-to-nuclear-weapon-concerns/#gCOhfjJo3gRiifyJ.99
On anniversary of Windscale nuclear accident, UK plans another untested reactor
57 years ago today in 1957 :The Windscale Fire, Radiation Free Lakeland, 10 oct 14 ” ……..10th Oct marks 57 years since the worst nuclear accident in the UK. The bravery of those who fought the 1957 blaze was without question and they are remembered with our gratitude for preventing the far greater catastrophe of a full on Lake Counties nuclear sacrifice zone.
Official estimates point to a possibility of 240 additional cancer cases as a result of the Windscale fire. Studies reveal that the impacts of nuclear accident and routine emissions may be far wider reaching than the public is led to believe. One such study in 1995 by Dr John Bound, a former paediatrician at the Victoria Hospital, Blackpool; Brian Francis, of the Centre for Applied Statistics, Lancaster; and Dr Peter Harvey, pathologist at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary found that the Windscale fire
was followed by a surge in cases of Down’s syndrome. Their studies were poo poohed to protect the vested interests of the nuclear establishment.
This pattern has been repeated time and time again. History is now repeating itself with the plan for untried and untested new build near Sellafield.
The ruthless push towards new nuclear build on the beautiful coastline of West Cumbria mirrors the rush to build Windscale in order to produce plutonium for the atomic bomb. While “safety features” like the last minute addition of filters on the Windscale chimney helped mitigate the impact of the inevitable fire, the dangers from nuclear are inherent and accumulative. Nothing it seems is being learnt from history. The same old uranium burning technology is being proposed now for new build. The reactors being proposed are AP1000, a scaled up version of the commercially unattractive AP600. The AP1000 boasts higher efficiency, in other words it burns the uranium harder and longer producing much hotter wastes, reactors under construction now in America and China have cooling towers 600 – 800 ft. high. The other “alternative” is direct cooling with huge sea installations.
Sellafield is dangerous enough and a big enough terrorist target without putting untried, untested nuclear reactors next to it with the possibility of enormous cooling towers the size of New York sky scapers or huge sea installations.
Please remember the Windscale fire on the 10th. Remember the voluntary bravery of the Windscale workers and the involuntary bravery of all those unacknowledged babies, children, men and women who have died, or suffered health consequences as a result of the Windscale accident. The still highly radioactive chimney which stands 350ft tall has also claimed the life of steeplejack Neil Cannon who died after falling from the ongoing ‘decommissioning’. The death toll will continue without end if new build goes ahead. Surely the time has come for Cumbrians to say enough is enough and to join the resistance to new and more dangerous nuclear build.There is a petition here:
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-moorside-biggest-nuclear-development-in-europe
Documentary on Britain’s Windscale nuclear disaster
Windscale, Britains Biggest Nuclear Disaster Dharma Documentaries by Anandajoti on Friday, 7th February, 2014 “………This film traces the development of the nuclear industry in Britain, with the power stations that were so critical in providing not only energy, but plutonium, and later tritium, for the bombs.
The interweaving of politics, science and energy development put enormous strains on the whole project and risks were taken which went beyond safety levels in order to meet limits set from outside.
This led to the first real nuclear accident, though to this day it is hardly known about, as it was covered up at the time, and information regarding the important incident was only recently declassified……….for me what the film brings home is a number of things: how politics is always involved in these matters, and often in a dangerous way; how inseparable the production of nuclear energy is from nuclear bombs and the enormous risks involved if (or when) something goes wrong.
We saw in another documentary recently (Dumped Nuclear Waste in European Seas) that for the whole time of its operation Windscale (now Sellafield) and other nuclear plants in Britain and Europe have been spewing waste into the nearby oceans, a practice which continues to this day.
The problem with nuclear energy is not only its poor safety record, but the potential it has for polluting wide areas when an accident happens, and as accidents always do happen, we would be better off without it……..http://dharma-documentaries.net/windscale-britains-biggest-nuclear-disaster
France moving away from nuclear power – transition to renewable energy
French parliament backs nuclear cuts, Business Spectator AFP 10 OCT, Lawmakers in France, the world’s most nuclear-dependent country, have voted to cut reliance on the energy source from more than 75 per cent to 50 per cent within a decade.Friday’s vote is part of an ambitious makeover of France’s energy use promised by President Francois Hollande during his 2012 election campaign.
The measure calls for renewables to increase in the energy mix for electricity production, rising from 23 per cent in 2020 to 32 per cent in 2030.
Use of fossil fuels should drop to around 30 per cent.
The measure also sets a goal for a reduction of 40 per cent in greenhouse gas emissions from the 1990 levels by 2030 and a 75 per cent reduction in 2050. t also targets a 20 per cent reduction in energy consumation by 2030, in line with a draft project EU leaders are set to consider at an October 23-24 summit in Brussels…http://www.businessspectator.com.au/news/2014/10/10/resources-and-energy/french-parliament-backs-nuclear-cuts
A nuclear-free future on the cards for Sweden
The parties said in separate, but identical statements that nuclear power should be replaced with renewable energy and energy efficiency. The goal, they said, should be at least 30 TWh of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020. A goal for 2030 has yet to be set, they added. Support for offshore wind and solar power are needed “in addition”, they said.
Nuclear power “should bear a greater share of its economic cost”, they said. “Safety requirements should be strengthened and the nuclear waste fee increased.”
France doesn’t want domestic nuclear power, but keen to sell it to South Africa
South Africa, France ink nuclear partnership, DW 10 Oct14 Only three weeks after partnering with Russia, South Africa has reached a similar nuclear agreement with France. The deals represent Pretoria’s renewed steps in building up the country’s nuclear energy program. outh Africa signed a nuclear power deal with France, the South African government announced Friday, as Pretoria aimed to expand its nuclear power to 9,600 MW.
President Jacob Zuma authorized “an agreement on cooperation in the development of peaceful uses of nuclear energy” with the French Republic, a statement from his office said.
The deal comes only three weeks after Africa’s second-largest economy reached a similar agreement with Russia, which will provide the country with eight nuclear reactors by 2023 in a $50 million (39.5-million-euro) contract.
But Russia has estimated the contract value to be more around tens of billions, as one reactor costs around $5 billion.
No further details on the deal with France were provided, and the circumstances surrounding the signing remain murky, according to local media reports……http://www.dw.de/south-africa-france-ink-nuclear-partnership/a-17987145
Japan’s electricity utilities aim to slow the growth of renewable energy
Please! No more solar! Japanese utilities want to slow the rush to renewables Smart Grid News, Oct 10, 2014 “……Japan’s electric utilities are putting the brakes on renewable energy, reports Daniel Cusik at EENews.net. Solar power is creating an oversupply problem for some regions while stressing the grid.
Five of the country’s 10 major utilities have announced they will no longer accept new renewable energy for the time being until they can strengthen their grid.
In the wake of Fukushima, the Japanese government adopted a generous feed-in tariff to encourage renewable energy. The result, says Cusik, “has been a glut of new mostly solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays coming online over the last 24 months.” And no wonder — current feed-in tariffs, excluding taxes are 29 cents per kilowatt-hour for solar PV for large customers and 34 cents residential customers. And those high prices are guaranteed for 10-20 years!
The high tariffs have fueled 11,000 MW of new solar capacity since 2012 with another 72,000 MW in the pipeline. But Japanese energy experts say the surge in solar power threatens to overwhelm the country’s transmission and distribution systems, which serve 10 distinct distribution areas and are not bound together by a robust transmission system.http://www.smartgridnews.com/artman/publish/Technologies_DG_Renewables/Please-No-more-solar-Japanese-utilities-want-to-slow-the-rush-to-renewables-6809.html/#.VDnU2WddUnk
Britain’s people have been shafted in the EDF Hinkley nuclear deal
The EDF Hinkley Deal: We Have Been Shafted, City Unslicker 10 Oct 14“………..And now we find that UK plc has fallen for the same trick, but on a scale with so many noughts added, I’m not sure they can be counted. The EDF Hinkley deal, which the EC socomprehensively demolished 9 months ago, has been passed because of a small alteration which makes it just fine: an upside sharing device for the UK to claw back a bit of the gargantuan subsidies, in the event EDF’s profits are above a certain exorbitant level.
For many years now I have been predicting the French will get the rest of Europe to pay for its nuclear industry as surely as we all pay for their agriculture: and so it has come to pass. The gormless gits in Whitehall have served it up on a platter. There are some early rumours as to how the political fix was achieved, but we may never really know. Will the Germans and Austrians really block it at the eleventh hour ? I’m not pinning much hope on that.
This ‘French Tax’ on UK plc will run for 35 years, and will end up being an identifiable percentage of GDP. Countries have gone to war for less. The ‘deal’ (which, incidentally hasn’t yet been signed) needs to be repudiated fast: I might even join UKIP if they make it part of their manifesto. http://www.cityunslicker.co.uk/
What nuclear “renaissance”? – Community not convinced about uranium industry
Community Responds to Uranium Industry ‘Renaissance’ Cibola Beacon, October 10, 2014 8:52 am By Rosanne Boyet GRANTS – “We’re not seeing the predicted nuclear renaissance,” Laura Watchempino, Multicultural Alliance for a Safe Environment (MASE), told an audience of about 60 people. “The demand for nuclear materials has fluctuated wildly since the onset of the nationwide recession in 2008.”…….
Several people pointed out how the residents of Naturita had developed other sources of income after waiting more than five years for the promised uranium mill to begin operations. (The facility has not been built, according to the film.)
One person said, “That part of Colorado is a lot like this area. They have a strong agricultural heritage and a mining legacy.”
“And we have a lot of offer here for economic development,” emphasized one woman. “Just look at all the public lands, the Native American culture, and we have Historic Route 66. All of these could attract tourism.”……
Participants also discussed the health issues that have affected community members who have worked in the uranium mines.
“We need to know the numbers of people who have suffered from mining-related illnesses,” commented an employee of one area mining company. “That information is important so the community can make good decisions.”
“Mining companies only had to keep workers’ records for seven years,” responded a former miner…….
Boyd explained that Linda Evers, Post ’71 representative, was unable to attend because of ill health. (Editor’s note: Post ’71 members are seeking a Congressional amendment to the federal Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, known as RECA, which provides healthcare benefits for those employed in the nuclear industry through 1971.)
“I’m concerned about the proposed Roca Honda mine on Mount Taylor,” said Watchempino. “I know the industry has changed how it mines uranium. They have acknowledged that previous methods put underground miners at risk because of poor tunnel ventilation systems. But if they put in better venting that means all the hazardous airborne stuff will be vented outside into the air. We all live downwind from Mount Taylor.” http://www.cibolabeacon.com/news/community-responds-to-uranium-industry-renaissance/article_015f066c-508d-11e4-9623-2f95d6507248.html
South Korea’s nuclear unsafety – 684 Accidents and Failures over 37 Years
Korean Nuclear Power Plants Exposed to 1,843 Hacks over Five Years– Business Korea 10 OCTOBER 2014The number of hacking attempts against nuclear power plants in Korea was found to have reached 1,843 during the last five years. Experts are calling for special cybersecurity measures for nuclear power stations under the circumstances…..684 Accidents and Failures over 37 Years
With the situation as it is, the general public’s concerns over aging nuclear power plants as well as hacking attempts are on the rise. The total number of nuclear power generation accidents and breakdowns in Korea has reached 684 since the commercial operation of Gori 1 back in 1978. Out of those, 130 have happened in the oldest facility.
“The government is just repeating that nuclear power generation is a safe way of power supply,” Democratic United Party lawmaker Moon Byung-ho explained, continuing, “However, it would be well advised to reexamine its safety, security, sustainability, and economic advantages by taking this as an opportunity and shutting down the oldest nuclear power stations for a paradigm shift.” http://www.businesskorea.co.kr/article/6718/security-unawareness-korean-nuclear-power-plants-exposed-1843-hacks-over-five-years#sthash.iaBiCo9G.dpuf
How to Achieve 100 Percent Renewable Energy – new handbook
New Handbook: 100 Percent Renewable Energy Both Practicable and Affordable, Triple Pundit, Andrew Burger | Friday October 10th, 2014 Advances in renewable energy technology, in concert with new triple bottom line-based approaches to government and business, are key enablers of a transition from polluting fossil fuels to locally-appropriate mixes of distributed, renewable energy systems. The renewable energy transition will not only benefit ecosystems and the environment; well designed and executed policies, regulations, public-private partnerships and inclusive, collaborative business models can address societies’ most pressing social and economic challenges as well.
Powering societies wholly on renewable energy technologies widely available today is not only possible, it’s affordable, according to a policy handbook produced by the World Future Council and E3 Analytics.
Appropriately titled, How to Achieve 100 Percent Renewable Energy, the WFC-E3 policy handbook uses eight case studies organized according to four themes – cities and communities; regions and states; national governments; and island governments – to illustrate how innovative policies are promoting and paving the way to “fully fossil- and nuclear-free” societies.
A policy framework for achieving 100 percent renewable energy
When WFC and E3 write about societies achieving 100 percent renewable energy, they mean “that all energy needed within the electricity, heat and transport sector in the particular region is coming from renewable sources.”
No doubt, many will take issue with the WFC-E3 report’s contention that societies can rely entirely on today’s renewable solar, wind, ocean, geothermal and bio-derived resources and technologies to meet all their energy needs. In their How to Achieve 100 Percent Renewable Energy handbook, WFC and E3 lay out a framework of policies that organizations at successively larger degrees of geopolitical scope and scale are using today to achieve that goal……….
In Achieving 100 Percent Renewable Energy, WFC and E3’s research team highlight five key findings that resulted from their analysis of the eight case studies included in the policy handbook:
- 100 percent renewable energy is both financially and economically advantageous, generating a wide range of benefits for both citizens and governments. The benefits range from savings on fossil fuel imports, improved energy and economic security, as well as reduced energy and electricity costs for governments, local residents and businesses.
- The goal of achieving 100 percent renewable energy is not only for wealthy or industrialized countries – it is taking root in countries and jurisdictions in all four corners of the globe, including in Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, as well as Latin America. 100% RE provide a plethora of development benefits that have a high priority among governments across the world. Since almost 3 billion people suffer from both, erratic or no access to electricity and reliance on inefficient and polluting solid biomass fuels for cooking, 100% reliable, affordable and efficiently used renewables are the only realistic, long-term options for ensuring a more decent livelihood for all.
- The report finds that transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy can also make economies more resilient, reducing their exposure to external factors such as rising fossil fuel prices. In times of geopolitical tensions and climate change, this is one of the key drivers for governments to take action.
- In addition to cost savings, going 100 percent renewable generates new economic activity and improves quality of life. Case studies suggest that demonstrating a clear commitment to transitioning 100% to renewable energy can help stimulating job creation, create new business models and opportunities as well as generate new sources of domestic revenue for both citizens and businesses.
- The case study analyses suggest that a significant expansion of RE in both the transport and heating/cooling sectors will need to become a strategic priority for governments to achieve the 100 percent goal. In line with this, the analyses show that achieving 100 percent renewable energy on a sustainable basis will likely require storing excess energy in the form of either heat or electricity in individual homes and businesses and that this will require a higher level of integration between these different sectors than in the past. The total generation supplied by electricity systems should be greater than 100 percent the majority of the time to allow the transport and heating sector to be integrated.http://www.triplepundit.com/2014/10/wfc-e3-100-percent-renewable-energy-practicable-affordable/
MdAmerican to power equivalent of 1 million households with Wind Energy
MidAmerican Energy Plans To Invest Additional $280 Million In Wind Generation WOWT NBC Omaha 10 Oct 14 MidAmerican Energy Company today announced plans to develop one new wind farm site in Adams County and expand a second site in O’Brien County in 2015 – an additional investment of up to $280 million for the nation’s leader in ownership of wind-powered generation among rate-regulated utilities.
If approved, the company’s proposed wind project would result in installation of up to 67 wind turbines. The project, scheduled for completion by the end of 2015, would add up to 162 megawatts of new wind generation capacity in Iowa……..
Coupled with projects currently underway in Grundy, Madison, O’Brien and Webster counties, MidAmerican Energy will have approximately 3,500 megawatts of wind generation capability in Iowa by year-end 2015 – enough capability to provide energy for the equivalent of approximately 1.05 million average Iowa households. With the completion of this newest project, MidAmerican Energy will have invested more than $6 billion for wind generation development in Iowa, making wind approximately 40 percent of its electric generator nameplate capacity. http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/MidAmerican-Energy-Plans-to-Invest-Additional-280-Million-In-Wind-Generation-278797921.html
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