Secret Presidential directive – could it permit military action within USA?
EPIC filed a FOIA request to find out if the policy directive could mean military deployment within the United States
it allows the Pentagon to pursue actions against adversaries within a vaguely described terrain known only as “cyberspace.”
Exceptionally grave damage: NSA refuses to declassify Obama’s cybersecurity directive
http://rt.com/usa/news/nsa-directive-epic-foia-192/ 21 November, 2012, Reuters / Adrees Latif The National Security Agency has shot down a Freedom of Information Act request for details about an elusive presidential order that may allow the government to deploy the military within the United States for the supposed sake of cybersecurity.
The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) reports on Tuesday that their recent FOIA request for information about a top-secret memosigned last month by US President Barack Obama has been rejected
Continue reading
South Korea’s nuclear industry scandal widens
Eight companies submitted 60 false certificates to cover more than 7,000 parts used in the two reactors between 2003 and 2012, and Economy Minister Hong Suk-woo told parliament that most of the documents, which purported to come from certifying body UCI, were
forgeries
South Korea widens nuclear lapses probe; KEPCO chief resigns By Meeyoung Cho and Somang Yang SEOUL Nov 7, 2012 (Reuters) – South Korea widened a probe into how thousands of parts for its nuclear reactors were supplied using forged safety documents, with regulators set to inspect all 23 of the country’s facilities – a move that could test public support for the industry and threaten billions of dollars worth of exports.
Two reactors remained shut on Wednesday, and five others are closed for maintenance, or through other glitches, raising the prospect of winter power shortages…..
Kim Joong-kyum, president and CEO of power utility Korea Electric Power Corp (KEPCO), which owns the operator of the nation’s nuclear plants, tendered his resignation for what KEPCO officials said were “personal reasons”. Continue reading
South Korea’s tarnished nuclear reputation with 60 forged safety certificates
KHNP, fully owned by state-run utility Korea Electric Power Corp (KEPCO), reported eight firms that supplied parts had forged 60 certificates to cover 7,682 items between 2003 and 2012, the ministry and the company officials said.
South Korea widens nuclear investigation, risks power cuts By Meeyoung Cho SEOUL Nov 6, 2012 (Reuters) – South Korea’s main nuclear power supervisor extended an investigation into forged safety certificates for reactor components to three more facilities on Tuesday, a day after shutting down two reactors……
in the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan, there were concerns the discovery could tarnish the image of the country’s nuclear program. Continue reading
Democracy eroding in India
ID please, keep it ready for all reserved rail trips after Dec 1 Hindu Business Line, MAMUNI DAS NEW DELHI, NOV 1: From December1, you require an original identity proof to travel in any reserved services of the Indian Railways. Those without identity proof will be treated as travelling without ticket and attract a penalty equivalent to the ticket fare….
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/id-please-keep-it-ready-for-all-reserved-rail-trips-after-dec-1/article4054531.ece?homepage=true
UK govt sneaking subsidy into new nuclear industry?
“A subsidy is still a subsidy, even if it is given to others.”
New nuclear reactors could be eligible for subsidies, says minister. John Hayes says there will be no market support ‘unless similar support is also made available to other types of generation’ Juliette Jowit, political correspondent guardian.co.uk, 1 November 2012 The nuclear industry could get subsidies from the taxpayer to build new reactors, the new energy minister has said, despite opposition in the coalition agreement and repeated assurances to the contrary. Continue reading
Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s careful censorship of the facts
America’s nuclear safety under scrutiny after Oyster Creek’s Sandy alert US nuclear regulators model risk from seismic activity or flooding based on past history. That’s leaving way too much to luck Richard Schiffman guardian.co.uk, 1 November 2012 “…..The Huffington Post reported earlier this month that:
“According to the NRC’s own calculations … the odds of the dam near the Oconee plant [operated by Duke Energy in South Carolina] failing at some point over the next 22 years are far higher than were the odds of an earthquake-induced tsunami causing a meltdown at the Fukushima plant.”
This alarming news, however, was blacked out of the NRC’s public report. It was leaked by the lead author, Richard H Perkins, who said that his work had been censored because it revealed that:
“The NRC has been in possession of relevant, notable, and derogatory safety information for an extended period but failed to properly act on it.”
In another section of the report, about the Fort Calhoun nuclear plant in Nebraska, NRC redactors removed information indicating that the failure of the Oahe or Fort Randall dams could result in levels of rampaging water higher than the plant’s flood protection walls. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission evidently believes that it is better to hide the facts about nuclear risks than to fix the problem.
Critics allege that not only does the NRC withhold critical information, but also fails in many cases to enforce regulations that are already on the books. David Lochbaum warns:
“I’m most concerned about the NRC’s practice of allowing unsafe reactors to operate. UCS’s Nuclear Power Information Tracker shows 47 reactors that NRC knows to violate fire protection regulations and 27 reactors with seismic protection known to be less than the seismic hazards they face. These pre-existing vulnerabilities mean that the American public is protected more by luck than by skill.”
And if superstorm Sandy, and the increasing frequency of other extreme weather events in recent years is any evidence, America’s luck may be running out. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/nov/01/nuclear-safety-oyster-creek-sandy-alert?fb=native&CMP=FBCNETTXT9038
Corruption in Pacific rim countries means that nuclear power safety is unlikely
Karamoskos points to an international transparency-and-corruption scale compiled by Transparency International (partially supported by AusAID) as a reasonable indicator of whether countries can take on the complex safety responsibilities of nuclear power. Indonesia doesn’t rate highly on this scale, coming in at 100 of 183 countries on the Corruption Perception Index; Vietnam and Bangladesh are worse, at 112 and 120 respectively. India ranks 95th.
“That’s my first and foremost concern — do these countries have the underlying principles … to foster a robust safety culture?”
Asia’s Nuclear Feeding Frenzy Global Mail By Clare Blumer October 30, 2012
How safe is the Pacific rim, where 100 reactors in 10 years are planned, some in earthquake-prone, developing nations? Ask the fish.
“You can’t decontaminate that forest,” says Australian radiologist Dr Peter Karamoskos about Fukushima, the region of Japan hardest hit by last year’s deadly earthquake and tsunami.
“The stuff is on the ground — in the leaves, in the trees,” he says, referring to the radioactive matter that has blanketed the region since the disaster. Inside the 20 kilometre exclusion zone, radiation from the earth — known as “ground shine’’ — is so bad people are still not allowed to enter. Continue reading
India: more arrests of peaceful protestors in Tamil nadu
We have information that 25 members of Tamizhaga Vazurimai Iyyakam from Salem (including the district secretary), 2 members of Dalit Viduthalai Katchi from Avinashi, and 1 member each from MDMK and Nam Tamilar Iyyakam from Tirupur are presently under preventive detention. The Police have maintained that they are only being detained and will not be arrested but the status remains unclear at the time of sending out this report.
Another 42 members of Pengal Munnani have been detained by the police at Kulithalai Railway Station and taken to Kulithalai police station. The police have said that they will get the signatures of the people and let them leave after 11 pm.
Tepco will make all 100,000 employees work at Fukushima annually
Report: 100,000 Tepco employees being sent to Fukushima in 2013 http://enenews.com/100000-tepco-employees-expected-to-go-to-fukushima-in-2013-all-of-companys-workers-to-be-sent
Report: 100,000 Tepco employees being sent to Fukushima in 2013
October 27th, 2012
Oct. 27 ,2012 report in Nikkei with summary translation by Fukushima Diary:
In the mid-term administration plan, Tepco decided to send all of their employees to Fukushima for decontamination from 2013.
They are sent to Fukushima for 2~3 times a year, about 100,000 people in total will go to Fukushima annually.
This is not volunteer, this is obligation.
Google translation of an excerpt from the Nikkei report:
USA doesn’t like Imran Khan’s anti drone opinions
This Former Cricket Star Turned US Drone Critic Was Pulled From His Plane On The Way To The States http://www.businessinsider.com/this-former-cricket-star-turned-us-drone-critic-imran-khan-got-hauled-off-a-plane-for-questioning-on-his-way-to-the-states-2012-10 AP | Oct. 28, 2012, Imran Khan, the cricketer turned politician, claimed he was taken off an international flight by US immigration officials and questioned about his views on drones and jihad before being allowed into the country, it emerged on Saturday
Mr Khan has emerged as a leading critic of US policy in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and his party is poised to make a breakthrough in elections due next year. Continue reading
Pink-washing: corporate hypocrisy about breast cancer
Corporations Cashing in Big Time on Breast Cancer — 5 Shocking Hypocrisies By Brittany Shoot Corporations Ca Some of the most visible companies slapping pink ribbons on their products also have the most to hide. October 23, 2012 |
slapping pink ribbons on their products also have the most to hide when it comes to carcinogenic materials, toxic ingredients and rampant anti-woman attitudes and practices…..
This year is no different. For every well-intentioned campaign meant to raise awareness about the need for breast cancer research and funding, branded products still contain cancer-linked chemicals and toxins. Athletic teams look like they’ve bathed in Pepto Bismol, yet their high-profile athletes are still being accused and convicted of egregious sex crimes. Food manufacturing giants use packaging full of cancer-linked chemicals, yet partner with breast cancer organizations to funnel money toward research. Can you spot the biggest losers in this year’s depressing lineup of toxic pink products?…. http://www.alternet.org/activism/corporations-cashing-big-time-breast-cancer-5-shocking-hypocrisies?akid=9598.1070654.KXEheZ&rd=1&src=newsletter734486&t=3
Corporate lobbying against research on cancer causers
Chemistry Council trying to lobby Washington to cut off funding for research on carcinogens , October 28, 2012 by: Ethan A. Huff, staff writer (NaturalNews) Every two years, the National Toxicology Program (NTP), which operates under the banner of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), releases a congressionally-mandated report entitled the “Report on Carcinogens” (RoC) that identifies various agents, substances, mixtures, or exposures that are known to cause cancer. But the American Chemical Society (ACS), which represents many of the biggest names in the cancer-causing chemical industry, is currently trying to lobby Congress to stop the publishing of this important document…. http://www.naturalnews.com/037724_Chemistry_Council_lobbying_carcinogens.html
India stops Australian film maker entering Kudankulam anti nuclear protest area
Australian filmmaker prevented from entering Kudankulam 25 Oct 
12http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_australian-filmmaker-prevented-from-entering-kudankulam_1756187 , Oct 25, 2012, Three persons from Australia were today prevented from entering Idinthakarai, the epicentre of protests by People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy leading the stir against Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tirunelveli district, police said.
Filmmaker David Bradbury along with his wife and son arrived in India on tourist visas and were about to enter Idinthankarai from Kanyakumari district this morning when police stopped them near Radhapuram police station, they said.
“After interrogations, the three were made to go back, since prohibitory orders were in place,” an officer said.
The PMANE has been leading protests against the plant for over a year citing safety concerns.
Commissioning of the first unit of the Indo-Russian project was originally scheduled for December last year, but has been delayed due to the protest.
Japan official fudging of radiation readings
False hope: radiation monitoring in the Fukushima area (includes video) Greenpeace by Greg McNevin – October 23, 2012 Last week, three Greenpeace radiation-monitoring teams took to the streets of Fukushima City and the heavily contaminated region of Iitate to again record and assess contamination threats.
Like many trips before, we noticed decreased expose rates in a few areas, but many hotspots remain throughout heavily populated Fukushima City. What is more concerning, however, is the official government radiation monitoring stations that have appeared throughout the city.
Earlier this month The Association for Citizens and Scientists Concerned About Internal Radiation Exposures raised concerns that the Japanese government was manipulating radiation readings with these official monitoring stations. Continue reading
Japan Engineer: Tepco won’t spend money needed at Fukushima Daiichi — Asahi: Tepco still giving large ‘donations’ to areas with nuclear facilities (VIDEO) http://enenews.com/japan-engineer-tepco-wont-spend-money-needed-fukushima-daiichi-asahi-tepco-giving-large-donations-areas-nuclear-facilities Continue reading
1 This Month
26 September – International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
PLEASE OPPOSE HR 8255 AND S.3639 – bills would accelerate satellite deployment, with no environmental review or safeguards – https://ncstd5li.quorum.us/campaign/169331/
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity – go to https://nuclearinformation.wordpress.com
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