Nuclear lobby begging for more money from USA govt

the nuclear renaissance is looking small and slow at the moment….Two other reactors in Texas, four in Florida and one in Missouri have all been moved to the back burner, mostly because of uncertain economics.

Aid Sought for Nuclear Plants – NYTimes.com, September 23, 2010, By MATTHEW L. WALD The federal loan guarantee program and other aid for new nuclear plants may not be enough to induce Constellation Energy to build a third reactor at its Calvert Cliffs site, 40 miles south of Washington, the company’s president and chief executive said on Thursday. Continue reading →

September 25, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, USA | antinuclear, nuclear costs, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

AREVA in trouble in Niger: Paladin uranium gets out

Paladin Energy Ltd: Defeating Conditions Triggered Regarding Bid for NGM Resources Ltd – MarketWatch, 25 Sept 10, ” On September 16, 2010, forces associated with al-Qaida in the Magreb (North Africa) (AQIM) entered the town of Arlit in Niger’s uranium mining region and abducted seven people, employed by the French uranium company Areva and its construction contractor, Vinci. Continue reading →

September 25, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Niger, safety, Uranium | antinuclear, AREVA, France, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, uranium | Leave a comment

International Atomic Energy Agency refuses to urge Israel to join Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on the last day of its annual general conference, voted against a non-binding resolution urging Israel to accede to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

UN atomic watchdog rejects resolution against Israel, Google hosted news, By Simon Morgan (AFP) – 25 Sept 10 VIENNA — The UN atomic watchdog rejected Friday an Arab-backed resolution against Israel which the United States and its Western allies feared could have jeopardised newly relaunched Middle East peace talks. Continue reading →

September 25, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, politics international | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

Highly sophisticated computer worm might have targeted Iran’s nuclear reactor

suggestions that Israel, known for its high-tech prowess and (ahem) deep suspicion of Iran’s nuclear programme, might be behind it….if Stuxnet has been deliberately aimed at Iran, one possible target is its Bushehr nuclear reactor

The Stuxnet worm: A cyber-missile aimed at Iran? | The Economist, Sep 24th 2010, THE internet is abuzz this week with speculation about Stuxnet, a “groundbreaking” computer worm that attacks industrial-control systems. Put that way, it doesn’t sound very exciting. But the possibility that it might have been aimed at one set of industrial-control systems in particular—those inside Iranian nuclear facilities—has prompted one security expert to describe Stuxnet as a “cyber-missile”, designed to seek out and destroy a particular target. Continue reading →

September 25, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Iran, secrets,lies and civil liberties | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear technology, reactor | Leave a comment

USA and Iran ready to resume nuclear talks

US and Iran edging back to nuclear talks THE AUSTRALIAN, AFP September 25, 2010 US and Iranian leaders have signalled a new desire to revive talks to end the standoff over Tehran’s nuclear aims, despite a US-led walkout. Continue reading →

September 25, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics international, USA | antinuclear, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

VIDEO Bangkok against nuclear power

VIDEO Rainbow Warrior open boat days in Klong Toey Port, Bangkok, 18 to 19 September. | Greenpeace Southeast Asia Hundreds of people visited the Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior when she was docked at Bangkokog Klong Toey Port last weekend.. Rainbow Warrior open boat days in Klong Toey Port, Bangkok, 18 to 19 September. | Greenpeace Southeast Asia

September 25, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, nuclear | Leave a comment

South East Asia Greenpeace Tour to promote renewable energy

During her voyage, the Rainbow Warrior will promote climate change solutions by showcasing renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions in Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines

Turn the Tide Rainbow Warrior Tour, 10 Years of Protectiong the Environment Together | Greenpeace Southeast Asia 25 Sept 10, From September to December 2010, the Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior is sailing to Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines for the Turn the Tide – Rainbow Warrior’s tour of Southeast Asia. Continue reading →

September 25, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | ASIA | antinuclear, climate change, energy efficiency, global warming, renewable energy | Leave a comment

Niger kidnappings induce uranium company Paladin to leave

Niger kidnappings puts Paladin Energy off NGM bid. Sep 24, 2010 SYDNEY, (Reuters) – Australia-based uranium miner Paladin Energy is to drop its A$27 million ($26 million) bid for NGM Resources (NGM.AX: Quote), it said on Friday, citing worries that kidnappings in west Africa would hamper NGM’s exploration work in the region. Continue reading →

September 25, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Niger, safety | antinuclear, AUSTRALIA, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, uranium | Leave a comment

Greens surge ahead in Germany due to anti-nuclear stand

Surveys have shown a majority of Germans are opposed to extending nuclear lifespans and Merkel faces a battle to get the planned measures through parliament. The SPD and Greens have said they will go to court to stop the extensions becoming law.

German Greens Hit Record, Pull Level With SPD: Poll Planet Ark: 23-Sep-10 GERMANY : Erik Kirschbaum Germany’s Green Party has drawn level for the first time with the main opposition Social Democrats, a leading poll showed, propelled by its campaign against government plans to extend the use of nuclear energy. Continue reading →

September 24, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Germany, politics | antinuclear, nuclear | Leave a comment

Lower energy costs, more jobs with UK’s new wind farm

“It’s absolutely the case that the cost of green energy will come down as the supply increases and companies become better at deploying these kinds of large offshore projects,”

Indeed, the expansion of renewable energy technology such as wind farms will result in “tens of thousands of jobs”,

World’s largest wind farm opens in UK today, / Renewable energy , by Emily Thomas, 24 September 2010 The world’s largest offshore wind farm opens off the coast of Kent today (September 23rd), projecting the UK as a leader in renewable technology. Continue reading →

September 24, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | renewable, UK | antinuclear, global warming, renewable energy, wind | Leave a comment

“New Generation” nuclear reactors – a selection of duds

The death of the Pebble Bed has considerable significance. Harvey Wasserman, 23 Sept 10, For nearly two decades reactor backers have counted it in the imaginary fleet of new generation reactors coming to save us. Its alleged bright future would make it just one of the many new nuclear technologies that would render solar and wind energy unnecessary. Continue reading →

September 24, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, technology | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear technology, reactors | Leave a comment

Low uranium price stops building of new plant

R3.5bn uranium project hit by price slump., Brendan Ryan , 22 Sep 2010 [miningmx.com] — CONSTRUCTION of the proposed R3.5bn Rand Uranium plant to be built near Randfontein could be delayed because of current low uranium prices
That’s according to Harmony CEO, Graham Briggs, who was replying to a question posed after his presentation to the Denver Gold Forum being held in Denver, Colorado. Harmony holds a 40% stake in the unlisted Rand Uranium into which it injected assets formerly belonging to the Cooke and Randfontein sections of the Randfontein mine including the high uranium grade Cooke tailings dump. Uranium prices have been depressed for the past 18 months….

September 24, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, South Africa, Uranium | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, uranium | Leave a comment

Death of the Pebble Bed Nuclear Reactor

economic realities make any tangible future Pebble Bed as a major source of new energy largely imaginary.

(South Africa) Another feeble-headed nuke drops dead Harvey Wasserman September 24, 2010
For years “expert” reactor backers have touted the “Pebble Bed” design as an “inherently safe” alternative to traditional domed light water models. Now its South African developers say they’re done pouring money into it. Continue reading →

September 24, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | South Africa, technology | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear renaissance, nuclear technology, reactors | 1 Comment

France’s heavily subsidised nuclear industry – a costly warning to USA

The French nuclear program has been a state-owned monopoly from the outset, heavily subsidized by the government. It could not survive in a free market. By copying the French model – both in its energy choices and its willingness to use public funds to subsidize an industry that has never been self-sustaining – the U.S. is heading down a dangerous path of nuclear socialism.

France’s Nuclear “Miracle” is More Fantasy that Fact, The Hill, By Mark Cooper – 09/23/10 Among backers of nuclear power development in the U.S., France has long been held out as the model to emulate. Now, as pressure builds on policy makers in Washington to set a new domestic energy course, the French experience once again is being heralded as proof that nuclearpower is the way to go.
Trouble is, France’s nuclear “miracle” is more fantasy than fact. Continue reading →

September 24, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, France | antinuclear, AREVA, EDF, France, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, reactors | Leave a comment

AREVA’s nuclear workers kidnapped by al-Qaida in Niger

Six of the seven hostages worked at a huge uranium mine in northern Niger run by French state-owned nuclear power giant Areva. The seventh was married to an Areva employee…….

France’s Sarkozy calls Niger kidnappings worrying By JENNY BARCHFIELD (AP) – 23 Sept 10, PARIS — French President Nicolas Sarkozy vowed on Wednesday to mobilize his government to free five French people abducted last week by an al-Qaida affiliate in Niger, calling it a “very serious and worrying affair,” Continue reading →

September 23, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Niger, safety, Uranium | antinuclear, AREVA, France, nuclear, nuclear costs, uranium | Leave a comment