nuclear-news

The News That Matters about the Nuclear Industry Fukushima Chernobyl Mayak Three Mile Island Atomic Testing Radiation Isotope

Police shoot dead an anti nuclear fisherman in Southern India

One killed in India nuclear plant protest http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/one-killed-in-india-nuclear-plant-protest/story-e6frf7k6-1226471469932    From: Herald Sun, AFP  September 11, 2012    POLICE have shot dead a fisherman during a mass protest against the loading of uranium at a nuclear power plant in southern India.

Steel-helmeted officers ringed one of two 1000-megawatt nuclear reactors in Tamil Nadu state’s Koodankulam region as hundreds of activists tried to lay a siege of the Russia-backed project, television footage showed.

The protests then spread and a 48-year-old fisherman was killed when police opened fire at activists staging another rally in the nearby Tuticorin district, according to a report by the Press Trust of India.

“A number of people including police personnel have received injuries in the clashes,” another officer said while TV footage showed anti-riot personnel chase some of the activists, including women, into the nearby sea.

Monday’s violence comes six months after a lull in protests at the plant, which campaigners say could endanger the lives of locals in the case of a nuclear disaster.

The Press Trust of India said the new protests were in opposition to the loading of enriched uranium in the plant’s reactor…..

Since Fukushima, Indian activists have also campaigned to stop work scheduled to start in 2013 at Jaitapur in western Maharashtara state which would be one of the world’s biggest nuclear facilities.

Nuclear energy has been a priority for India since 2008 when then-US president George W. Bush signed into law a deal with New Delhi that ended a three-decade ban on US nuclear trade with the country.

Since then, France, Russia and private US and Japanese firms have been locked in fierce competition to sell new reactors to India.

September 12, 2012 Posted by | civil liberties, India | Leave a comment

The world’s most dangerous nuclear reactor – Monju, Japan

Problem plagued nuclear reactor called world’s most dangerous via ABC News, The Atomic Age, May 2012 http://lucian.uchicago.edu/blogs/atomicage/2012/09/10/problem-plagued-nuclear-reactor-called-worlds-most-dangerous-via-abc-news/
Japan’s Monju nuclear reactor was supposed to be a model of power generation in the future, but it’s had many problems and in two decades it’s only generated one hour’s worth of electricity.

EMMA ALBERICI, PRESENTER: It’s supposed to be the future of nuclear power generation, a reactor that produces its own fuel in a self-sustaining cycle. Known as Monju, the reactor on the country’s west coast is held up as the saviour of a nation without energy resources. But Monju has been plagued with problems and many call it the most dangerous reactor in the world. In part two of his series on Japan’s so-called nuclear alley, North Asia correspondent Mark Willacy was given an exclusive look inside Monju.

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: People frolic in its shadow, a reactor its critics call the most dangerous in Japan. The name Monju comes from one of Buddha’s chief attendants, a purveyor of enlightenment depicted resting on the back of a lion, a beast whose phenomenal powers are controlled only by Monju’s wisdom.

But opponents of this prototype reactor fear its operators do not have the wisdom to harness its enormous energy.

KEIJI KOBAYASHI, FAST-BREEDER REACTOR EXPERT (voiceover translation): If a meltdown happens, it will get out of control very quickly. If the reactor core was to melt, the explosive energy would produce a blast like a nuclear bomb.

FUKIKO IKEJIMA, ‘STOP MONJU’ GROUP (voiceover translation): If a big accident were to happen, the impact would not stop in Japan, but spread around the world. It is our most dangerous reactor.

MARK WILLACY: And this is one of the reasons many Japanese fear Monju, because it uses sodium to cool a reactor, the substance that can ignite upon contact with oxygen. In 1995, a sodium leak at Monju caused a serious fire, one that resulted in the plant being out of operation for 15 years.

Lateline was given an exclusive tour of Monju, including an interview with the plant’s director-general, Satoru Kondo.

Continue reading at Problem plagued nuclear reactor called world’s most dangerous

September 12, 2012 Posted by | Japan, Reference, safety | Leave a comment

Japan – no blackouts despite nuclear power almost completely shut down

No summer blackouts: nuclear scaremongering in Japan proven false  http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/Blogs/nuclear-reaction/no-summer-blackouts-nuclear-scaremongering-in/blog/42057/ 
 by Justin McKeating – September 10, 2012 Despite the dire warnings from the nuclear industry and its backers, Japan’s hot summer has passed with no power blackouts or shortages even though just two out of its 50 nuclear reactors were in operation.  Continue reading →

September 12, 2012 Posted by | Japan, politics | Leave a comment

Nuclear industry says it will take 40 years to decommission Fukushima nuclear reactors

It will take 40 years, the nuclear industry says, to decommission the reactors. (Not the 6 months the industry claimed would be required to bring the “slightly damaged” reactors back online.)

Slow progress containing problems at Fukushima, new ones arise   http://nuclearhistory.wordpress.com/2012/09/11/slow-progress-containing-problems-at-fukushima-new-ones-arise/  September 11, 2012 The Asahi Shimbun Japan By TAKASHI SUGIMOTO/ Staff Writer The operator is having difficulty pumping water into destroyed reactors at the Fukushima No. 1 plant, tanks are rapidly filling with radioactive water, and hundreds of potentially volatile uranium fuel assemblies remain in a precarious storage pool that some warn could collapse in another strong earthquake. Continue reading →

September 12, 2012 Posted by | Fukushima 2012, Reference, safety | Leave a comment

Cesium found in deep subsea mud along West coast of Japan

Asahi: “Significant quantity” of cesium detected along West Coast of Japan — Concentrations rise as it gets deeper http://enenews.com/asahi-significant-quantity-of-cesium-detected-along-west-coast-of-japan-concentrations-rise-as-it-gets-deeper 
 September 11th, 2012  By ENENews 
Title: Radioactive fallout detected far from Fukushima 
Source: Asahi Shimbun
Author: NOBUTARO KAJI
Date: September 11, 2012
A significant quantity of radioactive cesium, likely from the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, has turned up in subsea mud about 200 kilometers away, near the mouth of the Shinanogawa River on Japan’s northwestern coast.
Scientists said samples taken in 2011 at Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, contained concentrations of up to 460 becquerels per kilogram of dry mud

[…]

The highest concentration was 2-3 cm below the mud surface at a water depth of 30 m. That reading of 460 becquerels per kg compares to samples of over 400 becquerels around the mouth of the Arakawa river in Tokyo Bay in August 2011.

Both readings are dozens of times higher than contamination detected after past atmospheric nuclear tests.

At a depth of 20 m the maximum concentration was 318 becquerels per kg, while at 15 m it was 255 becquerels.

[…]

September 12, 2012 Posted by | Japan, oceans | Leave a comment

Radiation load on Fukushima cleanup workers

Tepco admits it will run out of workers in 5 years unless a way is found to reduce radiation exposure (VIDEO) http://enenews.com/nhk-tepco-says-it-will-run-out-of-help-in-5-years-unless-it-finds-a-way-to-reduce-workers-radiation-exposure-video 
September 11th, 2012  By ENENews 
Title: One and half years after Fukushima accident
Source: NHK WORLD English
Date: Sep. 10, 2012

“Tepco managers have had a tough time attracting workers. They say they will run out of help in 5 years unless they can find a way to reduce workers’ exposure to radiation.” -NHK Transcript

One and a half years have passed since the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Tokyo Electric Power Company has many problems to overcome before achieving its promise to decommission the crippled plant in about 40 years.

[…]

TEPCO also wonders if it can secure enough workers for the next 5 years. It said it will see a shortage of workers unless it finds ways for them to avoid exposure to radiation.

September 12, 2012 Posted by | Fukushima 2012 | Leave a comment

Cesium increasing in Tochigi environment

Cesium from incineration ash of normal garbage is not decreasing in Tochigi, Fukushima Diary  by Mochizuki   September 10th, 2012 ·   It has been 16 months since 311, but still high level of cesium is found in incineration ash of normal garbage. It means a certain amount of cesium is still coming from Fukushima. Other nuclides are not analyzed.

From the beginning of 2012, cesium from incineration ash is not decreasing in Ashikaga city, Tochigi. (185km from Fukushima) As the whole ecosystem, cesium is being accumulated in the environment.

On 8/30/2012, Ashikaga city government published the data of cesium detected from incineration ash. The incineration ash is not from disaster debris, only from normal garbage.

The cesium (Cs-134/137) amount in the total of fly ash and incineration ash is like below…… http://fukushima-diary.com/2012/09/cesium-from-incineration-ash-of-normal-garbage-is-not-decreasing-in-tochigi/#.UE4am9o5ekc.facebook

September 12, 2012 Posted by | environment, Japan | Leave a comment

Kawasaki city serves students radioactive lunches

Kawasaki city mayor, “School serves radioactive lunch for educational
purpose.” http://fukushima-diary.com/2012/09/kawasaki-city-mayor-school-serves-radioactive-lunch-for-educational-purpose/#.UE6PhZVElhg.facebook  by Mochizuki on September 10th, 2012 · Schools keep serving contaminated lunch for the students and they
don’t even solve the problem. (cf. Cesium from finished school lunch in Miyagi) Continue reading →

September 12, 2012 Posted by | Japan, Religion and ethics | Leave a comment

Tense situtaion in Kudankulam, as 3,000 protest fuel loading at nuclear reactor

Tension mounts as protesters stay put near Kudankulam plant THE HINDU, P. SUDHAKAR , 9 sept 12, Tension prevailed here for about five hours on Sunday as the police thwarted a bid by about 3,000 agitators to lay siege to the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) site to protest fuel-loading in the reactor. Continue reading →

September 10, 2012 Posted by | India, opposition to nuclear | Leave a comment

Children living with radioactive contamination

FRCSR: “Inhumane, inexcusable act” as many children and adults under observation while living with radioactive contamination  http://enenews.com/frcsr-inhumane-inexcusable-act-many-people-observation-living-radioactive-contamination-physician-unexpectedly-early-rapid-increase-thyroid-cancer-young-after-chernobyl-downplays-fukushima-tests-sh
 September 8th, 2012  
By ENENews
Fukushima Voice, the website of Fukushima Radioactive Contamination Symptoms Research or (FRCSR), examines the August 29, 2012 press conference in Tokyo by members of the International Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW):
Q: What do you think about the high number of thyroid abnormalities found in Fukushima children? Continue reading →

September 10, 2012 Posted by | Fukushima 2012 | Leave a comment

Cesium contamination in 85% of Fukushima rockfish

85% of Fukushima rockfish exceeds safety limit in cesium, cesium measured from all samples since 311 http://fukushima-diary.com/2012/09/85-of-fukushima-rockfish-exceeds-safety-limit-in-cesium/#.UEzuJoRzoNU.facebook  by Mochizuki  September 9th, 2012 ·   Fukushima prefecture is trying to start selling fishery products but the actual contamination situation is not widely known. (cf. Fukushima will test-fish 7 more kinds of fishery products)

Even US keeps importing fishery products from Japan. (cf. US keeps importing fishery food from Japan even after 311)

White rockfish (Shiromebaru) is the type of fish living in shallow reef or seaweed bed, diet is crustacean and small fish.

According to the measurement data of Fukushima prefecture [Link], they measure cesium higher than the safety limit (100Bq/Kg) from 84.85% of all the white rockfish samples from offshore Fukushima.

They started measuring Fukushima white rockfish as of 6/21/2011. Until the latest measurement of 8/30/2012, they tested 99 samples.

Cesium (>100Bq/Kg) was detected from 84 of them. Also, cesium was measured from all of the samples.

The historical highest amount was 3,200 Bq/Kg fished on 7/4/2011. 1,730 Bq/Kg of cesium was detected from the sample fished on 8/26/2012 as well.

The measurement result is represented in the graph [provided n this article]. It shows the radiation level is still not decreasing even in 2012.

September 10, 2012 Posted by | Fukushima 2012 | Leave a comment

Nuclear lobby gets its claws into the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

APEC Leaders Safe Use of Nuclear Energy  Power Industry News 9 Sept 12, Asia-Pacific leaders wrapped up two days of their summit talks on Sunday with an agreement to ensure the safe use of nuclear energy and a renewed commitment to forestalling protectionism. Leaders of the 21 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum adopted a joint declaration and related documents at their meeting in the Russian Far East city of Vladivostok….

Specifically, they agreed to “ensure the safe and secure use of nuclear energy as a clean energy source in interested economies.” Their accords also include the promotion of steady investment in energy infrastructure….http://www.utilityproducts.com/news/2012/09/09/apec-leaders-safe-use-of-nuclear-energy.html

September 10, 2012 Posted by | ASIA, OCEANIA, politics international | Leave a comment

Taiwan’s crackdown on anti nuclear protestors

Anti-nuclear protesters confronted by Taipower ‘thug’ police: DPP lawmaker Taipei Times, 9 Sept 12, By Su Yung-yao and Jake Chung   The National Police Agency special police second headquarters has taken the lead in countering anti-nuclear activities and become a thug for Taiwan Power Co (Taipower), Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Cheng Li-chun (鄭麗君) said yesterday.
Cheng said the headquarters’ Web site included an articled titled “The anti-nuclear trend is no longer fashionable”, which claims that anti-nuclear activists are irrational, use false data and base their views on the slim chance that a nuclear disaster might happen……
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2012/09/10/2003542412

September 10, 2012 Posted by | civil liberties, Taiwan | Leave a comment

Fukushima nuclear reactor No 4: spent fuel pool still a high danger

Japan Times: Unit 4 fuel pool continues to alarm scientists and gov’t officials around the world — ‘Intense criticism’ from some senior US officials  http://enenews.com/japan-times-unit-4-fuel-pool-continues-to-alarm-scientists-and-govt-officials-around-the-world-intense-criticism-from-some-senior-us-officials
By ENENews 
Title:   Global help urged to avert reactor 4 pool fire | The Online 
Source: Japan Times 
Author: ERIC JOHNSTON
Date: Sep. 8, 2012
The risk of a fire starting in reactor 4′s spent-fuel pool at the Fukushima No. 1 plant continues to alarm scientists and government officials around the world, prompting a leading U.S. nuclear expert to urge Japan to tap global expertise to avert a catastrophe.
[…]

During a trip to Japan in late August and early September, [Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds Energy Education nonprofit organization] met with Diet members, lawyers and citizens’ groups to discuss conditions at the wrecked power station and told an audience in Kyoto on Monday that fears over the spent-fuel pool in reactor 4 remain high.

[…]

concerns persist among experts worldwide that reactor 4′s pool is still at risk of boiling dry. If this were to occur, it would necessitate a massive and immediate evacuation of the surrounding area.

[…]

But the state of the fuel pool and the lack of preparations to deal with a possible fire has drawn intense criticism not just from experts like Gundersen but also from some senior officials in the U.S…

September 10, 2012 Posted by | Fukushima 2012 | Leave a comment

Japan’s nuclear lobby trying to keep nuclear power off the election topics

Japanese Professor: All the nuclear interests want to do is avoid making nuclear power a central election issue — Gundersen: Gov’t trying to frighten public  http://enenews.com/japanese-professor-all-the-nuclear-interests-want-to-do-is-avoid-making-nuclear-power-a-central-election-issue-gundersen-govt-trying-to-frighten-public 
 September 6th, 2012 
By ENENews Title: Japan stresses cost of ending nuclear power as decision loomsSource: REUTERSAuthors: Linda Sieg and Aaron Sheldrick; Additional reporting by Risa Maeda, Kentao Hamada and Tetsushi Kajimoto; Editing by Robert Birsel

…..a forecast [by Japan’s government said] that household energy bills would by 2030 rise by nearly double 2010 levels if Japan abandoned nuclear power.

But that has been disputed. Continue reading →

September 10, 2012 Posted by | Japan, politics | Leave a comment

« Previous Entries     Next Entries »