general « nuclear-news

Subtle retaliation for Hanford nuclear workers who speak out on safety?

Workers who expressed concerns were most worried about subtle retaliation,

DOE: Safety culture at Hanford needs improvement – BusinessWeek The Associated Press October 7, 2010, By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS Most workers believe the safety culture at the U.S. Department of Energy’s most expensive and most complex nuclear waste treatment plant is strong, but some worry they will face retaliation for raising concerns, according to a report this week. Continue reading →

October 8, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear wastes, radiation | Leave a comment

New nuclear ballistic missile tested by Russia

Russia tests new inter-continental ballistic missile – Hindustan Times, Indo-Asian News Service Moscow, October 08, 2010 Russia has successfully tested the new Bulava inter-continental ballistic missile, the defence ministry said. The launch was made on Thursday from the Northern Fleet’s heavy strategic cruiser Dmitry Donskoi. The Bulava successfully hit the target in Kamchatka peninsula, Xinhua reported citing adefence ministry official.Russian forces plan to undertake three more tests of the missile this year, two of them from a nuclear submarine. A previous missile test in December 2009 had failed. Russia tests new inter-continental ballistic missile – Hindustan Times

October 8, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

China is aggressively advancing renewable energy

China is “by far, the most aggressive nation in terms of advancing alternative energy in general, and solar in particular.”

China’s ‘green’ stocks poised to steal limelight Asia Markets – MarketWatch, By Myra P. Saefong, 8 Oct 10, — As the world’s most populous nation and top energy consumer, China’s appetite for renewable energy sources and obligation to fulfill environmental initiatives are sure to grow — along with investment in the companies that help satisfy that demand, analysts said….. Continue reading →

October 8, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, climate change, global warming, renewable energy, renewables | Leave a comment

Tennessee Valley Authority wants delay in new nuclear licenses review

TVA asks for delay to US NRC review of new nuclear unit licenses, Washington (Platts)–6 Oct2010 The Tennessee Valley Authority has asked the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission to defer its review of the federal utility’s applications to build and operate two new Westinghouse-designed nuclear reactors at the Bellefonte site in Alabama. TVA, in a letter made public Wednesday, asked NRC to temporarily suspend the combined construction permit-operating license (COL) review for the two units, with the exception of some elements already under way…….TVA cited the expectation that its board will vote in the spring on whether to complete Bellefonte-1, an unfinished nuclear unit of an older design at the site… Platts: RSS Feed Detailed News

October 7, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, reactors | Leave a comment

Democrats encouraged by Obama’s support for solar power

Restoring solar power to the White House may be the first tiny step toward the green-powered future necessary to our survival.

Next must come the definitive turn away from the failure of atomic power. Imagine what a magnificent green-powered Earth we might inhabit had we not squandered all those billions on that profoundly dangerous, disastrously expensive technology.

Team Obama is clearly responding to the anger of the Democratic base. Those who worked to put them in the White House want it green. by Harvey Wasserman, 6 Oct 10, This includes ferocious opposition to atomic energy. The administration recently granted $8.33 billion in loan guarantees for a disastrous double-reactor scam in Georgia. Barely underway, the project has already resulted in $100 million in hikes for the state’s ratepayers. The builders are now asking for an extra $1 billion. Horrific delays and cost overruns have already defined new reactor construction in Finland, France and elsewhere. Continue reading →

October 5, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, climate change, energy efficiency, France, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, reactors, renewables, solar | Leave a comment

Russia might have targeted Iran’s nukes with the Stuxnet computer worm

“The Russians, … have shown increasing unease at the prospects of an Iran that would really have nuclear weapons.As regards to opportunity and expertise, the Russians stand at the top of any suspect list.

Stuxnet—a Russian worm?, Capital J | JTA – Jewish & Israel News, By Ron Kampeas · October 4, 2010 At the National Interest, David Kay, the weapons inspector who determined that Saddam Hussein was not, after all, anywhere near reviving his WMD program, wonders whether Russia is behind Stuxnet, the nuclear-disrupting worm the Iranians have blamed on israel and the United States: Continue reading →

October 5, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons, reactor | Leave a comment

U.S. senators questioning shipment of nuclear generators across Great Lakes

Great Lakes nuclear shipment plan sparks U.S. queries CBC News, October 4, 2010 | By Max Paris, Seven U.S. senators have sent a letter to Environment Minister Jim Prentice and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission demanding answers about an Ontario utility’s plan to ship used nuclear steam generators through the Great Lakes to Sweden. Continue reading →

October 5, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear wastes, reactors | Leave a comment

Delays continue in fixing Point Lepreau Nuclear reactor

AECL officials would not speculate on what the consequences would be if the reactor was turned on and the calandria tubes leaked. But the risks of nuclear power include negative health effects due to radiation, which in some cases could lead to cancer and genetic damage

Refit of nuclear plant still nowhere near completion telegraphjournal.com BRETT BUNDALE – 4 Oct 10, New Brunswick, CanadaFREDERICTON – As a new Progressive Conservative government settles into office, one little-discussed issue during the election campaign is casting a shadow over New Brunswick’s political landscape: the refurbishment of the Point Lepreau nuclear power plant Continue reading →

October 5, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear wastes, radiation, reactor | Leave a comment

Savannah River Nuclear Solutions secretive about radiation incident

Delay clouds SRS probe | The Augusta Chronicle, by Rob Pavey, 4 Oct 10, A Savannah River Site contractor’s refusal to share timely information clouded the Energy Department’s inquiry into a June accident in which a worker was contaminated with plutonium. Continue reading →

October 5, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, nuclear secrecy, radioactive | Leave a comment

Russian and American concern over decommissioning nuclear reactors

Russian-Norwegian delegation visits US to talk about nuclear decommissioning, The Canadian Press:By The Associated Press (CP) 54 Oct 10, SOUTH ROYALTON, Vt. — A group of Russian and Norwegian nuclear scientists, regulators and activists is visiting Vermont and Massachusetts to learn about nuclear decommissioning. Continue reading →

October 5, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear decommissioning, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, reactors | Leave a comment

Radiologists warn on CT scans for children

Picture of Health: Doctors urge minimal use of CT scans in children , Baltimore Sun, 30 Sept, 10, Radiologists at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center are warning doctors to be careful about performing CT scans on children.Because CT scans and other tests that use X-ray technology expose the body to large doses of radiation, too much use can expose kids to cancer, the radiologists said.Nearly 7 million CT scans are performed on children every year in the United States and many are avoidable, the doctors found.Children’s growing tissues and rapidly dividing cells are more vunerable to the effects of radiation.Exposure at such a young age also gives cancerous mutations that much more time to develop into full-blown cancer. A single cat scan can deliver a much higher dose of radiation to a small child’s body than to an adult.

Parents should ask doctors if there are alternatives to CT scans. The Hopkins doctors recommend alternatives such as MRIs and ultrasounds.

Parents should also let doctors know if their child has had previous CT scans.

Picture of Health: Doctors urge minimal use of CT scans in children – Health care, wellness, food nutrition, exercise, medical research news by reporters Kelly Brewington, Meredith Cohn and Andrea K. Walker – baltimoresun.com

October 1, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, nuclear, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

German Green Party gathers support from anti-nuclear public sentiment

The nuclear issue has galvanized support for the Green party, which has grown to be a major force in national politics.

Germany: Greens See Red Over Nuclear Power Extension, TIME, By Tristana Moore / Berlin Wednesday, Sep. 29, 2010 “Nuclear power harms Germany’ is the Greenpeace message projected on the cooling systems of the nuclear power plant in Grafenrheinfeld near Schweinfurt, southern Germany, on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2010. Continue reading →

September 30, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, nuclear spin, reactors | Leave a comment

A worm delays Iran’s nuclear reactor

officials have acknowledged that a computer worm is mutating and wreaking havoc….Analysts say that the Stuxnet worm may have been designed to target Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Iran nuclear plant hit by two-month delay: official(AFP) – Google hosted new, 30 Sept 10, TEHRAN — Iran’s atomic chief said on Wednesday that the country’s first nuclear power plant will be ready to generate electricity by January — two months later than announced……… Continue reading →

September 30, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, reactor | Leave a comment

Germany’s old nuclear reactors vulnerable to extreme weather and to terrorism

It’s not only incidents that worry Greenpeace. The group has highlighted the possibility of a terror attack.

Nuclear horror scenarios for Germany BERLIN, Sept. 28 (UPI) — Chernobyl-like disasters at Germany’s most vulnerable reactors could render parts of the country uninhabitable for decades, Greenpeace has warned. Continue reading →

September 30, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | AUSTRALIA, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, reactors | Leave a comment

The Stuxnet worm a potential cyber weapon

Cyberworm’s Origins Unclear, But Potential Is Not : NPR
Cyberworm’s Origins Unclear, But Potential Is Not : NPR, by Tom Gjelten, 28 Sept 10 It is not yet clear whether the “Stuxnet” computer worm has caused any damage to the industrial control systems it has penetrated, but security experts say it still qualifies as a potential cyber-superweapon. Continue reading →