nuclear « nuclear-news

401 wildfires in Russia’s radiation contaminated Chelyabinsk

most worrisome of all, the Chelyabinsk region, home to the Mayak Chemical Combine, Russia’s nuclear reprocessing facility and one of the most radioactively contaminated areas on the planet hosted 401 fires over 3,536 acres.

Russia emergency minister threatens to ‘deal with’ those spreading radiation ‘rumours’ about wildfires in contaminated areas NEW YORK/ST PETERSBURG –Alexander Shurshev contributed from St. Petersburg “Bellona, 17 Aug 2010, ………..By last week Roslesozashchita website was reporting – before it was taken down – that 269 fires were burning over 664 acres in the Bryansk Region.But that was not all. Continue reading →

August 17, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | environment, Russia | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear technology, nuclear wastes, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

Some information on Israel’s nuclear weapons

More clues to Israel’s nuclear weapons status The Guardian, Or Rabinowitz 16 August 2010 “…..There is some evidence that possibly indicates that Israel‘s first nuclear test took place on 2 November 1966. This suspected test, if it happened, was a zero or near-zero yield test carried out at Dimona site and intended to validate Israel’s nuclear design……..
The information about the 1966 alleged test and the change in Israel’s nuclear status became accepted as the date Israel became nuclear. A British document from 1979 states that: “Successive Israeli governments since 1966 have said that Israel will not be the first to introduce nuclear weapons in the Middle East … We believe the Israelis could quickly assemble about a dozen low-yield weapons without testing for a delivery.”… Letters: More clues to Israel’s nuclear weapons status | World news | The Guardian

August 17, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Israel, weapons and war | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

Anti-nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu should be free

Vanunu is the preeminent hero of the nuclear era.

In praise of … Mordechai VanunuHe survived his vindictive spell in isolation, and pariah status, with head unbowed – now Israel must allow him to go The Guardian, 16 August 2010 When the nuclear whistleblower, Mordechai Vanunu, was released from prison in 2004 after serving 18 years, 12 of them in solitary confinement, he said he was ready to start a new life. The authorities in Israel were not. Continue reading →

August 17, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Israel | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear weapons | 1 Comment

Many in India not happy with U.S-India Nuclear Deal

The wages of the nuclear deal The N-deal has turned out to be what the US mandated, not what the Prime Minister had assured India, livemint.com, Brahma Chellaney, 15 Aug 2010, “…. the final deal ends up giving the US specific rights—enforceable through the pain of unilateral suspension or termination of cooperation—while saddling India with obligations. Continue reading →

August 17, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | India, politics international | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

How come USA will let Vietnam enrich uranium?

The Shotgun: Filibuster: The first nuclear commandment, Western Standard, 15 Aug 2010, In a story that did not get a lot of press this week, the Obama administration has announced that it plans to go ahead with a nuclear technology deal with the Communist nation of Vietnam, despite that country’s refusal to make a pledge to not enrich uranium. Continue reading →

August 17, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics international, Vietnam | antinuclear, enriched, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

Little chance of Indian govt passing Nuclear Liability Bill

Desperate govt reaches out to Left. Indian Express.com, 16 Aug 2010, Keen to push through the nuclear liability Bill in the ongoing session of Parliament, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Friday reached out to the Left to build a consensus on the contentious Bill.

However, given the Bill is crucial to implementing the India-US nuclear deal, which they had unsuccessfully tried to block, there is little chance of the Left parties coming on board.
At the meeting, CPM’s Sitaram Yechury and CPI’s D Raja listed the Left’s four objections to the Bill. Its primary concern is that it virtually exempts foreign suppliers from any liability in case of an accident — this, Left leaders say, was done at the instance of the US…… Desperate govt reaches out to Left

August 17, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | India, politics | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, reactors | Leave a comment

Depleted uranium the likely cause of Iraq child cancers

Many are asking whether this spike could be connected to contamination caused by the use of depleted uranium in the bombs and bullets used by American forces.

Iraqi child cancer ‘linked to US weapons’ 16 August 2010 Source: SBS Dateline The number of deformed babies and children with leukaemia is increasing in Iraq, with locals blaming Depleted Uranium weapons used in US attacks, …. Continue reading →

August 17, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | depleted uranium, Iraq, Uranium | AUSTRALIA, cancer, depleted, nuclear, nuclear weapons, uranium | Leave a comment

USA keeps secret any data on depleted uranium use

one major obstacle is standing in the way of these assessments – the refusal by the US to release data on exactly where the weapons have been used and in what quantities. At present, states that use uranium weapons do not have to disclose quantitative or geographical data about their use – no where, no how much, nothing.

Fallujah birth malformations demand transparency over depleted uranium use By International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons, 16 Aug 2010, Recent research and a tide of media coverage are indicating that something is very wrong in the Iraqi city of Fallujah. The rates of certain cancers and birth malformations seem to be far higher than those of other countries in the region. Continue reading →

August 17, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Iraq, secrets,lies and civil liberties | antinuclear, cancer, depleted, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive, uranium | Leave a comment

Never before seen images of nuclear bomb tests in Australia

PICTURES Explosive: Unseen images unearth history of British nuclear bomb testing responsible for poisoning thousands | Mail Online

Unaware of the dangers of radiation, the men supervising the tests wore nothing more than military fatigues, which for some, soon after lead to heavy nose bleeding and early cancers. For others it took years.

Cancer, skin problems and infertility have all been suffered while some veterans may also have passed on genetic damage to their children…….

PICTURES Explosive new images unearthed of British nuclear bomb testing Daily Mail 14th August 2010 Never-before-seen images of nuclear tests undertaken in Australia in the 1950s have been revealed. Continue reading →

August 17, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Resources -audiovicual | antinuclear, AUSTRALIA, cancer, nuclear, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

USA sends help as fires circle Russian nuclear base

Russia admitted yesterday that fires closing in on its main nuclear centre represent ‘a certain danger’ to the secret town which houses its most sophisticated research laboratories.

U.S. sends help as fires close in on Russian nuclear base. Daily Mail 14th August 2010 The United States is sending firefighting equipment to Russia to help deal with 500 wildfires burning across the country, one of which threatens a nuclear base.The blazes have been sparked by the hottest summer ever recorded in Russia, Continue reading →

August 14, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Russia, safety | antinuclear, climate change, global warming, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear technology, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive, uranium | Leave a comment

Public mistrust of nuclear power, anxiety over nuclear wastes

if President Obama is seeking to promote nuclear energy and find a new waste strategy, the waste panel needs to focus on the issue of public mistrust as well as technological solutions

Address Mistrust, Scientists Urge Nuclear Panel – NYTimes.com, August 13, 2010, By LESLIE KAUFMAN “……60,000 tons of radioactive waste are being stored at or near nuclear plants that churned it out, Continue reading →

August 14, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | spinbuster, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear technology, nuclear weapons, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

“Countdown to Zero” – film faces the nuclear weapons facts

The only answer, this film and its many talking heads assert, is to rid the world of nuclear weapons. Thus the title of “Countdown to Zero” is less a pessimistic prediction of doomsday than a rallying cry to eliminate the danger. In fact, the film closes on an optimistic note, describing the Global Zero initiative through which world leaders hope to phase out nuclear weapons.

Countdown to Zero’ a frightening nuclear threat, By ROBERT W. BUTLER, McClatchy Newspapers, 14 Aug 2010, “……with the fall of the communist bloc we heaved a collective sigh of relief and looked to a less stressful future.

Well, don’t get too comfortable. Lucy Walker’s documentary is a blood-curdling look at the world’s nuclear arsenal that suggests atomic Armageddon remains every bit as likely as during the height of the Cold War…….. Continue reading →

August 14, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear technology, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

With Russia’s help, Iran’s nuclear plant starts August 21

The Russian Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom) said earlier in the day that the launch of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in Iran has been set for Aug. 21

Iran confirms launch of its first nuclear power plant, TEHRAN, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) — Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi confirmed on Friday next week’s launch of his country’s first nuclear power plant Continue reading →

August 14, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Iran, politics international | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons, reactors | Leave a comment

Military expert declares UK’s Trident nuclear weapons are unnecessary

My personal view is that there is a future without the deterrent.”

(UK) MoD cuts: ‘no need for nuclear deterrent’ Channel 4 News 13 August 2010 As Defence Secretary Liam Fox pledges cuts for the Ministry of Defence, a former Royal Navy commander tells Channel 4 News that Britain does not need its Trident nuclear deterrent. Continue reading →

August 14, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | UK, weapons and war | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

Nuclear energy looking uneconomic in Germany

The government’s plans to impose taxes on nuclear power plant operators are part of a package–totaling around EUR82 billion between 2011 and 2014–to cut public budget deficits. The duty on nuclear fuel rods is expected to contribute EUR2.3 billion in tax income each year…..

German Utilities Warn Fuel Tax May Herald End Of Nuclear Energy – WSJ.com, By Jan Hromadko, Dow Jones Newswires; AUGUST 12, 2010, FRANKFURT -Germany’s plan to tax the fuel used to fire nuclear power plants could make reactors unprofitable and hasten the country’s exit from atomic energy generation, Continue reading →

August 14, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, Germany | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, reactors | Leave a comment