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The News That Matters about the Nuclear Industry Fukushima Chernobyl Mayak Three Mile Island Atomic Testing Radiation Isotope

Permit for new nuclear reactors was illegal, rules judge

Judge rules permitting of new Georgia nuclear reactors illegal FACING SOUTHH, 5 May 2010, The Georgia Public Service Commission violated state law when it granted a permit to build two new nuclear reactors at the Southern Company/Georgia Power Plant Vogtle near Augusta, Ga. Continue reading

May 5, 2010 Posted by | Legal, USA | , , , | Leave a comment

Denison operating Grand Canyon uranium mine illegaly

EPA Says Ariz. Uranium Mine Operating IllegallyEPA says Arizona uranium mine north of Grand Canyon is operating without federal authorization  , ABC News, By FELICIA FONSECA Associated Press WriterFLAGSTAFF, Ariz. May 4, 2010 (AP) A uranium mine north of the Grand Canyon is operating in violation of the law, and its owner could face thousands of dollars in fines as a result, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said. Continue reading

May 5, 2010 Posted by | Legal, USA | , , , , , | Leave a comment

USA shows commitment to transparency, at Nuclear Non Proliferation Conference

Coming clean on nuclear weapons,  Julian Borger 4 May 2010  guardian.co.uk Day one of the non-proliferation conference in New York brought a small but significant breakthrough for nuclear transparency
The Obama administration took the view that numbers would trump words on the opening day of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in New York. The decision to reveal the size of the US nuclear stockpile both demonstrated a long-delayed commitment to transparency, and provided a graphic illustration that at least some of the weapons states have been doing something about disarmament. Coming clean on nuclear weapons | World news | guardian.co.uk

May 5, 2010 Posted by | politics international, USA | , , , | Leave a comment

President Ahmadinejad of Iran points out an unpalatable nuclear truth

He is not alone in seeing the old nuclear powers as an arrogant club who believe they have the right to rule…….As the US presses for sanctions against Iran, President Ahmadinejad has come to stir up charges of hypocrisy and double standards

An unlikely anti-nuclear campaigner? BBC, Mark Mardell  , 3 May 2010 President Ahmadinejad of Iran says nuclear weapons are “disgusting and shameful”, a danger to the countries that have them.We have to assume this is an indirect denial that he is on the verge of developing such a weapon. Continue reading

May 4, 2010 Posted by | general | , , , , | Leave a comment

Nuclear weapons numbers to be revealed by USA

US to unveil size of nuclear stockpile, The American government will disclose for the first time the exact size of the US nuclear stockpile at a major United Nations nuclear disarmament summit, according to officials. By Alex Spillius in New York  Telegraph UK 02 May 2010 “…….Arms-control groups estimate the US nuclear arsenal contains 9,000 weapons, roughly 5,000 of them active and the rest in line for disassembly.The announcement could be timed to prevent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, from hijacking the conference with demands for more global controls of nuclear stockpiles. He speaks before Mrs Clinton. The international community believes Iran is secretly preparing to build a nuclear weapon. US to unveil size of nuclear stockpile – Telegraph

May 3, 2010 Posted by | general | , , , | Leave a comment

Coolant system failures – bound to happen in Japan’s fast breeder reactors

Japanese fast breeder nuclear reactor malfunctions and worse are ‘inevitable, Nuclear Reaction, 1 May 2010,Coolant system mishap at Japan’s long-stalled Monju fast breeder are “inevitable” in such reactors
‘NEW YORK – The Monju prototype fast breeder nuclear power reactor, which has been gearing up for an early May restart after a 15-year stoppage, suffered a temporary glitch in a coolant leakage detector Tuesday……

…….. one Japanese nuclear industry source familiar with the Monju project was quoted as saying in Japan Today that malfunctions of this type – and worse – are “inevitable” in such reactors. The government-affiliated agency said the sodium detector, housed in an auxiliary building to the reactor at the Monju centre in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, came to a halt after a fan motor overheated, triggering an alarm at 11:59 p.m. Monday. A fire accompanying a sodium leak shut down the reactor in December 1995, and the project has not been restarted since.’ Nuclear News: Japanese fast breeder nuclear reactor malfunctions and worse are ‘inevitable’ – Nuclear Reaction – A Greenpeace blog about nuclear power

May 1, 2010 Posted by | Japan, technology | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Nuclear “deterrence” does not make us safer

the claim that a nuclear deterrent makes us feel safer, seems, to put it plainly, bollocks.

(UK) Who’s afraid of the nuclear bomb?The debate over Trident has sparked differing reactions between the cold war and 9/11 generations – but why? Richard Rogers * guardian.co.uk,   28 April 2010 “….Back in the UK, the nation watched as Nick Clegg made the Lib Dems’ case for reviewing the replacement of Trident – arguing for the need to look for a cheaper alternative or possibly, just possibly, even abandon an independent nuclear deterrent for Britain completely………. Continue reading

April 30, 2010 Posted by | UK, weapons and war | , , , , , | Leave a comment

At last, some compensation for many victims of nuclear bomb testing

“Many families in the downwind states have stories like mine,” Tona Henderson wrote recently in the Idaho Statesman. “Some of these stories are so sad because entire families have died of cancer. . . .

Keeping Fear Alive.  BuzzFlash.org, ROBERT C. KOEHLER, 29 April 2010, ………legislation introduced into Congress this month to expand the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act has put the suffering born by so many Americans — who lived downwind of the nuclear tests, worked in the industry or mined the uranium — back into the news. Continue reading

April 30, 2010 Posted by | Legal, USA | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Money talks when Texas Governor considers nuclear waste dumping

Texans for Public Justice fleshes out the links in a report today: Simmons has donated $620,000 to Governor Perry’s campaign efforts since 2001.

Links between a nuclear waste dump and Perry Statesman.com, By Asher Price | Thursday, April 29, 2010 Salsa Verde We’ve written at the Statesman about links between Waste Control Specialists and Gov. Rick Perry. Waste Control, which operates a radioactive waste dump in far West Texas, is owned by Harold Simmons, who is one of the chief donors to Perry. Continue reading

April 30, 2010 Posted by | secrets,lies and civil liberties, USA | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A futuristic film studies nuclear wastes

Film –  Tribeca Review: Into Eternity, Cinematical, by Christopher Campbell Apr 29th 2010 What will the inhabitants of Earth be like over the next 100,000 years? Will they even be human, or some other civilization of animal or alien being? These questions are at the heart of Into Eternity, a beautiful and extremely fascinating Danish documentary about ONKALO, the ambitious nuclear waste repository near Olkiluoto, Finaland, which will bury thousands of tons of spent uranium from a local power plant in an extensive underground tunnel system…..In an eerie narration, Madsen addresses future viewers, whether or not they will understand his English-spoken warnings and questions, urging them not to curiously venture into the tunnels as if it were an archaeological find, like the Egyptian pyramids.

Tribeca Review: Into Eternity – Cinematical

April 30, 2010 Posted by | Finland, wastes | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Resuscitation of nuclear industry in peril with no solution to radioactive wastes

DOE announced the formation of a Blue Ribbon Commission of nuclear experts who will spend the next 18 months working to evaluate policy options for the management of spent nuclear fuel.

Nuclear Waste Issue Persists as New Plants Forge Ahead | ecopolitology, by Timothy B. Hurst on April 28, 2010 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Department of Energy are preparing for a new era of American nuclear power plants.


The United States electric industry is gearing up to build new nuclear power plants for the first time in decades. Whether and when any of these new plants are actually completed depends on the outcome of many issues, including regulatory, financing and the ultimate disposal of spent nuclear fuel…… Continue reading

April 29, 2010 Posted by | politics, USA | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Virginia Beach uranium mining could contaminate drinking water

The city is concerned about uranium mining and milling because Lake Gaston, a major source of its drinking water, is located downstream from Coles Hill, site of the proposed uranium mine and mill.

Lawmaker: Spending more for uranium socioeconomic study ‘not wise’ GoDanRiver,  By John Crane April 27, 2010 If a Virginia Beach study finds uranium mining and milling detrimental to Lake Gaston, then a socioeconomic study of the industry would be pointless, said a member of the Virginia Tobacco Commission’s executive committee. Continue reading

April 28, 2010 Posted by | USA, water | , , , , | 1 Comment

Lawsuit by Iraq on depleted uranium’s cancer and birth defects victims

Atomic radiation has increased the number of babies born with defects in the southern provinces of Iraq. Iraqi doctors say they’ have been struggling to cope with the rise in the number of cancer cases

Fallujah babies born with birth defects as a result of Depleted Uranium WMD contaminated dust. | Child Health

Iraq WILL sue US and Britain over depleted uranium bombs Child Health , 28 April 2010, Ministry for Human Rights will file a lawsuit against Britain and the US over their use of depleted uranium bombs in Iraq, an Iraqi minister says. Continue reading

April 28, 2010 Posted by | health, Iraq | , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Israel supporting diplomacy over Iran – for the time being

Iran looms over Israeli minister’s meetings in U.S. – This Just In – CNN.com Blogs. 28 April 2010, The United States is seeking tough new sanctions “to sharpen the choices that Iran’s leaders face” after weekend talks between the Iranian government and the International Atomic Energy Agency failed to make progress on a deal over Iran’s nuclear program, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Tuesday……
Iran was high on the agenda in talks between Clinton and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak in Washington on Tuesday. Barak left the State Department for further talks on Iran with Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

In a joint news conference at the Pentagon with Barak, Gates said he was satisfied with the planning process by the United States to prepare for a nuclear Iran. …

“At this stage it is time for sanctions and diplomacy,” Barak told reporters….
Israeli officials say they believe their government will give the sanctions effort about a year to see whether they put sufficient pressure on Iran before debating other options. Iran looms over Israeli minister’s meetings in U.S. – This Just In – CNN.com Blogs

April 28, 2010 Posted by | Israel, politics international | , , , | Leave a comment

Ukraine merging into Russia’s nuclear empire?

Ukraine hooking up on Russian nuclear energy, too?  FT Energy Source , April 27, 2010  by Kate Mackenzie”.…..on Monday night, Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin made a “large-scale offer” to Ukraine to merge their nuclear power generation businesses. The FT reports:

“At issue is large scale co-operation between our nuclear sectors. We are offering to establish a major holding, which would unite our generation, nuclear engineering and nuclear fuel cycles.”

Ukraine hooking up on Russian nuclear energy, too? | FT Energy Source | FT.com

April 28, 2010 Posted by | politics, Ukraine | , , , , , | Leave a comment