nuclear secrecy « nuclear-news

Revelation about lost nuclear codes

…the episode showed that no system could be entirely safe from human error,….Retired US Air Force lieutenant colonel Robert Patterson wrote that Mr Clinton, and not an aide, allegedly lost track of the codes.

Nuclear codes ‘went missing’ during Clinton presidency ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), 22 Oct 10 Special codes that allow the US president to order a nuclear attack went missing “for months” during Bill Clinton’s time at the White House, Continue reading →

October 22, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy | Leave a comment

Exposing banks that finance coal and nuclear

Following a campaign that started on October 16 – when volunteers started putting posters up around BNP branches and ATMs asking the public “Do you know what your bank does with your money?”, – our French activists used a BNP decorated armoured truck to deliver millions of fake ‘radioactive BNP-Paribas notes’ to AREVA’s headquarters, the company that is building Angra 3, exposing the nuclear link between the two. The money that BNP plans to use to finance this dangerous project comes from its clients, but most of them are not aware of that.

Bright sunshiny day | Greenpeace International, jmiller – October 21, 2010 , Talk about a global day for climate action! As the sun light started to shine on the Pacific Ocean this morning, a bright day started for the future of the planet and activists around the world challenged dirty energy and highlighted the benefits of a clean and renewable future. Continue reading →

October 22, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, radiation | Leave a comment

Britain can’t afford its nuclear weapons, nor can USA

To preserve vital conventional military forces, the [USA] service chiefs will likely have to cut into the $54 billion spent each year on nuclear weapons-related programs.

British Budget Collapse Foreshadows Cuts to Come in U.S. Defense Budget, THE HUFFINGTON POST, Joe Cirincione, 21 Oct 10, Great Britain’s cuts, particularly to its nuclear forces, are the canary in the defense budget mine. Continue reading →

October 21, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | USA, weapons and war | antinuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear weapons | 2 Comments

A plea to help save squirrel monkeys from cruel radiation tests

You can help us find out the status of these cruel experiments by taking a moment to call the Department of Energy (DOE) at 202-586-5000 and politely asking if plans are still in place to bombard squirrel monkeys with radiation at Brookhaven.

Did NASA Cancel Cruel Monkey Experiments? Opposing Views by PETA 20 Oct 10, PETA has obtained government documents showing that in August 2010, the Brookhaven National Laboratory—where NASA has been planning to fund a study to blast monkeys with radiation—made a decision about whether or not to move forward with the cruel project. Continue reading →

October 21, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

Time for Israel to end its secrecy about its nuclear weapons

Israelis know almost nothing about how the program started, where the bombs are stored and whether their leaders ever considered using them

Why Israel Should Declare Itself a Nuclear Power, Newsweek, 21 Oct 10, Ambiguity over Israel’s nuclear program has been the norm, but a new book argues that coming clean would actually help deter Iran… Continue reading →

October 20, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Israel, secrets,lies and civil liberties | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

Columbian rebels seek nuclear materials to make a ‘dirty’ bomb

emails found on the computers proved that since 2005 the Farc had been trying to buy nuclear material in Ukraine.

Colombia tries to stop rebels from getting nuclear arms, BBC News, 20 October 2010 Colombian police have created the first counter-nuclear arms unit in the region dealing with leftist rebels. The new Centre for Nuclear Security will try to prevent members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) from obtaining nuclear material to make a “dirty bomb”. Continue reading →

October 20, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, SOUTH AMERICA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

Another dead nuclear reactor problem – Hanford

The other cocooned reactors are being left in long-term storage for 75 years to let radioactivity decay to more-manageable levels.

Energy Department wants to remove Hanford reactor | Seattle Times Newspaper,The Associated Press Tri-City Herald.20 Oct 10, TRI-CITIES, Wash. —The Energy Department wants to tear down the K East Reactor at Hanford rather than cocooning it like five other old reactors on the nuclear reservation. Continue reading →

October 19, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | decommission reactor, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear decommissioning, nuclear secrecy, nuclear technology, radiation, radioactive, reactors | Leave a comment

Gabon human rights groups force AREVA to assist sick uranium workers

The mine workers became ill after working in the COMUF mine, which produced more than 26,000 tonnes of uranium over 38 years and was controlled by Areva from 1986 until it closed down in 1999.Production stopped due to falling uranium prices but Areva has since secured new permits to look for uranium in the region, in the south of Gabon.

Areva, Gabon launch plan to help ill uranium workers by Phal Mezui Ndong Gualbert, David Lewis, Michael Roddy LIBREVILLE Oct 19 (Reuters) – Gabon and French mining giant Areva have launched a health initiative to treat more than 1,000 former miners who fell ill after working in a uranium mine in the Central African nation. Continue reading →

October 19, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | AFRICA, health | antinuclear, AREVA, cancer, France, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

Toxic uranium spill still affecting Navajo in New Mexico

People still remember, in part because of lingering illnesses they attribute to the spill,…People got compensated quickly at Three Mile Island – around here, I don’t think anyone got compensated for anything,

Uranium spill elicits traditional approach, Indian Country Today By Carol Berry, Oct 19, 2010 CHURCH ROCK, N.M. – About 10 miles north of this predominantly Navajo community, Highway 566 transects Red Water Pond Road, which is blocked at the entrance to an abandoned United Nuclear Corp. mine site from which nearly 1 million gallons of toxic wastewater spilled into the nearby Puerco River 31 years ago. Continue reading →

October 19, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | indigenous issues, Uranium, USA | antinuclear, cancer, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive, uranium | Leave a comment

Great Lakes shipment of dead nuclear generators once again delayed

More delays for Bruce Power shipment Owen Sound Sun Times – Ontario, CA, By PAUL JANKOWSKI, 20 Oct 10, Bruce Power has run into another delay in its plans to ship 16 used steam generators, considered to be low-level nuclear waste, to Sweden for recycling.The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission announced Monday that it is sending a supplemental report from CNSC staff to all 79 participants in a public hearing on the issue held Sept. 28 and 29 in Ottawa. The participants will have until Nov. 22 to respond, the commission said…….Opponents argue, among other things, that sending the nuclear waste through the Great Lakes would set a dangerous precedent. More delays for Bruce Power shipment – Owen Sound Sun Times – Ontario, CA

October 19, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Canada, politics | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, reactors | Leave a comment

Taxpayer will cop the bill for UK’s nuclear reactor wastes

The industry will only invest in new reactors if the government fixes a disposal levy to cover their contribution towards disposal in such a repository. The taxpayer will be liable for any shortfall if the actual costs exceed this levy decades from now.

Taxpayer could be hit by nuclear waste bill for new reactors• Fears new disposal levy could underestimate cost• Radioactive waste ‘could be traded like commodity’ Tim Webb * guardian.co.uk, 18 October 2010 The nuclear industry could end up passing on to taxpayers the costs of disposing of waste from new reactors under government plans, according to official documents seen by the Guardian. Continue reading →

October 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, UK | AUSTRALIA, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive, reactors | Leave a comment

Local communities shut out of UK nuclear site decisions

NE nuclear wait goes on The Northern Echo 18 Oct 10, “……..four ‘Evolutionary Power Reactors’ (EPR), to open by 2025, have already been allocated to EDF’s sites in Suffolk and Somerset. Two will be built at each…………Jim Footner, head of Greenpeace’s climate and energy campaign, said: “Local democracy is being kicked out of the door when it comes to nuclear sites.
Lib Dem supporters must be furious that local communities will have little say about nuclear power stations in their area, other than choosing the colour of the gates.”…..bigger sea defences must be built. Last year, ministers also admitted that nuclear waste will have to be stored on site for more than 100 years if the go-ahead is given.

October 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, UK | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, reactors | Leave a comment

New UK Trident nuclear submarines not ready before 2028

The decision means that the first of the new generation of nuclear submarines may not enter service until 2028 – around five years after the first Vanguard submarine is due to be withdrawn.

Trident nuclear deterrent replacement faces delay of up to five years guardian.co.uk, Wintour and Watt, 18 Oct 10, New generation of nuclear submarines may not enter service until 2028….. Continue reading →

October 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | UK, weapons and war | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

UK’s Ministry of Defence secretive over nuclear safety failures

The MoD has been trying since 2007 to keep the reports, which give a unique insight into the managing of Britain’s bomb, secret.

MoD papers reveal catalogue of nuclear safety failures – Herald Scotland | News Rob Edwards 17 Oct 2010 Potentially catastrophic lapses in nuclear weapons safety at the Clyde naval base have been exposed by secret Ministry of Defence reports released after a three-year freedom of information battle. Continue reading →

October 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, UK | AUSTRALIA, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear weapons, radioactive | Leave a comment

Western countries funding multi $billion cleanup of Russia’s arctic nuclear wastes

Although Russian authorities pledged transparency about the region’s nuclear issues, foreign journalists are denied access to a number of sites.

Russian Arctic’s ‘nuclear dump’ gets a facelift By Pierre-Henry Deshayes , Google hosted news, (AFP) –18 Oct 10, MURMANSK, Russia — An electronic sign along a busy street posts the outside temperature, the wind strength — and the radioactivity level.Welcome to Russia’s Kola Peninsula, a region that still bears the scars of its dubious past as the Soviet Union’s “nuclear dump”. Continue reading →

October 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Russia, wastes | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment