Iran’s religious leaders strengthened after elections
Khamenei allies trounce Ahmadinejad in Iran election
* Supreme Leader’s loyalists get over 75 pct of parliament seats
* Ahmadinejad may be lame duck for rest of term
* Election held under sanctions pressure in nuclear row (Adds Khamenei extending influence, Khamenei ally, run-off votes)
By Parisa Hafezi and Hashem Kalantari TEHRAN, March 4 (Reuters) – Clerical Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has tightened his grip on Iran’s faction-ridden politics
after loyalists won over 75 percent of seats in parliamentary elections at the expense of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a near-complete count showed.
The widespread defeat of Ahmadinejad supporters – including his sister, Parvin Ahmadinejad – is expected to reduce the president to a lame duck after he sowed divisions by challenging the utmost authority of Khamenei in the governing hierarchy….. Absent from the vote were
the two main opposition leaders. Mirhossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi, who ran for president in 2009, have been under house arrest for more than a year.
Iran denies Western suspicions that it is enriching uranium with the ultimate goal of developing nuclear weapons, saying the programme is for peaceful energy only.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/04/iran-election-result-idUSL5E8E407H20120304
India’s political problems intensify, with anti nuclear movement
Mood at nuclear-plant stir turns anti-DMK , http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Mood-at-nuclear-plant-stir-turns-anti-DMK/articleshow/12116624.cms TNN | Mar 3, 2012 KUDANKULAM: The anti-nuclear stir, spearheaded by the People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) at Kudankulam, is turning out to be an anti-DMK and anti-Congress agitation too.
For two days, on Wednesday and Thursday, fishermen from many nearby hamlets went around removing DMK flags from the area, protesting against party president M Karunanidhi’s recent statement that the state government should have taken stern action against those staging a protest against the upcoming nuclear power plant. Karunanidhi on Wednesday accused the state government of extending “silent support” to anti-nuclear protesters.
DMK cadres in many coastal hamlets are incensed by his remarks. “We have decided to quit DMK and the same message has been relayed to coastal villages in Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari and Tuticorin. Party cadres from Idinthakarai, who are participating in the struggle, were asked to assemble at the protest site on Friday. But the decision of quitting the party is for individual cadre to take,” said T Raj Leon, a DMK sympathiser.
The mood has been anti-Congress ever since the agitation started 200 days ago. There are indications that the agitation may take a different turn in the coming days, especially after the Sankarankoil bypoll on March 18 as the state government is likely to show greater desire to resolve the issue. Close on the heels of a meeting between chief minister J Jayalalithaa and those leading the agitation, the government on Friday sent additional director general of police (law and order) S George to the region for an assessment of the situation. He toured the area to gather first-hand knowledge of the terrain. The entire police top brass in south Tamil Nadu accompanied him. A heavy police force was deployed near the plant.
Though there is no word yet on the future course of action, indications are that the state may heed to Centre’s request to clear the area near the plant for completion of works to ensure its early commissioning.
India’s Good Vision denies allegations of funding from overseas for anti-nuclear activities
Fourth ‘anti-nuclear’ NGO says we got no foreign funds in last two years, The 
Indian Express http://www.indianexpress.com/news/fourth-antinuclear-ngo-says-we-got-no…/918982/ Gopu Mohan , Shaju Philip : Kanyakumari, Fri Mar 02 2012 For the last two years, Good Vision — the fourth NGO facing government action for allegedly diverting foreign funds to fuel the protests against the Koodankulam nuclear power plant — has not received any funds from abroad.
From 2008-2010, Good Vision received foreign funds adding up to Rs 1.5 crore through CARE India, UNDP and Oxfam for implementing post-tsunami relief work. But, according to the organisation’s foreign contribution account at Syndicate Bank’s Karungal branch (in Kanyakumari district), the last monetary activity was two years ago.
While the three other NGOs — Rural Uplift Centre (RUC), Tuticorin Diocesan Association (TDA) and Tuticorin Multi-Purpose Social Service Society (TMSSS) — have denied any links to the protests, as reported by The Indian Express on Thursday, the director of Good Vision, Mano Thangaraj, is an active politician and is linked to the agitation. He is the convener of the political wing of the People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy.
Like in the case of the other three NGOs, Good Vision received a note from the union home ministry seeking details about its foreign funds. Last month, Good Vision was informed that its account had been frozen for violation of the Foreign Contributions Regulations Act (FCRA), but no reason was specified.
Thangaraj alleged the move against Good Vision was motivated by his links with the agitation. “I have been opposing the plant since 1988. My work as an activist has no connection with the work done by Good Vision, which is a purely charitable outfit,’’ he said. “We have not undertaken any work in Koodankulam, Idinthakarai or anywhere in the neighbourhood,’’ he added. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/fourth-antinuclear-ngo-says-we-got-no…/918982/
Sharp denials by India’s non government organisations, as government accuses them
Govt intensifies drive against NGOs, to scrutinize workings of 77 more organizations Times of India, Pradeep Thakur, TNN | Mar 2, 2012, NEW DELHI: The government intensified its drive against NGOs it suspects of being hostile to national interests, with the home ministry zeroing in on 77 organizations whose activities will be scrutinized following a crackdown on four NGOs for allegedly fanning protests against the Kudankulam nuclear plant. …. The government’s tough steps against NGOs allegedly diverting foreign funds to sustain the agitation against the Kudankulam power project have drawn sharp criticism while the organizations deny any involvement in the agitation…..
The government has, however, refused to divulge names of the NGOs that it says are behind the protest at Tamil Nadu. The opposition has demanded a statement from the PM while civil society activists have decried the governments strong arm tactics.
PMANE has denied allegations that it is being funded by American NGOs to organise the protest.. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Govt-intensifies-drive-against-NGOs-to-scrutinize-workings-of-77-more-organizations/articleshow/12105416.cms
Japan’s taxpayers up for $6 billion costs from nuclear disaster – it could happen to South Africans
the Japanese taxpayer is liable for losses caused by the nuclear meltdown. The fall out in Japan has cost an estimated 500 to 600 billion dollars according to Greenpeace.
Adam says clauses in South African law limit the liability nuclear power plants pay if a disaster occurs. If a disaster happens in South Africa “the ordinary citizen will be paying for a clean-up,” says Adam.
Greenpeace launches anti-nuclear energy campaign, Times Live, Pearl Boshomane and Katharine Child | 28 February, 2012 Environmental activist organisation Greenpeace has launched a campaign urging the government to abandon the move towards using nuclear energy in South Africa. This comes on the heels of an announcement by Energy minister Dipuo Peters on Tuesday that the government will allocate more funds — R300 billion– towards nuclear power plant construction
Also on Tuesday, Greenpeace released the ‘Lessons from Fukushima’ report, which states that the Japanese nuclear disaster of last year was a result of governmental and nuclear industry failures as opposed to a natural disaster. Continue reading
South Africa’s government silence as it gives R300bn to nuclear industry
“Strangely, neither President [Jacob Zuma] nor the minister of finance saw fit to mention the largest-ever procurement in South African history in the state-of-the-nation address or the Budget speech.
Greyling said there had also been no opportunity for the public to scrutinise a nuclear programme.
R300bn for nuclear plants not ‘end amount’ News 24, 2012-02-28 Cape Town – The R300bn allocated in the Budget for building new nuclear power plants is not the final amount for the project, Energy Minister Dipuo Peters said on Tuesday. Continue reading
Mayors of 3 major cities want a switch away from nuclear power
Japan cities press utility to switch from nuclear, Feb 27, 2012
* Mayors say no utility should depend on single energy source
* Only two of 54 reactors on stream a year after nuclear disaster
By Risa Maeda TOKYO, Feb 27 (Reuters) – Three of Japan’s major cities called for Kansai Electric Power Co, its second largest nuclear generator, to draw up a plan to switch to other energy sources nearly a year after the country suffered the world’s worst nuclear accident in 25 years.
The mayors of Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto, home to a total of 5.7 million people, on Monday submitted questions on prospects for alternative energy supplies and price incentives to curb demand…..
India’s P.M. blames anti nuclear activists for his government’s paralysis
Dr Singh’s statement was rejected by a coalition of women, fishermen and farmers from 17 villages that have been protesting against the plant. ”By making these absurd allegations, he is diverting everybody’s attention from the real issues here,” activist V. Pushparayan said.
Indian government paralysed, but PM blames others, The Age Rama Lakshmi, February 26, 2012 FIRST it was the fault of the news media, then of his coalition partners, but now Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is blaming someone else for his government’s inability to carry out planned projects.
On Friday, Dr Singh raised the Cold War-era bogy of the ”foreign hand”, accusing US and Scandinavian non-government organisations of stalling the commissioning of a nuclear power plant in southern India and delaying implementation of government plans to commercialise genetically modified crops by supporting protest groups.
His comments attracted a barrage of criticism….. Continue reading
Political and public opposition to Lynas’ rare earths plant for Malaysia
Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said his alliance would seek an emergency motion in Parliament to urge the government to cancel the project. He also pledged the opposition would scrap the plant if it wins national polls expected by June.
Malaysia’s last rare earth refinery by Japan’s Mitsubishi group, in northern Perak state, was closed in 1992 following protests and claims that it caused birth defects and leukemia among residents. It is one of Asia’s largest radioactive waste cleanup sites.
3,000 Malaysians rally against Australian-built rare earth plant amid radiation fears Washington Post, By Associated Press, February 25 KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Some 3,000 Malaysians staged a protest Sunday against a rare earth refinery being built by Australian miner Lynas over fears of radioactive contamination.
It marked the largest rally against the $230 million plant in eastern Malaysia, and could pose a headache to the government ahead of national elections widely expected this year. Authorities recently granted Lynas a license to operate the first rare earths plant outside China in years. The plant in Pahang state has been the subject of heated protests over health and environmental risks posed by potential leaks of radioactive waste…..
Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said his alliance would seek an emergency motion in Parliament to urge the government to cancel the project. He also pledged the opposition would scrap the plant if it wins national polls expected by June. Continue reading
India’s nuclear deal for the benefit of foreign commercial interests
The “foreign hand” argument perhaps applies more to the government than to the people, Sarma said. “Is it not the foreign hand that was responsible for compelling the UPA government to push through the Indo-US nuclear deal to serve the commercial interests of another country more than promoting self-reliance?
Anti-nuke groups slam PM remarks Deccan Herald, HYDERABAD/CHENNAI, Feb 26, 20012, Ex-secretary rubbishes foreign hand theory Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s remarks that some foreign NGOs were behind the agitation against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) were rubbished by a former energy secretary at the Centre and drew a strong backlash with anti-nuclear groups organising a big rally in Chennai on Sunday.
Singh’s remarks in a TV interview that some US and Scandinavian NGOs obstructed India’s nuclear energy programme in the backdrop of the seven-month long agitation the nuclear power project in Tamil Nadu drew a sharp retort from former Union energy secretary E A S Sarma in Vishakhapatnam. He trashed the Prime Minister’s talk of “foreign hand” and made out a strong case for suspending the works on nuclear plants in the interests of the country’s future and safety. Continue reading
Indian govt uses funding stop to counter NGO anti nuclear protest
India freezes aid group funds over nuclear protests Business Recorder, FEBRUARY 26, 2012 India said Saturday it had frozen the assets of three non-profit groups it alleges were diverting foreign aid funds to fuel protests against plans to build two atomic power stations.
The country’s move to construct two giant nuclear power stations in the southern state of Tamil Nadu and one in the western state of Maharashtra has been thrown into disarray following the protests by villagers and activists.
A senior officer at the prime minister’s office told AFP that the home ministry had frozen the accounts of three non-government organisations.
Kuwait scraps nuclear power project
Kuwait abandons nuclear power option Feb. 23, 2012, KUWAIT CITY, Feb. 23 (UPI) –– Kuwait has decided to abandon civilian nuclear power production…. Kuwait is scrapping plans formulated last July to build four nuclear reactors by 2022.
Officials at the Kuwaiti government at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research made the announcement, Kyodo news agency reported Wednesday. Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research scientist Osama al-Sayegh and two colleagues said the Fukushima incident resulted in the public questioning the necessity of building nuclear power plants in oil-rich Kuwait.
There was also the question of where Kuwait would store the radioactive waste generated by the NPPs…… Read more: http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy-Resources/2012/02/23/Kuwait-abandons-nuclear-power-option/UPI-63001330021334/#ixzz1nQxkSo5S
Call to shut down Switzerland’s old Beznau nuclear plant
Swiss environmental groups want Beznau nuclear plant shut Google News, (AFP) – 24 Feb 12 GENEVA — Switzerland’s Beznau nuclear plant will soon boast the “dubious record” of being the oldest nuclear plant in the world and should be shut down, a group of environmental organisations said Thursday.
The 15 organisations which include WWF Switzerland, Greenpeace, Fokus Anti-Atom and various chapters of the Green Party, noted that Oldbury in England, inaugurated in 1967, will shut down next week. They said Beznau should also be shut down.
“Many security problems show that Beznau has run its course,” said the organizations in a joint statement about the nuclear plant that began operating in 1969.
They said there are cracks in the mantle of the reactor and in the steel containment shell, something strongly denied by Axpo, the energy company that operates Beznau. “As a precaution the lid of the reactor is to be changed, but there is no crack,” said an Axpo spokeswoman.
Beznau is scheduled for decommissioning in 2019 after 50 years of operation. Last September, the Swiss Parliament approved a nuclear phase-out for the country’s five nuclear reactors, due to be decommissioned by 2034.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iNboOs4ir0vGEj7pkKhu4r6ryvQw?docId=CNG.72ca66ee1a4afc263528e0bb35442cac.1b1
55,000 Osaka residents want plebiscite on nuclear power
Hashimoto’s opposition a big hurdle in Osaka nuclear plebiscite drive, Japan Times, By ERIC JOHNSTON Staff writer, 24 Feb 12, OSAKA — Efforts by a citizens’ group to hold a plebiscite in Osaka on the future of nuclear power hit a major stumbling block when Mayor Toru Hashimoto formally announced his opposition to the plan this week.
Earlier this month, the group pushing for a plebiscite to allow residents to vote on whether to abolish local atomic power plants submitted a petition with the signatures of more than 55,000 Osaka residents eligible to vote. The total is more than the number required to force the municipal assembly to vote on whether to hold the referendum. Continue reading
Australian government’s special laws for the benefit of uranium mining company
Olympic Dam mine is a dam designed to leak an average of three million litres of liquid radioactive waste a day from the tailings storage facility through decades of mining up to 2050.
The federal and SA governments agreed to surface dumping of the tailings rather than to require best practice disposal into the pit.
Our uranium fuelled Fukushima, David Noonan, The Guardian, 22 Feb 12, Australian uranium fuelled the Fukushima nuclear disaster yet our governments have just approved the world’s largest uranium project in BHP Billiton’s proposed new pen pit mine at Roxby Downs. “We can confirm that Australian obligated nuclear material was at the Fukushima Daiichi site and in each of the reactors – maybe five out of six, or it could have been all of them; almost all of them”.
This frank smoking gun admission by Dr Floyd, the Director-General of the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office (ASNO) in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade came some seven months after the Fukushima crisis had started to unfold. It is quite likely this Australian uranium came from Roxby Downs in SA.
Denial runs deep in the nuclear industry Continue reading
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