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Historical record shows that USA’s Republicans cut nuclear arms

GOP takes lead in nuclear arms cuts, Times Union .com Associated Press,   February 18, 2012 WASHINGTON — The Obama administration’s consideration of severe cuts in nuclear weapons generated a flurry of GOP criticism — “reckless lunacy” in the words of Arizona Rep. Trent Franks. But the historical record shows that in the two decades since the Cold War ended, Republicans have been the boldest cutters of the nuclear arsenal.

“Republican presidents seem to have a thing for 50 percent nuclear reductions,” says Hans Kristensen, a nuclear arms specialist with the Federation of American Scientists, a think tank founded by many of the scientists who built the first atomic bombs.

On President George H.W. Bush‘s watch, the number of deployed weapons as well as those held in reserve was nearly cut in half, from 22,217 to 13,708 warheads, according to official government figures. President George W. Bush went further, cutting the total stockpile by 50 percent, from 10,526 to 5,273 warheads.

Democratic President Bill Clinton trimmed just a little more than 2,000 warheads from the stockpile…… Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/GOP-takes-lead-in-nuclear-arms-cuts-3341848.php#ixzz1mxcZGzul

February 21, 2012 Posted by | history, politics, USA | Leave a comment

Obama govt putting the brakes on nuclear loan guarantee program

Obama administration calls for no expansion to nuclear loan guarantee program in FY2013 budget!, Beyond Nuclear, 16 Feb 12,    As reported in the Huffington Post, for the first time in three years, the Obama administration has not called for a major expansion in the nuclear loan guarantee program. In fact, it has called for no expansion at all. Continue reading →

February 17, 2012 Posted by | politics, USA | Leave a comment

For the 4th time, a failed attempt to overturn the ban on uranum mining near Grand Canyon

Fourth Legislative Attack On Grand Canyon Uranium Ban Fails ENews Park Forest,  16 FEBRUARY 2012  WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)  The fourth legislative attempt to block the Obama administration’s ban on new uranium development across 1 million acres of public land surrounding Grand Canyon National Park died Tuesday night when the House rules committee ruled it out of order. Continue reading →

February 17, 2012 Posted by | politics, Uranium, USA | Leave a comment

Polynesian nuclear victims distrust French government on compensation

PACIFIC ISLANDS REPORT Pacific Islands Development Program/East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies/University of Hawai‘i 

TAHITI NUCLEAR ATOLL COMPENSATION CHANGES DISMISSED
French president’s amendments ‘an election-related move’ WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Feb. 15, 2012) – The Moruroa e tatou veterans group in French Polynesia is dismissive of a French decree loosening the compensation criteria for victims of the nuclear weapons tests. Continue reading →

February 17, 2012 Posted by | OCEANIA, politics | Leave a comment

USA’s Steven Chu selling nuclear snake oil to the American public?

Wednesday announcements are the latest in a long list of steps the Obama Administration has taken to help jumpstart America’s nuclear energy industry:

 U.S. Energy Secretary Tours Plant Vogtle, Makes Policy Change Announcement WJBF, 16 Feb 12, Energy Secretary Announces New Nuclear Energy Research Grants and Next Steps on Used Fuel Recommendations  “The resurgence of nuclear energy starts here in Georgia,” U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu said Wedneswday, while on a tour of Plant Vogtle.

Secretary Chu stressed the importance of nuclear energy…and addressed funding plans in preparation for Plant Vogtle’s expansion. Continue reading →

February 16, 2012 Posted by | politics, USA | 3 Comments

Japan: push for a referendum on nuclear power

The anti-nuclear side has won all three referendums already held. 


Japan group seeks local referendum on nuclear power * Osaka city assembly to decide on nuclear plebiscite

* Osaka mayor anti-nuclear but lukewarm on referendum

* Activists battle apathy a year after Fukushima crisis

By Yoko Kubota TOKYO, Feb 14 (Reuters) – A group of Japanese activists submitted a petition to the western city of Osaka on Tuesday seeking a referendum on scrapping atomic power, a step some hope will boost a campaign that appears to be flagging a year after the Fukushima disaster….. Plebiscites are rare in Japan  Continue reading →

February 15, 2012 Posted by | Japan, politics | Leave a comment

Unseemly haste for tax-payer to supply $8.3 billion nuclear loan

 the loan guarantee is nearing final approval, less than a week after the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) greenlighted the license for the project.

Energy Dept. nears approval of $8.3B nuke loan, setting up clash in Congress, The Hill, By Andrew Restuccia – 02/13/12 Energy Secretary Steven Chu said Monday he expects to finalize an $8.3 billion taxpayer-backed loan for two new nuclear reactors in Georgia, setting up another battle on Capitol Hill over the government’s investments in energy projects. Continue reading →

February 14, 2012 Posted by | politics, USA | Leave a comment

Kenya urged to adopt renewable energy, not nuclear

Abandon nuclear energy programme, Unep boss urges Kenya  BY PETER ORENGO, 13 Feb 12,  Kenya has been advised to shelve its intended development of nuclear power to meet its growing energy needs, but instead concentrate on the vast renewable energy resources.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Year Book 2012, one of   United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) ‘s emerging global concerns is the challenge of decommissioning the growing number of end-of-life nuclear power reactors.

Countries have also been reviewing their nuclear programmes following the tsunami that struck Fukushima and its nearby nuclear power plant in Japan, last year…. Considering dangers and cost involved, it will be surprising if Kenya opted for nuclear energy rather than the clean, cheap and available energy potential the country has,” said Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director at Gigiri.

He said Kenya has the option of getting energy from bioenergy, geothermal, solar, hydropower, ocean and wind energy… …http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/politics/InsidePage.php?id=2000052072&cid=4

February 14, 2012 Posted by | AFRICA, politics | 2 Comments

Call to replace nuclear proponent Srinivasan with an independent expert on safety panel

‘Remove pro-nuclear Srinivasan from panel’ Press Trust Of India, Hindustan Times, Chennai, February 10, 2012 The anti-nuclear forum spearheading the stir against Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project on Friday demanded removal of former Atomic Energy Commission chief MR Srinivasan from the state expert panel to allay people’s safety concerns, calling him “pro-nuclear”.

People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) said it welcomed constitution of the four-member state panel but pointed out that Srinivasan was a “well-known pro-nuclear person.”

Srinivasan was the former chairman and a current member of India’s Atomic Energy Commission. He was also a member of the site selection committee in the 1980s for the KNPP and has been writing and speaking in favor of nuclear power and the Koodankulam project itself, S P Udayakumar, leading the anti-nuclear movement, said in a statement.

He said people had expected that the state expert team would be neutral and independent “but Dr Srinivasan is neither.So it is hard for the PMANE to accept Dr Srinivasan.”
It asked the chief minister to replace Srinivasan with another expert and expand the team with experts in Geology, Oceanography and
Hydrology. PMANE also requested Jayalalithaa to make the State Expert Team meet its own experts, consider their findings and engage in a “genuine dialogue” and listen to the fears and concerns of the people and arrive at a conclusion in a democratic manner on the basis of majority opinion.

He alleged that having failed to allay the fears of the people, the Centre was sending spies into the areas around Koodankulam “to divide
our communities, create fear and panic among the people and instigate violence..”… http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Chennai/Remove-pro-nuclear-Srinivasan-from-panel/Article1-809419.aspx

February 11, 2012 Posted by | India, politics | Leave a comment

Tamil Nadu government appoints pro nuclear enthusiast to head nuclear safety panel!

N-expert to head Kudankulam panel, TNN | Feb 10, 2012,  CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday constituted a four-member expert committee, headed by former chairman Atomic Energy Commission M R Srinivasan, to look into the safety aspects of the Kudankulam nuclear power project and address the fears of the locals. Srinivasan’s inclusion is significant as he isknown to be a strong votary of nuclear power. He was one of the .architects of the Indo-US nuclear deal.

February 11, 2012 Posted by | India, politics | Leave a comment

Canadian govt to sell nuclear laboratories, to reduce taxpayers’ financial risks

Government of Canada to Unload AECL Laboratories, TechFinance, February 9, 2012 Government of Canada is seeking “Expression of Interest” as a process of selling Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL)’s Nuclear Laboratories.

Government of Canada said this process will help inform the restructuring process, a critical step to further strengthen Canada’s nuclear industry while reducing taxpayers’ exposure to financial risks in this sector.
AECL’s Nuclear Laboratories include two main sites: Chalk River Laboratories (CRL), located in Ontario, and Whiteshell Laboratories, located at Pinawa, Manitoba…….
http://news.techfinance.ca/government-of-canada-to-unload-aecl-laboratories/

February 10, 2012 Posted by | Canada, politics | Leave a comment

5 million signed anti nuclear petition – enough for referenda in 2 Japanese cities

Japanese Anti-Nuclear Campaign Says It Has 5 Million Petition Signatures, VOA, 08 February 2012 Steve Herman | Tokyo A citizen’s group in Japan says it has collectedfive million signatures – halfway to its goal – on a petition calling on the government to permanently shut down all nuclear power plants in the country.

But amid traditional apathy among Japanese toward political movements and longstanding strong ties between power companies and lawmakers in a resource-poor country, anti-nuclear
campaigners are acknowledging an uphill struggle….

Petitioners in Tokyo and Osaka separately say they have collected enough signatures
for referenda in Japan’s two largest cities. But it is unclear if those campaigns will clear all the legal hurdles to get on the ballot. Continue reading →

February 9, 2012 Posted by | Japan, politics | Leave a comment

Brazil postpones its nuclear power project

Brazil delays nuclear plans after Japan disaster RIO DE JANEIRO (MarketWatch)  Feb. 8, 2012, — Brazil’s plans to build four new nuclear power plants have been delayed by about 18 months following last year’s accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan, an official of Brazilian state-owned nuclear power company Eletronuclear said Wednesday….

February 9, 2012 Posted by | Brazil, politics | Leave a comment

France in financial problem, with all its energy eggs in the nuclear basket

presidential contender Holland now says that he would only close the nation’s oldest such nuclear plant in his first five years in office……

Critics say that the billions it will cost to make such [necessary safety] upgrades is money that could otherwise be spent developing the country’s green energy program.

French Nuclear Debate Ignites Amidst Presidential Race, Forbes, 2/08/2012 Japan’s nuclear tragedy is igniting a debate in France , which generates more than three-quarters of its electricity from nuclear energy.  And while that nation’s presidential candidates are squaring off on the issue, an independent audit agency there may have settled the dispute for them. Continue reading →

February 9, 2012 Posted by | France, politics | Leave a comment

England’s Conservative Party – a shambles of Climate Change Denialists

In the main, the Tories are a coalition of climate change sceptics ….. Despite the fact that 60 per cent of voters think it is ‘right’ to ‘subsidise wind farms to encourage more use of wind power’.

Far from being ‘intermittent’ wind turbines operate between 70-80 per cent of the time, currently providing power for the equivalent of 3.3 million homes.

Climate change sceptics and rural romantics – the Tories are a shambles on renewable energy Left Foot Forward, by Kevin Meagher, February 7th 2012  It took less than 24 hours from the resignation of Chris Huhne for the Tories to strike. A hundred and one Tory backbenchers have written to David Cameron calling for an end to public subsidies designed to support Britain’s wind power industry.

They claim that subsidies should be drastically cut and draft planning guidance strengthened to make it easier for objectors to block wind farm schemes. Continue reading →

February 8, 2012 Posted by | climate change, politics, UK | Leave a comment

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