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Japan’s former Prime Minister an apostle for renewable energy, not nuclear

Nuclear crisis turns Japan ex-PM Kan into energy apostle By Linda Sieg and Yoko Kubota TOKYO | Fri Feb 17, 2012   (Reuters) – Nearly a year after Japan’s Fukushima nuclear disaster, then-premier Naoto Kan is haunted by the specter of an even bigger crisis forcing tens of millions of people to flee Tokyo and threatening the nation’s existence.

“Having experienced the 3/11 nuclear disaster, I changed my way of thinking. The biggest factor was how at one point, we faced a situation where there was a chance that people might not be able to live in the capital zone including Tokyo and would have to evacuate,” Kan told Reuters in an interview on Friday.

“If things had reached that level, not only would the public have had to face hardships but Japan’s very existence would have been in peril.”

That convinced Kan, in office for less than a year when the March 11 triple disaster struck, to declare the need for Japan to end its reliance on atomic power and promote renewable sources of energy such solar that have long taken a back seat in the resource-poor country’s
energy mix….. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/17/us-japan-kan-idUSTRE81G08P20120217

February 18, 2012 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

UK firm Centrica’s investors might not be happy about nuclear plans

Centrica faces big questions on nuclear despite Franco-British summit, Telegraph UK 18 Feb 12, David Cameron and Nicolas Sarkozy invoked the spirit of entente cordiale on Friday in Paris, reaffirming their countries’ commitment to building Britain’s new fleet of nuclear power plants. By Damian Reece, Head of Business  17 Feb 2012  
There were supporting statements from blue-chip corporate names such as Rolls-Royce on this side of the English Channel and EDF and Areva on their side of la Manche. All was fusion.

But behind the political smiles lies an increasingly tense reality which throws into question everything the Coalition is trying to achieve in its National Policy Statement on energy, approved by Parliament in July.
The are several risks, none of which Friday’s Franco-British summit addressed. Continue reading →

February 18, 2012 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

A non hysterical approach to the Iran nuclear issue

Old fears cloud Western views on Iran’s nuclear posturing, Sydney Morning Herald, John Mueller, February 18, 2012 Alarmism about nuclear proliferation is fairly common coin in the foreign policy establishment. And of late it has been boosted by the seeming efforts of Iran or its friends to answer covert
assassinations, apparently by Israel, with attacks and attempted attacks of their own in India, Georgia and Thailand.

A non-hysterical approach to the Iran nuclear issue is entirely possible. It should take several considerations into account. Continue reading →

February 18, 2012 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

The lives of Fukushima nuclear refugees on film

Read The Wall Street Journal’s profile of all three Fukushima documentaries.    

‘Nuclear Nation’ Examines Lives of Fukushima Refugees WSJ,   FEBRUARY 17, 2012,  “Nuclear Nation” is one of three documentaries showing at the Berlin Film Festival tracing the fate of those affected by the Fukushima tsunami and subsequent nuclear meltdown on March 11, 2011. The lengthy, 145-minute documentary (soon available in a truncated version) follows several of the 1400 refugees from Futaba living in  defunct Kisai High School, with interviews as recent as December. Speakeasy sat down with director Atushi Funahashi to discuss his film…..
There’s a scene in the documentary where Futaba citizens protest their situation, and politicians merely stand there, some even awkwardly clapping. You show a lot of politicians preoccupied with keeping up an appearance of calm, often remaining totally silent…..
I hope this shows the miserable situation these people have to go through. I thought Japan was a civilized country, but it’s not…The central capital is exploiting the rural area. The power generated in Fukushima has been almost all sent to Tokyo. The people in Fukushima were the ones working [so hard]. There are many people saying the people [in Fukushima] took these subsidies to build new [academic and athletic] centers and they got rich, that they’re now in this refugee camp, but it was their own risk and it’s their fault. But I want to question that.    Read The Wall Street Journal’s profile of all three Fukushima documentaries.    http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2012/02/17/nuclear-nation-examines-lives-of-fukushima-refugees/

February 18, 2012 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

British and French govts getting together to promote the nuclear industry

Britain and France to sign nuclear power deal at summit Google News, By Dave Clark (AFP) –17 Feb 12 PARIS — Britain and France were to strike a landmark cooperation deal on civil nuclear energy at a summit between Prime Minister David Cameron and President Nicolas Sarkozy on Friday, officials said. France and Britain have often clashed recently over economic policy in the eurozone, an area in which Paris is much closer to Berlin, but they are still close partners in defence and now plan to share nuclear expertise.

February 17, 2012 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

A nuclear Iran is not an act of war, is not the end of Israel

A nuclear Iran and Israel Acquiring nuclear weapons is not an act of war,  Seattle Times, Dale McCracken, February 15, 2012  Israel has too much power over America. Israel should not be allowed to attack Iran
The United States should use its armed forces in the region to prevent an attack on Iran.

It is necessary to think the unthinkable in this situation. Even if Iran acquires a nuclear weapon, Israel will have massive superiority for decades, if not permanently. In a nuclear conflict Israel would totally destroy Iran, while suffering minimal damage. For this reason
it will never happen.

A nuclear Iran is not the end of Israel. Madmen arguments are not valid. Adolf Hitler committed suicide and took his nation to defeat rather than use his massive nerve gas arsenal. The most likely outcome of a nuclear Iran will be a regional cold war between Iran and Israel.

Iran has suffered much from the duplicity of several nations. Acquiring nuclear weapons is not an act of war. An attack on Iran by Israel would be an evil act that could have a detrimental effect on Jews throughout the world. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/northwestvoices/2017512698_anucleariranandisrael.html

February 16, 2012 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

The mental scars for Fukushima radiation evacuees

Japan Earthquake Anniversary: Nuclear Evacuees Scarred By Disaster One Year Later Huffington Post: 2/13/12 “….Nearly a year has passed since a massive 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit Japan, Okuma town, but the site of the reactors at the centre of the Fukushima nuclear crisis remains off limits for residents, save for short trips to hastily abandoned homes.

The Fukushima Daiichi plant, on the coast 240 km (150 miles) northeast of Tokyo, was wrecked by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, triggering reactor meltdowns and radiation leaks that caused mass evacuations and widespread contamination.

For the about 11,000 residents of Okuma, and the nearly 80,000 people across the prefecture who have been unable to return to their homes due to high radiation, the mental scars run deep even though many of their homes are physically intact.

Many do not know when, if ever, they can return to land that has been in their families for generations…….

“If it’s a normal disaster you recover from it, and you go forward a bit every day. But this time you don’t,” said Tomiko Ikinobu, 47. “All that’s left is uncertainty.”

The Japanese government declared the Daiichi nuclear plant to be in a state of “cold shutdown” late last year but the Environment Ministry has said about 2,400 square km (930 square miles) of land around the plant may need to be decontaminated — an area roughly the size of Luxembourg…. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/13/japan-earthquake-anniversary_n_1272447.html#254326

February 14, 2012 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

Iowa’s surplus electricity – more evidence it doesn’t need nuclear power

Opponents Question Need For Iowa Nuclear Plant, KCCI.com February 12, 2012 DES MOINES, Iowa –– Lawmakers and advocacy groups are questioning whether a nuclear energy bill is necessary to address electricity needs.
MidAmerican Energy is pursuing legislation allowing the company to recover costs related to a nuclear plant regardless of whether it’s completed. The Iowa Utilities Board would need to sign off before a plant could be built.
But data show Iowa’s electrical supply has grown more than twice as fast as consumption since 2000, and the state has gone from a net importer of electricity to a net exporter over that time…. opponentssay its further evidence that the state doesn’t need a nuclear plant.
http://www.kcci.com/news/30438803/detail.html#ixzz1mIw8TkOz

February 14, 2012 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

France’s power price rise,with nuclear reactor outage. Wind output to double

Europe Power-Nuclear outage lifts French weekend price, 
 * EDF’s 1,300-MW Cattenom reactor in unplanned outage  PARIS, Feb 10 (Reuters) – French weekend prices jumped
early on Friday as a second unplanned nuclear outage within 12 hours caused panic in the market about a supply shortage, …. French
baseload power for Saturday delivery traded nearly twice as high as in the neighbouring German market at 100.00
euros, after EDF’s 1,300 Cattenom 2 nuclear reactor went offline unexpectedly overnight, tightening supply margins already under
strain from high winter demand.
Wind power output next week is expected to double compared with this week.    “In the first part of the week, wind power production will reach above the seasonal normal levels,… http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFL5E8DA2YW20120210

February 11, 2012 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

NRC faults San Onofre nuclear plant over ammonia leak

Federal regulators fault Southern California’s San Onofre nuclear plant for ammonia leak, Washington Post,  By Associated Press,  February 10 LOS ANGELES — An ammonia leak that caused an emergency alert at the San Onofre nuclear plant in November was caused by employees who failed to recognize degraded equipment and fix it, federal regulators said Friday. Continue reading →

February 11, 2012 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

All of Tepco’s nuclear reactors to be out of service in March

Japan’s Tepco to suspend all nuclear operations  By MarketWatch, Feb. 9, 2012,   Tokyo Electric Power Co. said Thursday it will suspend operations of the No. 6 reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture on March 26 for a periodic check, a plan that will take all of its 17 reactors out of service, Kyodo News reported. Continue reading →

February 10, 2012 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

What is the price of the West getting it wrong on Iran?

 ‘spy vs spy’ approach is not sustainable. Eventually there will be a loser. The least worst option is for a dual approach of diplomacy and sanctions.

Middle East WMD 2.0 – Someone Will Be Proven Wrong on Iran, Huffington Post,  Paul Herouxm, 9 Feb 12, The current stand-off with Iran should be called “Middle East WMD 2.0.” No one knows Iran’s true intentions.

There is little concern with the outcome that Iran is not pursuing a weapons program and the West does nothing — this is the right course of action. Nor is there too much concern with the outcome that Iran was pursuing a weapons program and the US stops the program through
force — if it is truly justified and can be proven, then so be it.

But what if we get it wrong? Continue reading →

February 10, 2012 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

France’s President insists that aging nuclear plant is safe

Sarkozy refuses to close aging nuclear plant despite growing resistance Washington Post, By Associated Press,   February 9 FESSENHEIM, France — French President Nicolas Sarkozy is refusing to shut down an aging nuclear plant that has become a symbol of growing resistance to nuclear energy in France…. He insisted there was no doubt about the plant’s safety…. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/sarkozy-refuses-to-close-aging-nuclear-plant-despite-growing-resistance/2012/02/09/gIQAYDH60Q_story.html

February 10, 2012 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

Bonnir Raitt to sing against nuclear power on May 31

Bonnie Raitt helps the fight to end nuclear power in New England Mass.Market, 2012 February 9 by Jon Chesto The nuclear industry in New England has another high-profile foe, with guitarist Bonnie Raitt stepping up to support the cause this spring.

The Guacamole Fund, a nonprofit that helps put together benefit concerts for grass-roots organizations, is selling tickets for a Bonnie Raitt concert in Portland, Maine, and a dessert reception after the show with the musician. Tickets for the May 31 concert and reception are selling for $300 apiece, and proceeds go to the New England Coalition, a group  main goal is to oppose nuclear power in the region…. Continue reading →

February 10, 2012 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

Climate change can still be reversed

Don’t despair – still time to reverse climate change, Canberra Times, JOHN QUIGGIN 09 Feb, 2012 The numbers are daunting. Global atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases already amount to the equivalent of 390ppm, and current emissions are contributing around 2ppm each year. Emissions are still increasing, and were barely dented by the global financial crisis. The time remaining to turn this around is short. Patterns of energy use are largely determined by long-lived capital investments in electricity generation, transport networks and motor vehicle production systems. If current patterns of investment persist until 2025 or beyond, the chances of reaching the 2025 target are bleak.

The good news is that, at least for electricity generation, a decarbonised energy system appears to be feasible. The prices of the main renewable technologies, wind and solar photovoltaics have been dropping rapidly, to the point where they are feasible alternatives to fossil fuels. The same has not been true, so far, for nuclear power,……

Time is running short, but there are a few hopeful signs. China and India have dipped a toe or two in the water, introducing both carbon taxes and feed-in tariffs for renewable energy. The taxes are at very low levels initially, but may be increased over time. There is even an outside chance that the political situation in the US, which came agonizingly close to introducing an emissions trading scheme in 2009 and 2010, might change for the better. Looking at the huge amount that needs to be done to stabilise the global climate, and the limited time left to do it, it is easy to give way to despair. But there is still (just) enough time to turn things around, if world leaders can be made to put our long-term future ahead of short-run expediency. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/opinion/editorial/general/dont-despair-still-time-to-reverse-climate-change/2449321.aspx?storypage=2

February 10, 2012 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

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