antinuclear « nuclear-news

Possibility of terrorists launching a nuclear missile?

…..protocols have not changed since the end of the Cold War. America still keeps its missiles on launch-ready alert. In this posture, the bias is on ensuring that the missiles can be fired, rather than on making sure they are not launched accidentally. That’s a dangerous posture as we now live in an era of terrorism and cyber warfare.

Could Terrorists Launch America’s Nuclear Missiles? – TIME, Bruce Blair , 12 Nov 10, The Air Force calls the situation “Launch Facilities Down.” On Oct. 23, a Wyoming-based squadron of 50 nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) — enough firepower to kill some 20 million people — lost computer communications with their human controllers for 45 minutes. Continue reading →

November 12, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear technology, nuclear weapons | 1 Comment

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 Christina Macpherson | USA, weapons and war | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons | 1 Comment

Australia’s hypocritical and unsafe uranium deal with Russia

“Australia cannot hope to be a leader on nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament while spreading nuclear risks by trying to become the world’s largest uranium supplier,”

Activists Blast Russian-Australian Uranium Deal, NTI: Global Security Newswire , Nov. 12, 2010 * Activists have sharply criticized a new Russian-Australian uranium export agreement, partly over concerns that nuclear material sent to Russia under the deal could be diverted for weapons production, the Australian Associated Press reported today (see GSN, Nov. 11). Continue reading →

November 12, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA, politics international, Uranium | antinuclear, AUSTRALIA, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear technology, uranium | 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 Christina Macpherson | history, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, plutonium | 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 Christina Macpherson | USA, wastes | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive, reactors, uranium | 1 Comment

Blue Ribbon Commission is dedicated to expanding nuclear industry, rather than solving waste problem

in its name, charter, membership, words, and actions, the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future (BRC) seems more devoted to the nuclear power industry’s continuation, and even expansion, than it is to solving the radioactive waste problem.

The Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future (BRC for short), Beyond Nuclear, 11 Nov 10, It was created by President Obama and Energy Secretary Chu at the end of January, 2010. It was supposed to come up with “Plan B” for U.S. high-level radioactive waste management, now that they have so wisely and thankfully cancelled the geologically unsuitable and environmentally unjust Yucca Mountain, Nevada dumpsite proposal. Continue reading →

November 11, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear wastes, radiation, radioactive, reactors, uranium | Leave a 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 Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, Uranium, USA | antinuclear, AREVA, nuclear, nuclear costs, radiation, radioactive, uranium | Leave a comment

Community opposes Meghalaya uranium mining, Indian govt over-rides them

‘How can we allow them to start this mining project when they themselves cannot give satisfactory answers on health and environment impact of uranium mining,’

Meghalaya civil groups oppose uranium mining project, Shillong, sify news, Nov 10 (IANS) Anti-mining groups in Meghalaya Wednesday vowed that they would continue to oppose a uranium mining project, while the central government set 2012 as the year to start mining in the state’s West Khasi Hills district. Continue reading →

November 11, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | India, opposition to nuclear, Uranium | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive, uranium | 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 Christina Macpherson | politics, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear renaissance, nuclear spin, nuclear technology, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

Hillary Clinton in Australia faced no hard nuclear questions from a self-censored forum

Here, then, are the questions that weren’t asked of Hillary Clinton, but at least a couple of which should have been: lf the primary justification is ”regional security”, why should Australia agree to even greater military ties with the US when it will make us more of a potential target for terrorism?

Questions Hillary wasn’t asked on her date with Australia, Sydney Morning Herald, Hamish FordNovember 10, 2010 – “………Even closer military and political ties mark the latest hotting up of an old but seriously unequal love story….

..Throughout, no one challenged Clinton on the purpose or impact of her nation’s unprecedented global power. It beggars belief that your average room of youngish university folk wouldn’t contain at least some who were capable and willing of sterner stuff…. Continue reading →

November 10, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA, spinbuster | antinuclear, AUSTRALIA, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons, radiation | 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 Christina Macpherson | USA, wastes | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear technology, nuclear weapons, plutonium, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

Germany’s anti-nuclear protests take to the visual media

Photoblog – German nuclear protesters are in the air and online” Nuclear Energy as safe as this website,” reads the home page of the the German nuclear industry, Kernerergie, after anti-nuclear protestors hacked into the web site…… Photoblog – German nuclear protesters are in the air and online

November 10, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Resources -audiovicual | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, radiation, radioactive, uranium | Leave a comment

Germans’ anti-nuclear message reverberates around the world

The anti-CASTOR protestors are sending a clear and strong message to the German government, the nuclear industry, and the world – that nuclear energy is not an option. The dangers associated with this costly and unnecessary energy source are nowhere better illustrated than with the CASTOR nuclear transport itself…

Raw power of peaceful protest: 10,000 people take direct action against nuclear transport | Greenpeace International by Laura K. – November 8, 2010 From Australia to Canada, from India to the UK – the world is watching the ongoing protest of the CASTOR nuclear transport in Germany. Continue reading →

November 10, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive, uranium | 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 Christina Macpherson | safety, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons, radiation, reactor | Leave a comment

Is nuclear power really safe? – explosion was too close for comfort

Energy analysts will tell you that nuclear power, …… is on the verge of a renaissance……….But an explosion at a power plant barely over a marathon’s distance away from NYC? That’s still scary.

New York Nuclear Power Plant Faces Emergency Shut Down -Is Nuclear Power Really Safe?, By: Eben Harrell 9 Nov 10, At Indian Point nuclear power plant—about 35 miles north of midtown Manhattan—a transformer exploded on reactor 2 Continue reading →

November 10, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, nuclear renaissance, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive, reactors | Leave a comment