nuclear-news

The oceans – a great idea for a radioactive toilet

Christina Macpherson's websites & blogs

Time was when Europeans emptied their toilet pans out of windows, into the street.

Now we think that’s disgusting.  But – now no  problem with the oceans. We’ve been dumping sewage, plastics and all sorts of rubbish into the seas for decades.

Now – the ultimate insult to the oceans –  it’s OK to dump radioactive water.  This could be a precedent for future nuclear waste problems. I’m sure that the nuclear establishment will be happy with that – if we are.

April 5, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Don’t be the nuclear industry’s April fool

Christina Macpherson's websites & blogs

When you check out the nuclear news, you find plenty of cosy little items saying how Chernobyl wasn’t so bad – very few deaths etc.  How low level radiation is not harmful to you, might even be good. How ‘progress’ is being made on the Fukushima cleanup. How it was all the fault of TEPCO anyway – the industry as a whole is safe, really. The new model nuclear reactors are really really really safe.

Don’t believe it.  In 2011 – 25 years after the Chernobyl explosion, it’s just the right time for cancers to emerge in those who were subjected to “low level” radiation in the Ukraine.  While it is true that one individual’s risk of cancer is small from exposure to low levels of radiation, exposure of many to this radiation will produce cancers in some of them. The world’s scientific authorities are united in pronouncing that there is no safe level for ionising radiation.

As to the safety of nuclear reactors, and the effects of radiation from even the normal operations of the nuclear fuel cycle –  ask yourself who is supplying this information – “What’s in it for whom?

There may be some legitimate grounds for minimising the effects of the Fukushima radiation – a reasonable aim by authorities to prevent panic, and perhaps to save the businesses of farmers whose produce is not radioactive. To avoid unnecessary anxiety in countries distant from Japan. Just ask  “What’s in it for whom? – Christina Macpherson

April 1, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Earth Hour – a challenge to the consumer society

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Some environmentalists dismiss Earth Hour as pretty much irrelevant to the global warming crisis, and to the issue of nuclear energy.

But I think that they are wrong. Earth Hour in itself might mean just a temporary drop in energy use, worldwide. But during Earth Hour, people realise how they can manage quite well, using less energy.

This is a subversive message – for it contradicts the whole “philosophy” behind society’s present rampant consumerism,
and ever-growing need to use more energy.

If the Consumer Society were to change to a Conserver Society, then the planet and its atmosphere would be treated with respect. Greenhouse gas emissions would diminish, and it would be obvious that nuclear energy is not needed. The nuclear lobby thrives on ever-growing consumption of energy and material “goods” – Christina Macpherson

March 26, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

USA’s nuclear “Waste Confidence Rule” – an act of religious faith?

The USA’s Nuclear Regulatory Commission has updated this rule – the “Waste Confidence Rule”

It sounds quite bizarre, to me. I am quite comfortable with the  idea of Pope expressing dogas.  After all, he is supposed to be infallible. But even the Pope is pretty careful these days, when he speaks infallibly, “Ex Cathedra”   the Pope nowdays at least tries to make it sound like something sensible.

But the “Waste Confidence Rule” expresses the idea that there’s no solution to nuclear waste now, but we fervently believe that somewhere down the track, somebody will produce a solution.  So , therefore, we should go ahead with new nuclear power.

Now I ask you?  Does that make sense to you? – Christina Macpherson

March 5, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Did you know about the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s “Waste Confidence Rule”?

Christina Macpherson's websites & blogs

I can hardly believe what I read (in the post immediately below this).  Can it be true that the USA’s Nuclear Regulatory Commission can proceed to make policy on nuclear waste according to an act of faith?

a “predictive” safety “finding” that simply stipulates spent reactor fuel can be disposed of safely at some unspecified time in the future, whenever it becomes “necessary” to dispose of it.

This is like the Catholic Church’s dogmas.  You gotta believe it, because the Pope said it.

You gotta believe that a safe disposal  of radioactive nuclear waste will be devised – so whoopee – go ahead with more nukes!

This also reinforces the fact that the NRC has no idea what to do with the wastes

February 24, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Nuclear politics and propaganda in USA this week

Christina Macpherson's websites & blogs

Christina Macpherson As a non American, I often puzzle over President Barack Obama’s statements and actions – especially his latest pronouncement of nuclear energy as “clean”, when we all know that it’s dirty.

However, many non Americans must be coming to realise the strange state of USA politics. With a Democrat controlled Senate, and a Republican controlled Congress – well, America could be facing an endless stalemate.

Somehow, some Republicans think it is their job to stop anything Obama does, regardless of whether Obama’s action is good or bad.

So – Obama is twisting around, and in the process, alas, twisting the meaning of words like “clean”, in a effort to get through this illogical opposition, and to actually get American politicians to work together.  It is painful to watch –  but it might just work.

Today’s posts include an article along those lines Renewable Energy a Priority in President Obama’s State of the Union Address – Business News – Energy Digital

Also included is some information on Patrick Moore, co-chairman of the pro-nuclear “Clean & Safe Energy Coalition. “, and paid salesman for the nuclear industry. Moore was at Plant Vogtle this week, trying to drum up public support for a proposed  new nuclear plant.

January 27, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

America’s expensive nuclear white elephant

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With the title “Blue Ribbon Commission for America’s Nuclear Future”, it is pretty clear that President Obama’s expensive touring panel to “find a solution to nuclear wastes” is a waste of tax-payers’ money.

Wedded as they are to promoting nuclear energy,  the panel has e an obvious, not a vested, interest in producing more nuclear waste.  Hardly an encouraging outlook, as still there is no known way of getting rid of the existing wastes.

January 6, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Warts and all, perhaps USA should be congratulated about nuclear issues?

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Yeah – I know that USA media is full of pro nuclear government and corporate spin .

But – at least the USA talks about nuclear issues.  Today, I’m fascinated that Massachusetts is giving citizens a calendar about what to do in  a nuclear emergency.  Never mind that it all wouldn’t really work –  the point is that Americans even bother to raise the subject.

Other countries don’t seem to.  China is the biggest worry. Notorious now for its secrecy, bureaucratic corruption, discrimination against ethnic rural minorities –  China now propses to reprocess nuclear fuel for a battery of new nuclear reactors.  Do they care about the effects of the wastes – wherever they dump them? Do they care about proliferation risks?

At least the USA tries.  But they’re going to need to try harder, all the same. This pathetic new Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future – still promoting new nuclear when they’ve no idea what to do with the wastes!

A dream for 2011  – that USA media has the guts to  faces up to the reality of the nuclear problem – and move beyond government and corporate media releases.- Christina Macpherson

January 4, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

USA’ Blue Ribbon Commission on Nuclear Wastes – stupid or what?

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You gotta have a little laugh at the way they do the nuclear thing in the USA.

USA has more nuclear reactors than anybody, also more nuclear weapons, and as a result – more radioactive wastes.  All over the place. The federal government has been getting sued by States – for not disposing of the old wastes.

Yet – USA keeps on making new nuclear wastes – from its increasingly aging, dangerous and decrepit nuclear terrorism targets (correction – I mean nuclear energy plants).

Blind Freddy could tell that the thing to do is to STOP MAKING THE STUFF.  But – what does the USA government do, when setting up a grand panel to find out what to do with its EXISTING mountains of waste?

Do they consider the option of just shutting down the industry, and not making any new radioactive wastes? Oh no –  they title the new gee whiz panel –  the Blue Ribbon Commission for America’s Nuclear Future? Optimism?  or just plain stupidity?  Or – in the pockets of the  nuclear lobby?

January 2, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

US sues BP for $billions, while protecting nuclear corporations from liability in India

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Ethics and justice – out the door, as far as India is concerned, say the Western great powers. Nuclear corporations of  USA, France, Russia are all scrambling to flog their nuclear reactors to India.  But they want to be sure that they won’t have to pay up, if nuclear disaster happens.

The USA government is busily suing BP for the recent gulf oil spill –  for $20 billion.  Yeah, if a British-based corporation  does harm to USA interests, well, it’s only fair and ethical to make the corporation pay up.

And of course, an American company – Union Carbide, didn’t t have to pay up for the Bhopal gas disaster in India.  (After all, it was only Indian people who suffered)

India, having experienced the worst corporation-caused environmental event in history  – the Bhopal gas catastrophe, has come up with a law to indemnify nuclear corporations if their reactor is the cause of accident  –  the Nuclear Liability Law.

USA etc are out to wreck India’s nuclear Liability Law, at the same time as making BP pay up. Doesn’t the world notice these contradictions?

December 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment

Pro nuclear spin is getting funnier, and more tragic

Christina Macpherson's websites & blogs

It is probably the success of renewable energy and energy conservation, ( a success happening in local areas, rather than centrally, or government directed) that is causing a wave of panic in the global nuclear industry.

The result – a stream of jolly news about how low level radiation is good for you!  About how Chernobyl is thriving, and we should all go there for our holidays!

And now – well, even a nuclear bomb attack is not such a worry any more!   Older people will remember “Duck and cover” – what fun that was , too! (see the video at Nuclear attack survivable if you stay inside, U.S. government says | Posted | National Post)

But there were narks around then, too, in the 50s.  Like Bertrand Russell, who pointed out that “the lucky few” would be those who were hit right in the centre by the nuclear bomb.

And there are narks around today – with scientifically thorough studies showing the long term effects of nuclear radiation, (not to mention the weapons, terrorism, and financially catastrophic risks of the nuclear industry and its mounting toxic wastes.) – Christina Macpherson

December 17, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment