nuclear secrecy « nuclear-news

Rumour of USA planning to seize Pakistan’s nuclear weapons

Credible? – New War Rumors: U.S. Plans To Seize Pakistan?s Nuclear Arsenal, strategy.com, 16 Oct 10, Quote -Two recent news items emanating from the United States have begun to reverberate in Pakistan and give rise to speculation that growing American drone strikes and NATO helicopter attacks in that country may be the harbingers of far broader actions: Nothing less than the expansion of the West?s war in Afghanistan into Pakistan with the ultimate goal of seizing the nation?s nuclear weapons.

The News International, Pakistan?s largest English-language newspaper, published a report on October 13 based on excerpts from American journalist Bob Woodward?s recently released volume ?Obama?s Wars? which stated that during a trilateral summit between the presidents of the U.S., Afghanistan and Pakistan on May 6 of 2009 Pakistani head of state Asif Ali Zardari accused Washington of being behind Taliban attacks inside his country with the intent to use them so ?the US could invade and seize its nuclear weapons.? [1]- End Quote

Credible? – New War Rumors: U.S. Plans To Seize Pakistan?s Nuclear Arsenal

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

The Emperor’s New Nuclear Clothes

Washington’s resolute reaction to the shrinking renaissance affirms the brilliance of Hans Christian Anderson’s ending to his fable “The Emperor’s New Clothes”:

“But he has nothing on!” everybody shouted at last. And the emperor shivered, for it seemed to him that they were right; but he thought within himself, “I must go through with the procession.” And so he carried himself still more proudly, and the chamberlains walked along holding the train which wasn’t there at all.

Honey, I Shrunk the Renaissance: Nuclear Revival, Climate Change and Reality, CleanEnergy Footprints, by Peter Bradford, 15 Oct 10, “………Where have all the reactors gone?The 18 applications to build 27 new reactors that were on file at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in January 2009 (with five more applications for seven units expected by the end of 2010) were hailed by a compliant press to constitute “a nuclear renaissance.” Continue reading →

October 16, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | spinbuster, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear renaissance, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, reactors, uranium | 1 Comment

Utah State must rule on vexed question of “blended” radioactive wastes

The Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah has challenged the idea of blending wastes to get around limits at the Utah site and urged state authorities to prohibit it.

Utah: NRC ruling leaves nuke waste rules to state, The Washington Post, By PAUL FOY, The Associated Press, October 15, 2010; SALT LAKE CITY — Federal regulators have put off a decision on whether blended radioactive waste can be buried in Utah.The Nuclear Regulatory Commission decided this week to develop a new set of rules assessing the dangers of blended waste based on the risks at individual disposal sites….. Continue reading →

October 16, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | technology, USA, wastes | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive | 1 Comment

Radioactive contamination, kidnappings, as uranium mining continues in Niger

shortcomings in the protection of workers against radiation, and increasing numbers of people living at Arlit or Akokan, a nearby town, cited this as the cause of their ill health…..uranium mining continues despite kidnappings

Safety concerns dog French uranium mines in Niger Still no sign of medical provisions Areva promised in 2009 Hervé Kempf * Guardian Weekly, 15 October 2010 For years uranium mining in Niger proceeded without giving rise to any major problems for companies, but things changed at the turn of the century. Since then the population of the mining town Arlit has become increasingly concerned that radioactivity may be exceeding regulatory limits. Continue reading →

October 16, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Niger, safety, Uranium | antinuclear, AREVA, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear wastes, radiation, radioactive | 1 Comment

USA – Nuclear power a dead cat now, despite politicians’ hype

The good news is that this time reality has set in before hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent to build plants fated eventually to be canceled or to come on line at costs far above the costs of providing the same energy services in other ways.

Honey, I Shrunk the Renaissance: Nuclear Revival, Climate Change and Reality, CleanEnergy Footprints, by Peter Bradford, 15 Oct 10, The “nuclear renaissance” has proven to be a promotion that cannot pass economic muster. Continue reading →

October 16, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin | Leave a comment

Nuclear “renaissance” looking riskier than ever, with cancellation of Maryland plant

There’s no gainsaying that nuclear construction projects are looking riskier all the time, especially in the United States, where many factors have conspired to spoil dreams of a big nuclear renaissance: declining energy demand since the onset of the global economic crisis (down 4 percent since 2007 in the States); plummeting natural gas prices (down almost half from what they were a few years ago); collapsing prospects for enactment of a U.S. climate bill (which would have raised the costs of fossil-fuel-generated electricity); and soaring reactor construction costs (with EDF’s current reactor 40 or 50 percent more expensive than originally billed).

Cancellation of Maryland Plant Delivers Double Whammy IEEE Spectrum: Bill Sweet , October 13, 2010 Continue reading →

October 14, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, USA | antinuclear, EDF, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear technology, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

Did Stuxnet computer worm damage Iran’s uranium enrichment facility?

A sophisticated malworm such as Stuxnet could potentially include code that would cause uranium enriching centrifuges to explode under high pressure, or at a certain date. Did it actually do it? There were reports that Iran’s uranium enrichment plant at the Natanz facility was attacked by Stuxnet and sustained damage. An earlier report suggested that in 2009 that site suffered a serious nuclear accident that reduced the number of uranium enriching centrifuges by at least 25%. Was Stuxnet the reason?

A Cyber War Against Iran: Whodunit?, THE HUFFINGTON POST, by Haggai Carmon:, 13 Oct 10, The Iranians are frantically looking for those responsible for infecting their nuclear and industrial facilities with Stuxnet, an extremely sophisticated and dangerous viral computer malworm………… Continue reading →

October 14, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Iran, Uranium, weapons and war | antinuclear, enriched, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear weapons, uranium | Leave a comment

Israel – don’t ask, don’t tell, about its nuclear weapons

Israel’s policy toward its nuclear secrets needs to change as well…….
Israel’s policy goes by the Hebrew word amimut, meaning vagueness, opacity or ambiguity. It is a turbo-charged version of “don’t ask, don’t tell.

Books of The Times – Avner Cohen’s ‘Worst-Kept Secret,’ Israel and the Bomb – NYTimes.com, by Ethan Bronner, 13 Oct 10, In 1986 a former technician in the Dimona nuclear reactor in Israel revealed to The Sunday Times of London everything he knew about Israel’s clandestine nuclear weapons program. It caused a worldwide sensation, with experts estimating Israel’s arsenal at more than 100 atom bombs. Continue reading →

October 14, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Israel, secrets,lies and civil liberties | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

Nuclear regulators cutting corners on safety, just as oil regulators did

another case of regulators cutting corners to accommodate industry’s needs, just as the now-renamed and revamped Minerals and Management Service did for the oil and gas industry before the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Nuclear watchdog groups say corners cut on fire safety, Politics AP – MiamiHerald.com, By RENEE SCHOOF 14 Oct 10, WASHINGTON — Nuclear watchdog groups say that an internal report by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on fire safety at nuclear plants shows that regulators don’t have enough information to know whether its new fire rules will ensure safety…… Continue reading →

October 14, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear technology, reactors | Leave a comment

India’s govt manipulating in the interests of USA nuclear firms

Ever since the bill was passed, the US administration has been pressing India to make certain modifications, particularly about certain aspects of unlimited liability. But, India is not keen on making any changes.

Law firms hired to allay US fears on N-liability bill – The Economic Times. 13 Oct 10, MUMBAI: Ahead of US President Barack Obama’s visit to India next month, the Nuclear Power Corporation (NPC) has engaged law firms to allay fears and apprehension of the US about the N-liability bill. Continue reading →

October 13, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | India, politics international | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, reactors | Leave a comment

Secret transport of highly enriched uranium across Poland

Top secret uranium shipment passes through Poland, TheNews.pl :: News from Poland, 12.10.2010 It has been reported that three shipping containers with thick metal flasks containing highly enriched uranium, or HEU, were loaded onto a specially converted Russian ship in the Baltic port of Gdansk on 26 September….
The Polish uranium shipment was big enough to construct eight nuclear bombs, writes “The Sunday Telegraph”, a British weekly whose reporters observed the shipment organised by American specialists…..

The shipment travelled across half of Poland in total secrecy.

Polish police and maritime border guards refused to confirm or comment on the secret shipment….Top secret uranium shipment passes through Poland – TheNews.pl :: News from Poland

October 13, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | EUROPE, secrets,lies and civil liberties, Uranium | antinuclear, enriched, nuclear secrecy, nuclear wastes, radioactive, uranium | Leave a comment

Demolition of nuclear reactor – cost not mentioned

Westinghouse Begins Demolition of Retired Test Reactor Outer Structure at Waltz Mill Site Nuclear Power Industry News – , Oct 12 2010 – Edited By Chris Reed -Westinghouse Electric Company announced last week it has begun the demolition and removal of the retired test reactor outer structure at its Waltz Mill facility here. This project is part of the site’s continued remediation plans, which include decontamination or removal of structures and areas used as part of test reactor operations conducted from 1959 to 1962.
The test reactor vessel was previously removed in 2000; the remaining structure, a large, white-domed containment building used to house the test reactor, is not needed for current site operations.

October 13, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear decommissioning, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, radioactive, reactor | Leave a comment

Russia boosting nuclear sales – will take back radioactive wastes

Sergei Kiriyenko, a former prime minister, told reporters there that sales would triple by 2030, to $50 billion annually……Under legislation that might have been more difficult to push through a freer political system, Russia allows the importation of spent nuclear fuel from reactors elsewhere.

Russia Seeks to Build Europe’s Nuclear Plants – NYTimes.com, Rosatom, the Russian state-owned nuclear company, is competing with Westinghouse and Areva of France to build new reactors at the Temelin station in the Czech Republic.By ANDREW E. KRAMER October 11, 2010 MOSCOW — The Russian nuclear industry has profited handsomely from building reactors in developing countries, including India, China and Iran. Now it is testing the prospect of becoming a major supplier to the European Union, too…….. Continue reading →

October 12, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics international, Russia | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, radiation, radioactive, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

Complexity of shipping Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU)

These reactors are using highly enriched uranium fuel pure enough for a bomb. Since Sept. 11, 2001, the U.S. government has grown increasingly worried that terrorists could steal the material or buy it. ….. these reactors aren’t very well guarded.

Nuclear Road Trip: Shipping Uranium A Complex Task, NPR, by Geoff Brumfiel, 11 Oct 10, A shipment of bomb-grade uranium arrived at a secure facility in Russia on Monday, sent from a research reactor in Poland as part of a race to secure dangerous radioactive material around the world. Continue reading →

October 12, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | EUROPE, safety | antinuclear, enriched, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

India govt doing a back door deal to subvert Nuclear Liability Bill?

Desperate to push through its nuclear energy programme, it would appear that the Indian government may try to push through back-door amendments to limit the liability of foreign suppliers in case of an accident.

(India) Govt set to dilute n-liability bill thru back door? domain-b.com news 11 October 2010 Science and technology minister Prithviraj Chavan’s latest comments seem to indicate that the government is not happy about the stringent nuclear liability rules forced down its throat in the wake of the pitiful Bhopal gas disaster verdict. Continue reading →

October 12, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | India, secrets,lies and civil liberties | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, reactors | Leave a comment