nuclear « nuclear-news

Why not adopt safer, non radiation, airport scanners?

Given that the two types of machines are both deemed effective by the T.S.A., why doesn’t the agency just abandon backscatters and use the millimeter wave machines, which don’t pose radiation issues?

Radiation Questions Over a Body Scanner – NYTimes.com. By JOE SHARKEY July 26, 2010“………travelers also do not fully trust the security agency’s assurances that the new machines are safe, that they can’t be defeated by a terrorist and that personal privacy will be protected — at least, to the extent the agency has claimed. Continue reading →

July 27, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

Uranium processing costs soar

there are still “significant” issues hindering DOE from bringing projects to completion on time and within budget.

More questions about cost of UPF, Frank Munger’s Atomic City Underground | knoxnews.com, 26 July 2010, Todd Jacobson of Nuclear Weapons & Materials Monitor is reporting that the Government Accountability Office is raising concerns that the cost of the Uranium Processing Facility at Y-12 may reach or even exceed the top end of current estimates ($1.4 billion to $3.5 billion). Continue reading →

July 27, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, Uranium, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, uranium | Leave a comment

New Brunswick – more delays on nuclear power plant

N.B. government asks feds to comment on nuclear delay – CTV News. The Canadian Press Jul. 26, 2010 FREDERICTON — New Brunswick’s energy minister says there are rumours of further delays in the refurbishment of the Point Lepreau nuclear power plant Continue reading →

July 27, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, Canada | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, uranium | Leave a comment

Nuclear option for Gulf Oil Spill – potential for catastrophe

DEEP OIL WELL DRILLING ALWAYS BRINGS INCREASED LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVITY

BP NUCLEAR OPTION Spells Mega-Disaster For Gulf Of Mexico, thepeoplesvoice.org, Dr. Tom Termotto, 24 July 2010, National Coordinator Gulf Oil Spill Remediation Conference (International Citizens’ Initiative) There has been much speculation lately about a nuclear device being planned for closing in the BP Macondo Well in the Gulf of Mexico. The consequences of exercising this option go well beyond killing the Gulf of Mexico; there would be far-reaching and profound ramifications for the oceans of the world. Continue reading →

July 25, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear wastes, radioactive, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

No “Emergency” funding for nuclear industry, Beyond Nuclear, 24 July 2010, First, the Senate last night rejected the House-passed emergency supplemental funding bill by a 51-46 vote.* This is the bill that included $9 Billion in “emergency” loans for new nuclear reactor construction. The House will almost certainly have to accept the Senate version; those loans are now history.

Second, the Senate has given up on passing a climate bill before the November elections. That’s obviously mixed news: we support a strong climate bill. But we weren’t going to get a strong climate bill anyway; what we were going to get was a Christmas-in-July gift to the nuclear power industry. The wealthy nuclear corporations were all ready to unwrap their presents. Not this time.

July 24, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, reactors | 1 Comment

USA – some not so good nuclear news

USA 10 $Billion to nuclear loans, Beyond Nuclear 24 July 2010, Earlier this week, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved an energy funding bill for next year that includes $10 Billion in nuclear loans (along with $7+ billion for fossil fuels and about $3 billion for renewables). Those are clearly some misplaced priorities–and $10 billion for new reactors is $10 Billion too much, but it is less than half of the $25 Billion passed by the House Appropriations Committee.

Unfortunately, the Committee also approved two pro-nuclear bills: S. 2052, which would authorize the Department of Energy to spend $50 million/year through 2015 to reduce the cost of new reactors (although it’s hard to see how that kind of money can accomplish that goal, utilities already have plenty of incentive to reduce costs) and S. 2812, which would encourage the development of “small, modular reactors” and seek their design certification by the NRC by 2018 (although it is highly unlikely these could ever prove economical–see Amory Lovins’ factsheet here).

July 24, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, reactors | Leave a comment

USA “Tea Party” campaign against nuclear weapons control

conservative nationwide campaign to convince ordinary Americans to actively oppose the new nuclear reductions treaty with Russia

Tea Party activists come out against START The Cable, By Josh Rogin Friday, July 23, 2010 – A lobbying group affiliated with the Tea Party has joined the effort to derail President Obama’s new arms-control agreement with Russia, launching a grassroots campaign by spreading misleading information about the pact to the general public. Continue reading →

July 24, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

France admits to Tritium health risks from nuclear facilities

Tritium – Government nuclear authority admits tritium health risks could be underestimated, Beyond Nuclear, 24 July 2010, – The risks of tritium, a radioactive form of hydrogen, could be underestimated because it could bind to DNA, recognizes the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) in a recent white paper. In light of this possibility, the ASN wants new investigation into hereditary effects from tritium exposure, better monitoring and more restriction of tritium releases from nuclear facilities. Reported in Le Monde.

Beyond Nuclear – Tritium – Government nuclear authority admits tritium health risks could be underestimated

July 24, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | France, health | antinuclear, AREVA, EDF, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear wastes, radiation, radioactive, uranium | 1 Comment

Video: UK’s use of depleted uranium weapons in Iraq

VIDEO
Reports emerge the UK used depleted uranium weapons in Iraq – RT Top Stories RT Top Stories, 24 July, 2010, 00:41Reports have emerged that the UK used depleted uranium weapons during the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. A UK defense official has reportedly admitted using highly controversial ammunition. Continue reading →

July 24, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | depleted uranium, Resources -audiovicual, UK, Uranium | cancer, depleted, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear weapons, uranium | Leave a comment

Support for US attack in Iran shown in USA poll!

Polls:Wide Support for an Attack on Iran, Fox News, July 16, 2010 – by: Yonat Friling A poll by TIPP, the polling unit of TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence, a U.S. research firm of both syndicated and custom Market Research solutions, offers a surprising angle on an Israeli attack on Iran:56% of American would back an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities. According to the poll, 43 percent of U.S. Democrats approve of Israel taking military action against Iran to prevent Iran from building nuclear weapons, while 40 percent disapprove. However, when Republicans were asked the same question, 74 percent voiced approval while 17 percent disapproved…….
n a TV interview for the Israeli Channel 2 News last week, President Obama when asked if about the possibility of Israel’s attack on Iran’s Nuclear facilities, said “neither of us tries to surprise each other.”

Polls:Wide Support for an Attack on Iran « Liveshots

July 24, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

Unreliable information from International Commission on Radiological Protection

their dose estimates are based on the “average man” in spite of the fact that young children and pregnant mothers are at a much greater risk from ionising radiation.

Latest documents advocating the ban of depleted uranium. By Jerry Mazza Online Journal, 23 July 2010, “……International Commission on Radiological ProtectionThe ICRP is an undemocratic, self-sustaining body, which issues recommendations to governments and supranational bodies on radiological protection. Continue reading →

July 24, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, secrets,lies and civil liberties | antinuclear, cancer, nuclear, nuclear spin, radiation, radioactive, uranium | Leave a comment

Burma has ambitious, but inexpert, nuclear programme

“information has replaced rumour with hard data” and concluded that Myanmar’s nuclear programme is “overly ambitious with limited expertise”.

Myanmar’s nuke site found?, TODAY, Jul 23, 2010 HANOI – Fresh evidence has surfaced to support allegations that the Myanmar government is pursuing a nuclear weapons programme – a charge that Myanmar denies. Continue reading →

July 23, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Burma, weapons and war | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

Uranium spill shuts US highway

U.S. Highway 412 at Bouse Junction east to State Highway 58 at Ringwood has been shut down for containment purposes. They initially reported that the chemical spilled was uranium

Uranium Accident Prompts Road Closure , Evacuations Reported Near Fairview KOCO Oklahoma City, July 22, 2010 An accident involving a vehicle carrying cesium has forced the closure of a road in Major County, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. According to a news release from the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, U.S. Highway 412 at Bouse Junction east to State Highway 58 at Ringwood has been shut down for containment purposes. They initially reported that the chemical spilled was uranium.Fairview police said there have been evacuations about 1,000 feet around the area. It has not been determined whether anything is leaking.Authorities at the scene are waiting for officials from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to arrive from Tulsa.Chemical Accident Prompts Road Closure – Oklahoma City News Story – KOCO Oklahoma City

July 23, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, radiation, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

Nuclear fusion going nowhere very slowly and expensively

proposal may yet be scuppered by EU governments……….it is far from clear whether the best way of countering this trend in energy funding is to plough yet more money into the fusion project, with its vested political interests, at the expense of less prominent scientific endeavours.

Funding for nuclear fusion Expensive Iteration, The Economist,, A huge international fusion-reactor project faces funding difficulties Jul 22nd 2010.VIABLE nuclear fusion has been only 30 years away since the idea was first mooted in the 1950s. Continue reading →

July 23, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | EUROPE, technology | antinuclear, energy efficiency, nuclear, nuclear costs | Leave a comment

Nowhere for Hanford’s high level nuclear waste to go

Hanford’s high level radioactive waste has been expected to go to Yucca Mountain, but the Obama administration is shutting the project down…..

HANFORD: Yucca Mountain funding voted down, Tri-City Herald, 22 July 2010, Annette Cary, Richland An amendment to restore money to license the Yucca Mountain, Nev., nuclear repository failed in the Senate Appropriations Committee today Continue reading →

July 23, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | USA, wastes | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear weapons, radioactive | Leave a comment