nuclear-news

Nuclear plant in radioactive waste blunder Rob Edwards, from Sunday Herald, 30 September 2012 Radioactive waste went astray because of a blunder by one of Scotland’s nuclear power stations at Torness in East Lothian, the Sunday Herald can reveal.

The revelation comes as the nuclear industry is proposing to transport
significant amounts of potentially dangerous wastes across Scotland,
and against the background of a steep rise in nuclear transport
accidents.

It has prompted angry reactions from environmental groups, who accuse
the industry of an “alarming foul-up”. They say that radioactive waste
should be looked after where it is created, rather than being moved
around the country.

The French operator of Torness, EDF Energy, has been reprimanded by
the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) for breaking the
rules meant to ensure that radioactive waste is safely handled. It
wrongly sent 28 oil drums containing 26 litres of radioactive sludge
to be recycled at a plant near the Sellafield nuclear complex in
Cumbria…… http://www.robedwards.com/2012/09/nuclear-plant-in-radioactive-waste-blunder.html

October 4, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Duke Energy says Crystal River nuclear repair could exceed $3 billion Reuters by Eileen O’Grady T, October 1, 2012 HOUSTON  – Returning the damaged Crystal River nuclear unit in Florida to service could cost $3 billion and take eight years, according to an independent review of repair options commissioned by Duke Energy as it pursued a merger with Progress Energy earlier this year, the utility said in a filing Monday. Continue reading →

October 4, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Oil companies prepared to risk environmental disaster in Arctic

despite the risks, most of the world’s biggest oil companies are eyeing the Arctic. US giant ExxonMobil has signed an exploration deal for the Russian Arctic with Rosneft, as have Italy’s Eni and Norway’s Statoil. Statoil is also working in the Norwegian Arctic and is partnering Cairn Energy off Greenland

Risky business: oil giants chase Arctic bounty http://www.theage.com.au/world/risky-business-oil-giants-chase-arctic-bounty-20121001-26vew.html#ixzz28AfLRrIN October 2, 2012 Emily Gosden Energy companies are looking at the potential riches, but one is breaking ranks. DRILLING for oil and gas has always been a risky business; overcoming technical, political and environmental challenges is part of the job.

But last week, Christophe de Margerie, chief executive of French oil giant Total, declared that when it came to the Arctic Ocean, the risk of a spill was simply too high. Continue reading →

October 3, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

North Korea: Spark could set off nuclear war  Tulsa’s Channel   Oct 01, 2012 By EDITH M. LEDERER Associated Press UNITED NATIONS (AP) – A North Korean minister lashed out at the United States on Monday, saying its “hostile” policy has left the Korean peninsula a spark away from a nuclear war.

Vice Foreign Minister Pak Kil Yon told the U.N. General Assembly that
the Koreas have become “the world’s most dangerous hotspot” and blamed
the “hostile” policy of the United States toward North Korea.

Pak said “the vicious cycle of confrontation and aggravation of
tension is an ongoing phenomenon on the Korean peninsula, which has
become the world’s most dangerous hotspot where a spark of fire could
set off a thermonuclear war.”….
http://www.ktul.com/story/19688491/north-korea-spark-could-set-off-nuclear-war

October 3, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

In spite of govt repression, India’s anti nuclear movement fighting on

Centre, TN govt suppressing anti-nuke protests in Kudankulam’ http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_centre-tn-govt-suppressing-anti-nuke-protests-in-kudankulam_1747176 , Sep 30, 2012, The leader of anti-nuclear protests in Kudankulam today charged the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government with suppressing the struggle “only to support foreign countries” which want to sell nuclear reactors.

At a day-long All-India Left Coordination Convention activist SP Udaykumar demanded through video message the closure of the project. ”The central and state governments are ignoring our pleas … to support the American, Russian and French nuclear projects in the country. We strongly demand the closure of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant project and the government should scrap all nuclear power projects,” he said.

“We do need development but not at the cost of putting the lives of millions of people at stake and destroying our natural resources,” he said. He accused the CPI and CPI(M) of supporting the Kudankulam project on one hand and opposing Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant on the other.

At the convention, several leaders of various Left parties accused the UPA government of being “pro-corporate”.
“The state is brazenly becoming pro-corporate and authoritarian,” CPI National Secretary D Raja said.
Encouraging Left and democratic forces to work together keeping differences aside, Raja said, …..
The AILC gave a call for Punjab Bandh on October 5, Parivartan Rally in Patna on November 9 and a two-day strike by central trade unions in February next year.

October 1, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

More nuclear accidents are probable. Solar Power is the best solution

Nuclear Power Part III: Safety and Conclusion by Jeff Danner – Common Science Sep 30 2012 “…….Given that the world currently hosts a fleet of a little over 400 nuclear power plants, how frequently should we expect reactor core meltdowns to occur in the future?
Organizations ranging from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Max Planck Institute in Germany have estimated that we can expect a serious nuclear accident every 8 to 20 years.  As the average age of nuclear plants around the world grows, I would expect the rate of incidents to increase…….
The only practical and ethical pathway to a sustainable future that I consider to be plausible is a massive national effort to construct solar electric plants and corresponding upgrades to the power grid.
The efforts and expenses on this monumental project need to be on the equivalent scale of what we have invested in the military over the last several generations.  The growth of solar power capacity must be tied to firm targets to reduce per capita electricity use and an
enforceable schedule for decommissioning both fossil fuel and nuclear power plants.  I plan a future series of columns on how this transition to solar power can take place.

Unfortunately, as I have bemoaned before, our current social and political culture is not at all prepared to grapple with issues of with import and complexity of nuclear power.  Discussions of energy resources and long-term sustainability during the current presidential election campaign have been shallow and inconsequential at best.  So for now, we’ll just have to hope the next melt down is far away.
http://chapelboro.com/Nuclear-Power-Part-III–Safety-and-Conclusion/9686450?pid=268649

October 1, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Breakthrough in nuclear talks likely after U.S. election: Iranian president Tehran Times, 30 September 2012    President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said that talks over Iran’s nuclear program will result in a “very important decision” after theU.S. presidential election, which is scheduled to be held on November 6. Continue reading →

October 1, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

The nuclear industry – one continuing experiment – ON US!

An Experiment Gone Awry  Activist Post, Richard Wilcox 29 Sept 12, Activist Post, an informative journal which is concerned with disturbing social trends, recently featured an author who prescientlyand saliently observes that:
Whether it is nuclear power generation or nuclear detonation, all nuclear industry is experimental …. Continue reading →

September 29, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | 1 Comment

UK Green Party’s Natalie Bennett speaks on nuclear power

Nuclear power is the Betamax of the energy world Guardian UK, Natalie Bennett, 28 Sept 12 We need to stop being distracted by this technology and focus on promoting and investing in renewables  In my first month as the new Green party leader , I’ve spent lots of time talking about pressing economic and social issues – the need for the minimum wage to be a living wage, how benefits should be available to all who need them, and how costly and destructive the privatisation of the NHS will be.

But with the government’s energy bill on the horizon , serious questions around the coalition’s wobbly-looking commitment not to subsidise new nuclear, and an anti-nuclear protest at Hinkley Point on 8 October , I’ve also spent lots of my time explaining why I think renewable energy – wind, solar and, in the future, tide and wave – combined with energy conservation, provide an excellent way forward for British energy.

I talk about the fact that the first two are technologies that are ready to scale up right now, providing jobs and affordable supplies for Britain. And about the fact that we know exactly what all of their “fuel” supplies will cost indefinitely into the future – ie nothing. Continue reading →

September 29, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

United Nations – voice of sanity in Iran nuclear dispute

UN criticises ‘shrill war talk’ in Iran nuclear dispute September 29, 2012 BUSINESS RECORDER  The UN on Friday urged all sides in the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program to tone down “shrill war talk,” reacting to this week’s clashes at the world body between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Continue reading →

September 29, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Ahmadinejad reacts to Obama’s militant statements at UN

Ahmadinejad slams West’s ‘nuclear intimidation’ Mmegionline, 28 Sept 12 TEHRAN: Iran’s President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused the West and Israel of nuclear “intimidation”, after United States President, Barack Obama vowed to halt Tehran’s alleged weapon programme.
US and Israeli officials boycotted the Iranian’s eighth annual address to the UN General Assembly, and there was no repeat of the walk-outs of previous years, but Ahmadinejad still had some harsh words for Tehran’s foes.”

Arms race and intimidation by nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction by the hegemonic powers have become prevalent,” he declared in a 35-minute speech that ended with a smattering of applause…..

On Tuesday, Obama reiterated the United States’ stance in robust terms, declaring that American will “do what we must” to prevent Iran from passing the nuclear threshold – increasing the chances of confrontation.
Foreign ministers from the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany will meet in New York on yesterday on the sidelines of the United Nations to discuss the increasingly tense nuclear showdown…..
Diplomats from Britain, France and Germany sat through Ahmadinejad’s address, but found nothing in his theological lecture to justify a repeat of the walkouts of previous years….. http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=11&aid=19&dir=2012/September/Friday28

September 29, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

In this age of ionising radiation – need to know where our food comes from!

CORPORATE GREED FOR CHEAP INGREDIENTS OR YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW?
http://www.newsforyourfamily.blogspot.com.au/2011/08/corporate-responses.html
Currently food and other big manufactures like Colgate-Palmolive hide behind “Made in USA or Manufactured in USA” whereas the actual ingredients are coming from cheap places like China and cancer causing nuclear contaminated Japan……

September 29, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Full impact of Fukushima disaster impresses general public, and local Councils

Occupy the NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission)   Cathy Iwane (CA). 28 Sept 12,  : ANOTHER unanimous local victory!!! Every Encinitas City Council member voted in favor of sending a letter containing even stronger language calling out Southern Cal. Edison to a judiciary procedure regarding inconsistencies on their public commentary about San Onofre.

In addition, their obvious evasion of NRC checks for relicensing. Bad karma for SCE rears it’s ugly head, to everyone’s relief! Tonight illustrates clear distrust of Southern Cal
Edison. The letter to the NRC will hopefully include all sides testifying under oath to include independent testimony from the scientific community.

Public safety concerns abound! Fukushima disaster is consistently referred to in conversations with City Councils everywhere so the conversation is creating awareness,
while parallels and connections to Japan can be drawn easily by the general public.

September 28, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Mumbai conference on solar energy

EU cos look to tap India renewable energy market Indian Express 23 Sept 12 EU companies are looking forward to have tie-ups with Indian companies in the clean energy segment at the two-day conference on renewable energy in Mumbai on September 25-26. Continue reading →

September 24, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Time that the White House got those solar panels

Changing Cities: Where Are the Solar Panels Mr. President? By Carrie Halperin abc news, Sep 23, 2012  America is in the midst of something of a solar resurgence, but not at the White House.
On June 20, 1979 President Jimmy Carter installed 32 solar panels, used to heat water, on the White House roof.  In 1986 under the Reagan administration those panels were taken down for a routine roof resurfacing and never returned. However, in 2010, President Obama announced he was bringing solar panels back to the White House roof, which the administration said were slated for installation by the spring of 2011.
But as 2012 winds down, the panels — which the Department of Energy had said would likely produce 19,700 kilowatt hours of electricity a year, more than twice the electricity used by the average Washington home — have still not been installed, and many are asking where are they Mr. President?…..http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2012/09/changing-cities-where-are-the-solar-panels-mr-president/

September 24, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment