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Effect of nuclear radiation on sheep

Caesium-137 is considered a health hazard because it can easily enter the food chain and be taken up by the body. Sheep grazing on upland grass especially in the summer months are likely in the worst-affected regions to build up levels of caesium-137 t

Scottish sheep farms finally free of Chernobyl fallout – Science, News – The Independent, By Kevin Rawlinson and Rachel Hovenden, 7 July”…….

The effect of radiation* Two factors led to the imposition of restrictions on the sale and movement of some flocks of sheep in Britain soon after the Chernobyl accident in 1986, which sent a radioactive plume over much of north-west Europe. Continue reading →

July 9, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | environment, UK | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear weapons, radiation, reactors | Leave a comment

GE-Hitachi, Westinghouse face risk of increaded nuclear weapons proliferation

The renewed risk of nuclear proliferation in one of the world’s most unstable regions is the latest hurdle for companies including US-based firms GE-Hitachi and Westinghouse Electric, a subsidiary of Japan’s Toshiba Corp, trying to enter India’s nuclear energy sector

Nuclear proliferation, Manila Bulletin, By SANJEEV MIGLANI, July 8, 2010, SINGAPORE (Reuters) — A 2008 civilian nuclear energy pact between the United States and India was meant to lift a 34-year-old embargo on nuclear trade despite New Delhi’s longstanding weapons program, a move seen as bolstering it as a counterweight to China. Continue reading →

July 9, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, nuclear technology, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

Australia’s strategy to get Aboriginal land for mining and nuclear industry

Through the intervention, the government is weakening land rights. It is clear who [uranium miners] will benefit as Aboriginal people move off their land, settle in larger towns and lose connection with country.

What’s behind the NT intervention? | Green Left Weekly. July 3, 2010 By Peter Robson, Continue reading →

July 9, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA, indigenous issues | antinuclear, AUSTRALIA, nuclear, nuclear weapons, uranium | Leave a comment

Community push to shut down Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor

NRC Chairman To Meet With Vermont Yankee Critics, wbztv.com, Jul 8, 2010 BRATTLEBORO, Vt. (AP) ― The chairman of the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission is traveling to Vermont next week to meet with groups critical of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant.Gregory B. Jaczko will hold a round-table discussion on Wednesday in Brattleboro.Invited participants include representatives of Citizens Awareness Network, Safe and Green Campaign, Conservation Law Foundation and Vermont Public Interest Research Group.The discussion will be held at the Ramada Hotel and Conference Center and the public is invited to listen.The groups want Vermont Yankee shut down until repairs can be completed to ensure any leaks of radioactive substances have stopped.

NRC Chairman To Meet With Vermont Yankee Critics – wbztv.com

July 9, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | opposition to nuclear, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, radiation, reactor | Leave a comment

Radioactivity in British sheep – the long legacy of Chernobyl

Before farmers in restricted areas can sell or move any of their livestock, they must have each animal tested..

Scottish sheep farms finally free of Chernobyl fallout – Science, News – The Independent, By Kevin Rawlinson and Rachel Hovenden, 7 July 2010 Farmers in affected areas have to have each of their animals tested before they can move or sell any livestock Continue reading →

July 9, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | environment, UK | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

Military talked Nixon out of nuking North Korea

Richard Nixon planned nuclear strike on North Korea, Telegraph, 7 july 2010, The United States drew up plans for a tactical nuclear strike against North Korea in 1969, but quickly stepped back from the brink fearing it would trigger an all-out war, newly declassified documents in Washington have shown. By Peter Foster in Beijing 08 Jul 2010.…… Documents released by the National Security Archive in Washington detail plans for Operation Freedom Drop which included conventional war and a nuclear attack using bombs 20 times the size of that dropped on Hiroshima……… “But constantly you find the military saying, ‘But the risks probably still outweigh the potential gains,’.” Richard Nixon planned nuclear strike on North Korea – Telegraph

July 9, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | USA, weapons and war | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

Delays, cost, opposition, to UK’s nuclear waste plans

Budget cuts caution on UK nuclear waste plan, BBC News, 7 July 2010 The UK’s deep store for nuclear waste should open for business around 2040 – but spending cuts could delay the plans, and community support is vital. These are the key messages in a report from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), the agency charged with managing the nation’s waste………….

The UK’s nuclear waste problem is considerably bigger than either of the Scandinavian countries……….

The total volume of waste from past and present operations amounts to about 500,000 cubic metres, although there is a huge variety in types of waste, the level of radioactivity and how long it will remain dangerously radioactive.

The coalition government has said it is committed to finding a long-term solution for the UK’s nuclear waste problem………..If no communities want the repository, said Alun Ellis, it will not be built.

“The government’s answer to this question is that Plan B is to make Plan A work,”

July 8, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | UK, wastes | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons, radiation, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

Civil Liability Bill for the benefit of USA nuclear industry, not India

In the event of a tragedy, tax payers will have to cough up the compensation while foreign companies will go scot free,… foreign nuclear companies have seen their market dry up in the US, UK and France because no new plants have been set up there in 20-30 years, and therefore, India was a plum market. And it is with an eye on securing these companies’ interests that the US and other developed nations are insisting that India pass the Nuclear Civil Liability Bill.

Public hearing nukes civil liability bill Indian Express07 Jul 2010 HYDERABAD: Speakers at a public consultation on the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill 2010 held here today pilloried the Union government for learning nothing from the Bhopal gas tregady. They described as a sellout the Bill’s provision to impose a ceiling on the compensation payable by foreign nuclear suppliers in the eventuality of a nuclear accident. Continue reading →

July 8, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | India, politics international | AUSTRALIA, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, uranium | Leave a comment

USA – no idea what to do with depleted uranium wastes

Feds seek a temp home for depleted uranium | The Salt Lake Tribune, By JUDY FAHYS 8 July 2010, The U.S. Department of Energy has started looking beyond Utah for temporary storage of nearly 10,000 drums of depleted uranium for up to seven years…….. Continue reading →

July 8, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | depleted uranium, USA | antinuclear, depleted, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons, uranium | Leave a comment

Concern over Russian ownership brings fall in uranium share price

“alarmed industry observers worried that the Vancouver-based company might end up serving the Kremlin’s strategic interests.”
The spot price of uranium reacted to this news by falling in price.

Financing uranium mining raises concern, Star Tribune, Hildred Shelton, July 7, 2010 The hearing on uranium mining conducted in Chatham on June 22 by the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission Subcommittee has received extensive comment………………..that brings up a current development in financing uranium mining which is causing international commentary…that “world of capital.” Continue reading →

July 8, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, uranium | Leave a comment

Overuse of heart radiation tests a cancer risk

While doctors disagree over how much, most agree that radiation can cause cancer, and researchers are growing concerned that an explosion in the use of medical imaging is making it more likely that patients may develop cancer.

Heart tests add to U.S. radiation dose concerns | Reuters; By Julie SteenhuysenCHICAGO | Thu Jul 8, 2010 CHICAGO – Heart imaging procedures can deliver a significant amount of radiation to patients, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday, urging patients and doctors to weigh the risks against the benefit Continue reading →

July 8, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | health, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

No govt subsidy for new nuclear plants in Britain

The coalition government says new nuclear build will go ahead as long as no public subsidy is needed.

Farron demands end to nuclear subsidies, North West Evening Mail 6 July 2010 AN MP is calling for the withdrawal of all public subsidy for nuclear power.Tim Farron says the taxpayer should not be propping up the nuclear industry.The Liberal Democrat MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale said: “The argument is simple, there can be nuclear build if there is no public subsidy. Continue reading →

July 8, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, UK | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

Swapping of spy – nuclear expert – Moscow to USA

U.S., Russia Discussing Spy Swap – IBD – Investors.com, 8 July 2010, Moscow wants to exchange a jailed nuclear expert convicted of espionage for one of 10 alleged Russian spies held in the U.S., said a lawyer for Igor Sutyagin, who was convicted of passing secrets to a British firm. U.S. officials visited Sutyagin in prison Mon., his brother said. The U.S. declined comment, but a Va. hearing for 3 suspects was canceled and the trio transferred to N.Y.

U.S., Russia Discussing Spy Swap – IBD – Investors.com

July 8, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy | Leave a comment

Obama placating Israel on nuclear weapons issue

Obama administration: Israel has right to nuclear capability for deterrence purposes – Haaretz Daily, 5 July, 2010, NEW YORK – The Obama administration has revealed to the public, during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, a series of understandings between the two countries on Israel’s policy of “nuclear ambiguity” – which to date had been kept under wraps Continue reading →

July 8, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics international, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear technology, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

USA’s far right leads to new global nuclear arms race

…suddenly we are in the midst of a new multi-polar arms race. This is the vision that Romney is posing and it is immensely dangerous.

Mitt Romney Embraces The Far Right’s Dangerous Nuclear Extremism In Opposing START, Wonk Room, 6 July 2010, While Mitt Romney’s oped today in the Washington Post is largely a politically-motivated effort to boost his far-right foreign policy bonafides, it does however demonstrate how dangerous and extreme the anti-Obama narrative has become……

The fact that Romney thinks that the worst foreign policy mistake of the Obama administration is a modest treaty that reduces limits on nuclear weapons and extends and updates the verification and monitoring measures that Ronald Reagan himself negotiated in the initial START treaty, says something about how far out of the mainstream the conservative right has moved. Continue reading →

July 7, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, USA | antinuclear, disarmament, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment