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The News That Matters about the Nuclear Industry Fukushima Chernobyl Mayak Three Mile Island Atomic Testing Radiation Isotope

As nuclear waste mass accumulates, so does the COST of it

There is no national disposal spot for the spent fuel, and for 32 states, no place to send their low-level wastes. Around the country, the inventory of low-level wastes with no place to go is growing by about 10,000 cubic feet a year……...as much as $1,625 per cubic foot of waste. Even with waste reduction technologies, the amount of waste per year amounts to thousands of cubic feet…………

Nuclear Dumps Argue Over Diluting Waste for Burial – NYTimes.com, By MATTHEW L. WALD June 17, 2010 Even low-level radioactive waste is a growing problem, with few licensed repositories to dispose of it. The problem dates from the early 1980s, when Congress said that the federal government would take care of high-level waste, like spent fuel from nuclear power plants, but that the states would have to find sites for low-level material, Continue reading

June 21, 2010 Posted by | business and costs, USA | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

U.S. Senators trying to greenwash nuclear power

The nuclear power industry has skillfully and successfully painted itself green — an environmentally benign answer to reducing carbon emissions. The industry and many in Washington want us to believe that a new generation of nuclear reactors will solve the problems of climate change and allow us to live happily ever after. That’s a costly fairy tale.

US climate proposal a nuclear bailout By Richard Clapp  Shanghai Daily, 2010-6-19 THE long-awaited climate proposal crafted by US Senators John Kerry and Joseph Lieberman has finally landed on Capitol Hill. The proposal, though, is a massive nuclear bailout under the guise of an energy overhaul. Continue reading

June 21, 2010 Posted by | climate change, USA | , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Terrorist danger in enriched uranium storage

VIDEO
Nuke Facility Raid An Inside Job? – 60 Minutes – CBS News Eyewitness Talks To 60 Minutes About Brazen Assault On South African Nuclear Facility CBS) This story was first published on Nov. 28, 2008. It was updated on June 15, 2010.

When President Obama invited 47 world leaders to Washington for a nuclear security summit in April, the assault on Pelindaba was exactly the kind of scenario they were working to prevent. Continue reading

June 21, 2010 Posted by | safety, South Africa | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mental retardation in children due to uranium

There’s high-level of uranium in the drinking-water sources..…..Most children are below the age of 13 and all have neurological disabilities.

Uranium in retarded kids’ systems: German lab | Global Sikh News Source: H. Sidhu, 18 Junex 2010, Bathinda, Punjab: Water samples from the region contain a high amount of uranium and other heavy metals. It’s crippling children’s brains. Continue reading

June 21, 2010 Posted by | health, India | , , | Leave a comment

Anti-nuclear protest at APEC

SLIDE SHOW Anti-nuclear activists hold protest during APEC summit. | Demotix.com 21 June 2010, Media SummaryDuring the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum about a hundred activists from the Japanese Anti-nuclear rights organization and other groups held a protest against the use of nuclear power. Fukui, Japan. 19/06/2010 During the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum about a hundred activists from the Japanese Anti-nuclear rights organization and other groups held a protest against the use of nuclear power. Fukui, Japan. 19/06/2010APEC forum of energy ministers and senior officials agree to support promotion of nuclear power as an environmentally friendly energy during the one-day discussion of energy security and policies of Asia pacific region. Anti-nuclear activists hold protest during APEC summit. | Demotix.com

June 21, 2010 Posted by | general | , | Leave a comment

Harsh conditions forced by Israel on nuclear whistleblower

Israeli nuclear whistleblower returned to solitary confinement 21 June 2010, Amnesty International has accused the Israeli authorities of subjecting jailed nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment by holding him in solitary confinement.The 56-year-old, who spent 18 years in prison for revealing details of the country’s nuclear arsenal to a UK newspaper in 1986, was sent back to jail for three months on 23 May on charges of contact with a foreign national, and almost immediately placed in solitary confinement. Continue reading

June 21, 2010 Posted by | Israel, secrets,lies and civil liberties | , , , , | 1 Comment

Concern over nuclear workers’ exposure to radiation

Radiation tests ordered at nuclear plant By DON PEAT, Toronto Sun  June 19, 2010 Bruce Power will be testing more of its employees for alpha radiation.An internal memo obtained by the Sun was sent to employees at the power station Friday advising them that tests done last year on those closest to the low-level radiation contamination show they may have received a dose. Continue reading

June 21, 2010 Posted by | Canada, health | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Iowa’s potential for carbon free, nuclear free, power

Iowa Could Be Carbon-Free and Nuclear-Free, Blog for Iowa, 21 June 2020, by Paul Deaton Frequent visitor to Iowa, Arjun Makhijani, president of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research has determined a way to meet our energy needs without the use of carbon-based or nuclear fuels and technology. In his book, Carbon-Free and Nuclear-Free: A Roadmap for US Energy Policy, he outlines the process of what we can do to reduce and eliminate our reliance on carbon and nuclear fuels to produce our energy.

Blog for Iowa :: Iowa Could Be Carbon-Free and Nuclear-Free

June 21, 2010 Posted by | general | , , | Leave a comment

Global Nuclear Energy Partnership revived under a new name

Global Nuclear Energy Partnership Steering Group Members Approve Transformation to the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation Department of Energy U.S. Department of Energy , 18 June 2010,
The Global Nuclear Energy Partnership Steering Group met in Accra, Ghana on June 16-17, 2010 and approved unanimously several transformative changes to reflect global developments that have occurred since the Partnership was established in 2007. The transformation includes a new name – the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation — and the establishment of a new Statement of Mission. Continue reading

June 19, 2010 Posted by | politics international, USA | , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Many a slip between Sweden’s nuclear cup and the lip

The Riksdag voted in favor of renewing nuclear power—…..by the near-divided vote of 174-172. The left-leaning opposition party has vowed to reverse the legislation if it gains power in September’s general election….Even if the overturn of the ban stands, political will alone does not new nuclear power plants make–as neighboring Finland can attest.

Sweden Goes Nuclear (maybe) TIME,  by Eben Harrell  , June 18, 2010, The Riksdag, Sweden’s parliament, voted on June 17 to overturn a three-decades old ban on new nuclear reactors in what many see as a test-case for the long-predicted “nuclear renaissance ” in Europe.The legislation annuls a a referendum in 1980 in which Sweden’s population voted against renewing or replacing the country’s fleet of 12 power plants…….

But yesterday’s vote is no simple victory for nuclear supporters.   Continue reading

June 19, 2010 Posted by | politics, Sweden | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Is Obama’s call for “clean” energy in fact a push for nuclear power?

Obama’s Gulf oil catastrophe Oval Office call for “clean energy” tacit push for taxpayer-backed atomic power expansion, Beyond Nuclear, 18 June 2010, ?Although President Barack Obama did not say the words “nuclear power” in his first ever Oval Office address to the nation on June 15th, his call for an accelerated “transition to clean energy” in response to the worst environmental catastrophe in U.S. history — the worsening oil catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico — represents a tacit push for the expansion of atomic energy.

Such a nuclear relapse would only take place by transferring the financial risks and even direct costs (not to mention the radiological risks) squarely on the backs of taxpayers. Obama’s speech only adds to concerns this his choice of pro-nuclear co-chairs to head his oil catastrophe investigative panel could serve as a cynical pretext for advancing the dirty, dangerous, and expensive atomic reactors and associated facilities. Continue reading

June 18, 2010 Posted by | politics, USA | , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

British govt axes nuclear industry loan – a blow to the industry

The announcement is a blow both to the company and the nuclear sector

UK Axes GBP80 Mln Sheffield Nuclear Industry Loan – WSJ.comBy Selina Williams Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES LONDON (Dow Jones) 17 June 2010, –The U.K. government Thursday axed an GBP80 million loan to Sheffield Forgemasters International Ltd. for equipment to make the large forgings for nuclear power stations as part of broader spending cuts. Continue reading

June 18, 2010 Posted by | business and costs, UK | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

India’s Chambers of Commerce call for Nuclear Suppliers to be liable for accidents and delays

The Chamber is also of the view that that there should be a provision in the Bill which allows and entitles victims for higher compensation from Higher Courts. It also proposes that the Government may consider provision for cost over runs due to regulatory delays.

ASSOCHAM seeks clause in civil nuclear liability for precaution against tragedy India Infoline News Service, Jun 17, 2010 Nuclear Supplier may include anybody and everybody who supplies equipments, instruments, spare parts, contractual labor accounting for 5% or above of the total project cost.The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) has proposed that all nuclear supplier(s) as well operators subjected to a clause as per which compensation is ensured in an equitable manner Continue reading

June 18, 2010 Posted by | India, Legal | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

American city mayors call for a stop to nuclear weapons modernisation

“The U.S. Conference of Mayors calls on the U.S. Congress to terminate funding for modernization of the nuclear weapons complex and nuclear weapons systems, to reduce spending on nuclear weapons programs well below Cold War levels, and to redirect funds to meet the urgent needs of cities.”

U.S. Conference of Mayors Calls on Congress to Slash Nuclear Weapons | WarIsACrime.org, 18 June 2010, Spending and Redirect Funds to Meet the Needs of Cities Mayors for Peace congratulates the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) for unanimously adopting a groundbreaking resolution, Supporting U.S. Participation in Global Elimination of Nuclear Weapons and Redirection of Nuclear Weapons Spending to Meet the Needs of Cities, at the conclusion of its 78th annual meeting in Oklahoma City on June 14, 2010. Continue reading

June 18, 2010 Posted by | USA, weapons and war | , , , , | Leave a comment

Just like oil, nuclear ‘safety reviews’ rubber-stamped industry analyses

the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Office of Inspector General reported in 2006 that NRC staff “safety reviews” of atomic reactor 20 year license extension applications were regularly “cut and pasted” directly from nuclear utility analyses, sometimes verbatim. NRC has thus far rubberstamped approval for every single one of the over 50 license extension requests it has recieved, with many more awaiting approval.

House hearing ion Gulf catastrophe should serve as a warning on reactor risks, Beyond Nuclear 18 June 2010, The grilling of BP and other oil company executives at a June 15, 2010 U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Environment Subcommittee hearing on the BP Gulf of Mexico oil catastrophe should serve as a warning that very similar risks exist in the nuclear power industry, albeit radiological rather than petrol. Continue reading

June 18, 2010 Posted by | safety, USA | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment