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South Korea wants nuclear reprocessing and uranium enrichment

the South Korean government also wants to acquire a uranium enrichment capacity to make the traditional fuel for reactors — another activity banned by the 1974 accord because enriched uranium can also be used for weapons………. South Korea’s ambition is tied to its drive to become a major exporter of nuclear reactors.

U.S. Wary of South Korea’s Plan to Reuse Nuclear Fuel, By CHOE SANG-HUN New York Times,  July 13, 2010 “……another nuclear dispute is emerging on the Korean Peninsula — this one between the United States and South Korea. South Korea, which has no oil reserves, derives 40 percent of its electricity from nuclear reactors and is running out of space to store the highly radioactive spent nuclear fuel. Continue reading

July 15, 2010 Posted by | politics international, South Korea | , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pyroprocessed plutonium could quickly become nuclear weapon

a country with South Korea’s nuclear expertise could quickly turn pyroprocessed plutonium into weapons

U.S. Wary of South Korea’s Plan to Reuse Nuclear Fuel, By CHOE SANG-HUN New York Times,  July 13, 2010 “……..South Korean engineers are championing a new technology called pyroprocessing, which the Bush administration endorsed. They call it “proliferation-resistant” because the plutonium produced through pyroprocessing is not pure and cannot be used directly for nuclear weapons.
Skeptics say the technology is far more dangerous than leaving the spent fuel intact in storage because a country with South Korea’s nuclear expertise could quickly turn pyroprocessed plutonium into weapons-usable material should it decide to break out of the nonproliferation treaty…….
Washington is wary of South Korea’s motives. Seoul embarked on its short-lived nuclear arms program in the early 1970s when President Richard M. Nixon reduced the number of American troops in South Korea to 40,000 from 60,000. In 2004, South Korea revealed to the International Atomic Energy Agency that its scientists had dabbled in reprocessing and enrichment without first informing the agency. U.S. Wary of South Korea’s Plan to Reuse Nuclear Fuel – NYTimes.com

July 15, 2010 Posted by | South Korea, technology | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Canada’s uranium to India – a recipe for nuclear weapons proliferation

In a contortion worthy of Houdini, Prime Minister Harper claims Canada can prevent a repeat of the 1974 nuclear betrayal because India has solemnly promised to specify which facilities are military or civilian, and to keep them strictly segregated.

But this is akin to keeping a bucket of water divided in half — fissile materials, knowledge, and budgets are notoriously porous, hidden in secrecy, and immune to meaningful inspection or policing.

Canada courts calamity with India nuclear deal Selling Candus in South Asia only heightens local arms race. Straight Goods -, July 13, 2010by Paul McKay Ten days before Canada inked a nuclear sales pact with India at the G20 summit, the Indian government invited global investors to help finance its $70 billion plan to develop 20,000 Megawatts of solar power plants in that sun-rich country by 2022.That followed an official Indian government estimate that its long windy coastlines and interior deserts can host nearly 50,000 Mw of wind generation. Continue reading

July 15, 2010 Posted by | India, weapons and war | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Report on uranium in hair and urine of Punjab children

14 July 2010.  Abstract: Our test results documented that hair and urine mineral analysis results support each other. This is of interest, because hairanalysis evaluates past exposure while urine analysis detects immediate exposure. Continue reading

July 14, 2010 Posted by | health, India | , , , | Leave a comment

China building nuclear plants in earthquake area

Nuclear power stations in south China not affected by earthquake. English.news.cn 2010-07-10  GUANGZHOU, July 9 (Xinhua) — Two nuclear power stations under construction have not been affected by a mild earthquake that struck south China’s Guangdong Province Friday, company officials said.According to the provincial earthquake monitoring network, an earthquake measuring 3.1 on the Richter Scale Friday hit the junction of Taishan City and Yangjiang City where the two nuclear power stations are located.Nuclear power stations in south China not affected by earthquake

July 10, 2010 Posted by | China, safety | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Civil Liability Bill for the benefit of USA nuclear industry, not India

In the event of a tragedy, tax payers will have to cough up the compensation while foreign companies will go scot free,… foreign nuclear companies have seen their market dry up in the US, UK and France because no new plants have been set up there in 20-30 years, and therefore, India was a plum market. And it is with an eye on securing these companies’ interests that the US and other developed nations are insisting that India pass the Nuclear Civil Liability Bill.

Public hearing nukes civil liability bill  Indian Express07 Jul 2010 HYDERABAD: Speakers at a public consultation on the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill 2010 held here today pilloried the Union government for learning nothing from the Bhopal gas tregady. They described as a sellout the Bill’s provision to impose a ceiling on the compensation payable by foreign nuclear suppliers in the eventuality of a nuclear accident. Continue reading

July 8, 2010 Posted by | India, politics international | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Medical radiation in India, 1 in 5 devices not certified safe

X-ray, CT scan, MRI units: only 1 in 5 certified radiation-safe – Express India Pritha Chatterjee : Jul 01, 2010 Only 21 per cent of the radiological diagnostic machines in Maharashtra are registered with the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) for following radiation safety norms, as per the institution’s estimates.“We have 655 registrations in Maharashtra so far. A survey we conducted two years back indicated that there are 3000 X-ray units, including CT scanners, operating in the state,” said Dr S A Hussain, Head, Radiological Safety Department at AERB.The countrywide figures are more alarming: only 4,000 machines have so far been registered with the organisation, when the same survey found 60,000 machines operating surreptitiously.X-ray, CT scan, MRI units: only 1 in 5 certified radiation-safe – Express India

July 2, 2010 Posted by | India, safety | , , , | Leave a comment

Malaysian MPs not impressed by nuclear hype

“The experience in Europe actually shows that there’s a major [cost] overrun. For example, they say it’s €2 billion [but] by the time it’s all done, €4 billion total,”

The talk, featured nuclear industry speakers from Korea, France and the US……

Government nuclear pitch fails to impress PR MPs « Charles Santiago The Malaysian Insider By Yow Hong Chieh July 01, 2010 KUALA LUMPUR,   — A government-organised talk on the nuclear industry last night failed to convince Pakatan Rakyat (PR) MPs that nuclear power is the energy source most suited to meet Malaysia’s increasing energy demands. Continue reading

July 2, 2010 Posted by | ASIA, spinbuster | , , , | Leave a comment

Depleted uranium on passenger flight!

FAA fines two India cos. For uranium cargo – BostonHerald.com By Donna Goodison , July 1, 2010 The Federal Aviation Administration has fined two Indian companies $422,500 for sending a radioactive shipment of depleted uranium as cargo on a passenger-carrying British Airways flight from Mumbai to Logan International Airport in 2008

The FAA alleges that IIS & Allied Services and its freight forwarder, Gallant Freight & Travels, failed to declare the hazardous nature of the shipment, which wasn’t properly packaged or labeled.Radioactive materials are not allowed to be shipped as cargo aboard passenger aircraft, with some exceptions. The depleted uranium was destined for QSA Global Inc. in Burlington….. FAA fines two India cos. For uranium cargo – BostonHerald.com

July 2, 2010 Posted by | India, safety | Leave a comment

Strong opposition to nuclear power in Thailand

Green group urges Thailand to shelve nuclear plans, Google hosted news, AFP) –  1 July 2010, BANGKOK — Environmental campaigners on Wednesday urged Thailand to shelve its nuclear power proposals, warning that the cost of the project could be much greater than expected.Greenpeace said the government’s provisional plans to build five nuclear plants could face “huge cost overruns” and pressed authorities to instead focus on renewable energy…….

Thailand is exploring the feasibility of tapping atomic power to help meet its growing energy needs, but it has faced strong local opposition to the siting of reactors. Continue reading

July 1, 2010 Posted by | ASIA, politics | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Burma’s nuclear weapons program

IAEA to investigate Burma’s nuclear program, Radio Australia:Asia Pacific, 30 june 2010, It’s been a rumour for years but now the international nuclear watchdog has formally turned its attention to Burma. The International Atomic Energy Agency is understood to be investigating a report, written by one of its own former directors. The document draws on a new dossier of material which was smuggled out of Burma, by a Burmese weapons expert. The IAEA has approached the Burmese regime asking it to explain why it appears to be manufacturing parts for nuclear weapons.

Presenter: Jeff Waters
Speakers: Robert Kelly, former director of the International Atomic Energy Agency

Radio Australia:Asia Pacific:Story:IAEA to investigate Burma’s nuclear program

July 1, 2010 Posted by | Burma, weapons and war | , , | Leave a comment

North Korea “bolstering its nuclear deterrent”

North Korea: Pyongyang to boost nuclear arsenal, Spero News, 29 June 2010, North Korea wants to “bolster its nuclear deterrent” against threats from the United States and other nations. Experts believe that it is bluffing because it is decades away from developing an H-bomb. Continue reading

June 30, 2010 Posted by | North Korea, weapons and war | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fake nuclear waste rattles Hong Kong’s Environment Bureau

Greenpeace warns of nuclear power hazards,  The Standard, MaggieQiu, , June 29, 2010 Greenpeace yesterday protested against the government’s plan to expand the use of nuclear energy, warning of its danger.Four Greenpeace activists, wearing protective suits and masks, delivered two empty drums marked “radioactive waste” to the Environmental Bureau. (photo from Greenpeace send nuclear waste to Hong Kong’s Secretary for the Environment | Greenpeace International)

They waved a banner reading: “Nuclear is not the solution.”A suspicious leakage of radioactive iodine from the Daya Bay nuclear plant on May 23 once again points to its potential danger, Greenpeace campaigner Koo Wai-muk said….. He also said there has been no effective method to deal with radioactive waste, and instead the waste would only be packaged and transferred to some remote areas where it can be buried Greenpeace warns of nuclear power hazards – The Standard

June 29, 2010 Posted by | China, politics | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rush to market nuclear technology to India, despite its weapons record

“At a time when the international spotlight seems trained on North Korea and Iran, a growing tolerance for India’s belligerence in building its nuclear and missile capabilities appears to shield it from.. scrutiny.”…”. . . the nuclear deal is part of a broader set of [U.S.-Indian] agreements [which] US-based multinationals are . . . hoping to use . . . as a wedge to further open India to foreign investment and sales.”

Would You Trust a Country That Named Its First Nuke Test ‘Happy Buddha’?, Russ Wellen, June 28, 2010 “…………it’s the state with a reputation for being the most spiritual in the world since it’s the birthplace of both Hinduism and Buddhism — India, of course. Yet it (or its rulers and policymakers at the time) were seemingly out of touch with said spiritualism to such an extent that in 1974 they code-named India’s first nuclear test the Smiling Buddha. They even scheduled it for the day on which the Buddha’s birth is celebrated in India. This was only the start Continue reading

June 29, 2010 Posted by | India, politics international | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Vietnam’s nuclear plans unlikely to succeed

A recent World Bank study found Vietnam could produce more than 500 gigawatts of electricity from land-based and off-shore wind farms, 10 times the country’s expected national demand in 2020.

Vietnam’s unnecessary nuclear ‘renaissance’ Greenpeace International, by jmckeati – June 23, 2010 The news just in from Vietnam is that Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved the construction of eight new nuclear power plants in the country. Each plant will feature ‘at least’ four reactors and all will be operational by 2030.

So, that’s ‘at least’ 32 reactors built within the next 20 years. Good luck with that, Mr Dung, because you’re really going to need it. Continue reading

June 28, 2010 Posted by | ASIA, business and costs | , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment