nuclear-news

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

Despite START Treaty, Obama escalates nuclear weapons spending

“Regrettably, his words belie his actions. The fiscal year 2011 federal budget calls for increased funding for new nuclear production facilities,

Close out the nuclear era Bennington Banner 11/11/2010 “………President Obama, at the signing of the START agreement, said: “So today, I state clearly and with conviction America’s commitment to seek peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons. Continue reading →

November 12, 2010 Posted by | USA, weapons and war | , , , , | 1 Comment

Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) – a reminder of how close we came to WW3

40-year Cold War, during which each side produced enough nuclear weapons to end life, as we know it, on this planet. No other incident during that insane time provided such stark reality to this fact than the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

Close out the nuclear era Bennington Banner 11/11/2010 When the Senate returns in session following the November election break, it is expected to act on the ratification of a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or START. The new treaty, signed by President Obama as an agreement subject to Senate ratification, and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, on April 8, commits both the Russian Federation and the United States, to reduce their stockpiles of strategic nuclear warheads to 1,550 and restrict delivery vehicles to 800 by the year 2020. Continue reading →

November 12, 2010 Posted by | history, USA | , , , | 1 Comment

Four priniciples to deal with nuclear radioactive wastes

our position can be summarized by four clear principles:
*No reprocessing of radioactive waste

*Isolation from the biosphere for as long as it remains a hazard

*Hardening and improved monitoring of the waste where it is currently stored

*Stop Making Radioactive Waste!


Sign the Petition: Principles for Radioactive Waste Policy, Nuclear Information and Resource Service, November 10, 2010 In light of its decision to end the failed and scientifically-indefensible Yucca Mountain, Nevada radioactive waste dump, the Obama Administration has established the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future (BRC) to re-evaluate radioactive waste policy. Continue reading →

November 11, 2010 Posted by | USA, wastes | , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Conflict of interest, with AREVA on uranium study panel

Areva employee on NAS uranium mining panel, Beyond Nuclear Nov10 2010, The National Academy of Sciences has now chosen panelists for a study which will be used by the Virginia General Assembly to determine whether uranium mining should be permitted in the state. Concerned citizens asked for the removal of an Areva employee, but their request was denied. Areva runs uranium mines in Niger and, therefore, has a vested interest in uranium mining expansion…..
Future meetings are planned for Saskatchewan and Colorado, specific places to be determined. While this study claims to be assessing just uranium mining in Virginia, citizens fear the results of this study could be used for other potential uranium mining sites…. Beyond Nuclear – Uranium Mining – Areva employee on NAS uranium mining panel

November 11, 2010 Posted by | secrets,lies and civil liberties, Uranium, USA | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Obama pleases his corporate nuclear backers, but safety troubles won’t go away

The problems all occurred within days of President Obama’s post-election press conference in which he promoted restarting the U.S. nuclear power industry. His remarks came after heavy spending by the nuclear power industry during the recent election cycle .

As Obama pushes nuclear industry’s expansion, its safety troubles mount, FACING SOUTH, By Sue Sturgis on November 8, 2010, Two nuclear power plants owned by New Orleans-based Entergy were forced to shut down over the weekend following serious operating problems, including a radioactive leak at one plant in Vermont. Continue reading →

November 10, 2010 Posted by | politics, USA | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hanford’s super hot radioactive waste needs a robot for cleanup

The Tank C-107 holds 247,000 gallons of radioactive and chemical sludge

Robotic arm to clean out Hanford waste tank,  Seattle Times Newspaper, 9 Nov 10, Workers at the Hanford nuclear reservation are cutting a bigger hole in a high-level radioactive waste tank so a robotic arm can be inserted for cleanup work Continue reading →

November 10, 2010 Posted by | USA, wastes | , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Not needed now? Old Wisconsin nuclear plant with safety issues history

The plant was previously considered to have the most serious safety issues of all nuclear power plants in the country,……. the energy produced at Point Beach may not be necessary for the state.

Life of state’s nuclear plants to be extended Company prolongs operation of aging facility by 20 years; critics say could increase accidents, danger The Badger Herald: NewsBy Christina Spiewak , November 9, 2010

The oldest nuclear power plant in Wisconsin will reach its projected lifespan of 40 years next month, but a nuclear operating group is planning to extend its use by up to 20 years. Continue reading →

November 10, 2010 Posted by | safety, USA | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

USA misled workers on health risks from nuclear weapons plant

General Services Administration gave wrong or misleading responses to employee questions about environmental conditions, lacked a clear understanding of its responsibilities and failed to document possible health hazards.

U.S. faulted on nuclear parts plant health threat, KANSAS CITY Nov 8 (Reuters) – Federal workers were kept in the dark about possible health risks from a plant making parts for nuclear weapons next door to their Kansas City offices, Continue reading →

November 9, 2010 Posted by | secrets,lies and civil liberties, USA | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Obama’s nuclear concessions to India, despite India not joining Nuclear non Proliferation Treaty

Both the Missile Technology Control Regime and the nuclear exporters group mandate that nations seeking membership join the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. India has not done so

Obama Eases Nuclear Export Controls on India, Washington and New Delhi also inked a memorandum of understanding that outlines areas the United States can collaborate with India as the South Asian state establishes the Global Center for Nuclear Energy Partnership, the White House announced, Global Security Newswire,  Nov. 8, 2010 President Obama on Saturday declared the United States would ease some controls on high-tech trade with nuclear-armed India, restrictions originally put in place in response to the South Asian nation’s 1998 nuclear tests, Continue reading →

November 9, 2010 Posted by | India, politics international, USA | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Backscatter”scanners at airports increase risk to health

“It is important to note that there are “backscatter” AIT devices now being deployed that produce ionizing radiation, which could be harmful to your health,”

Pilots boycott full-body scanners over health fears By Kate Schneider news.com.au  November 08, 2010 THE world’s largest pilot’s association has boycotted full-body scanners over health risks but passengers wishing to avoid the devices may instead be faced with “invasive” pat-down searches. Continue reading →

November 8, 2010 Posted by | health, USA | , , , , | Leave a comment

US nuclear missile systems are not proven effective

The authors conclude that the new US nuclear strategy is based on an alarming “technical myth” that GMD and SM-3 systems are proven and effective………

US nuclear safety claim is a ‘dangerous fantasy’, Eureka Alert, London, UK (November 1, 2010) – In April 2010, the US government adopted a new nuclear strategy that depends on the conclusion that the current missile defense systems will reliably protect the continental United States in the extreme circumstances of nuclear-armed combat. Continue reading →

November 8, 2010 Posted by | USA, weapons and war | , , , | Leave a comment

Time running out for Vermont nuclear plant

An Uncertain Nuclear Countdown, November 5, 2010, NYTimes.com, By MATTHEW L. WALD If the clock is ticking on the lifetime of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant, when will it actually close? Continue reading →

November 6, 2010 Posted by | business and costs, USA | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Radioactive rabbit near highly radioactively contaminated Hanford

Radioactive rabbit caught near U.S. nuclear site English.news.cn 2010-11-06 SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) — The Washington State Department of Health workers have been searching for contaminated droppings after a radioactive rabbit was caught north of Richland in southeastern Washington, home to the Hanford nuclear site, local media reported Friday.
According to Tri-City Herald, the rabbit, which was highly contaminated with radioactive cesium, caught the health authorities’ attention because it was close enough to the nuclear site’s boundaries to potentially come in contact with the public…..Hanford currently is the most contaminated nuclear site in the United States and is the focus of the nation’s largest environmental cleanup. Last year, 33 contaminated animals or animal materials such as droppings were found on the site. Radioactive rabbit caught near U.S. nuclear site

November 6, 2010 Posted by | environment, USA | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Obama and 200 corporate heavies to India to sell nuclear technology

Over 200 US corporate chiefs are accompanying Mr Obama, including Jeffrey Inmelt of GE, seeking to sell to India civil nuclear equipment worth billions of dollars.

US trade drive in India includes arms and civil nuclear material – The Irish Times – Sat, Nov 06, 2010, RAHUL BEDI in New Delhi US PRESIDENT Barack Obama arrives in India today on a three-day official trip that promises to be high on ceremony and sentiment but somewhat low on tangible “deliverables”…. Continue reading →

November 6, 2010 Posted by | India, politics international, USA | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Entergy trying to sell Vermont Yankee nuclear plant

State lawmakers have reacted vehemently to a series of misstatements and missteps by Entergy and leaks of radioactive tritium at the plant, in Vernon, Vt., on the banks of the Connecticut River near the Massachusetts border….

Vermont Nuclear Plant Up for Sale,  NYTimes.com, By MATTHEW L. WALD  November 4, 2010 Entergy Nuclear, evidently convinced that the Vermont legislature will not allow the company to run the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant for another 20 years, announced on Thursday that the plant was up for sale. Continue reading →

November 6, 2010 Posted by | business and costs, USA | , , , , , | Leave a comment