nuclear « nuclear-news

50,000 anti-nuclear protestors in Germany having a global impact

the growing scope and international success of CASTOR protests proves that the problem of nuclear waste, and nuclear energy as a whole, is global in its nature….

Thousands attend unprecedented anti-nuclear protests in Germany: Local action achieves global impact. Bellona, 19 Nov 10, GORBLEN, Germany – The largest and longest in a series of direct anti-nuclear protest actions, CASTOR 2010 started on November 5 in France and ended five days later in Gorleben, Germany Continue reading →

November 19, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, opposition to nuclear | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear wastes, radioactive, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

Uses and limitations of USA’s spy satellites watching Russia’s nukes

Cape Canaveral will launch what the director of the National Reconnaissance Office — the intelligence agency that manages the spy satellites — calls the “largest satellite in the world” into geosynchronous orbit 22,300 miles above the earth,

How the U.S. Snoops on Russian Nukes From Space Wired.com By Spencer Ackerman November 18, 2010 “…..Verification is the heart of arms control. Before the U.S. and Russia started signing arms control deals in the 1970s, each launched spy planes and satellites up into the sky to get a sense of how many missiles the other guy had. And even with the advent of missile-counters, the U.S. continues to throw satellites into space to snoop below. Continue reading →

November 19, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy | Leave a comment

USA keen to market nuclear power to Australia

The deal would allow for the United States to export nuclear technology, material and equipment to Australia for atomic power generation

Legislation Would Protect U.S.-Australia Atomic Trade Deal, NTI: Global Security Newswire , Nov. 18, 2010 Recently introduced U.S. legislation would ensure that a civilian nuclear trade agreement with Australia would still enter into force even if its time runs out in Congress, Continue reading →

November 19, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, USA | antinuclear, AUSTRALIA, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, nuclear technology, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

Thailand and Vietnam just not able to afford nuclear power

The first plants are likely to be delayed until 2028 at the earliest, he said.“The key element is also the financing of these projects, which we feel will be delayed…Vietnam may not be able to afford paying “a premium”…

Thai, Vietnamese Nuclear Plans Face Delays, Wood Mackenzie Says – Bloomberg, By Ann Koh – Nov 19, 2010 Southeast Asia’s first nuclear power plants, planned in Vietnam and Thailand by 2020, may be delayed by at least eight years Continue reading →

November 19, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | ASIA, business and costs, Vietnam | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

Skin cancer a real risk from airport radiation scanning

“While the dose would be safe if it were distributed throughout the volume of the entire body, the dose to the skin may be dangerously high,

Airport scanners may pose risk to skin – Kelly Brewington, Meredith Cohn and Andrea K. Walker – baltimoresun.com, 18 Nov 10, The new body scanners at U.S. airports are getting a lot of attention for how much they show of the human body, but doctors are saying there’s another problem: The radiation ticks up the chance of developing skin cancer. Continue reading →

November 19, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | health, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

UK Dept of Energy sees big struggle ahead for nuclear power plans

DECC is concerned that EDF could repeat the mistakes seen at Olkiluoto 3 in Finland, where the construction of an EPR has been delayed by four years and is 50 per cent over budget.

UK faces monumental challenge to hit 2018 new build nuclear deadline, Power Gen, 11/18/2010The UK is facing a “monumental challenge” to generate power from the first of a planned fleet of nuclear power stations by 2018, according to the head of new nuclear at the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). Continue reading →

November 19, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, UK | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, nuclear technology, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

Another USA nuclear power plant plan bites the dust

Ameren nuclear plant bill likely dead for this session, STI Today, 18 Nov 10, “………..A bill that would pave the way for a new Ameren nuclear plant has hit a roadblock in the Missouri Senate and is likely dead for the session.One of the Legislative session’s most controversial bills, the Ameren-backed proposal would repeal the state’s prohibition on utility companies charging customers for some costs of an electrical plant before the facility is up and running.But consumer groups and large industrial companies in the state complained that the bill also rewrote utility regulations to the point where Ameren could reap too many rate increases during the process of building a $6 billion plus nuclear plant in Callaway County……..”UPDATE: Ameren nuclear plant bill likely dead for this session

November 19, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear technology, reactor | Leave a comment

Dr Caldicott’s warnings on nuclear waste deserve attention

Despite her resume, her criticisms are being written off as fear-mongering and it doesn’t look like anyone plans to seek answers to the many questions that have been created by her comments.

Dr. Caldicott’s criticisms deserve more thought northumberlandnews.com, Nov 18, 2010 Bill Tremblay

There’s nothing wrong with listening. It’s a great way to form a balanced opinion. Yet, the warnings from anti-nuclear activist Dr. Helen Caldicott presented through the media over the last week are being locally ignored. Continue reading →

November 19, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear technology, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

What will Germany do with nuclear waste?

the only two options available at this point to achieve a relative level of safety with regard to nuclear waste are: Stop moving the already generated waste, and stop generating more. And the only way to stop accumulating more waste is by closing down all nuclear power plants.

Thousands attend unprecedented anti-nuclear protests in Germany: Local action achieves global impact. Bellona, 19 Nov 10, GORBLEN, Germany “……One of the sobering effects that the CASTOR action has had on the public was the very emphasis it placed on the insolvable problem of nuclear waste. Continue reading →

November 19, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

Now – a radioactive mouse at Hanford nuclear facility

Radioactive mouse hunt at Hanford, Seattle Times Newspaper, 18 Nov 10, After catching a radioactive rabbit on the Hanford nuclear reservation, cleanup workers are now hunting for a radioactive mouse.The Associated PressRelatedRICHLAND, Wash. —After catching a radioactive rabbit on the Hanford nuclear reservation, cleanup workers are now hunting for a radioactive mouse.The Tri-City Herald reports radioactive mouse droppings have been found in the same area where the radioactive rabbit droppings were found earlier this month north of Richland…. Local News | Radioactive mouse hunt at Hanford | Seattle Times Newspaper

November 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | environment, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

Despite its own committee’s warnings, Australian govt quietly does uranium deal with Russia

Joint Standing Committee of Treaties (JSCOT) pointed out that uranium sales to Russia should not proceed unless significant security measures were addressed. Few if any of these measures have been addressed since then.

it seems to be just another case of “business as usual” in Australian politics, in which our country’s resources are sold off to the highest bidder, regardless of the dangerous impacts such sales add to geo-regional security.

New Risks from Australia Russia Uranium Deal – On Line Opinion – By James Norman 19/11/2010 Late last week on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in South Korea, Prime Minister Julia Gillard ratified a deal with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that should send shockwaves through the Australian electorate. Continue reading →

November 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA, politics international | antinuclear, AUSTRALIA, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, uranium | Leave a comment

America’s nuclear facilities could be attacked by Stuxnet computer worm

The Stuxnet malicious software, which was discovered in June, appears to have been designed professionally

U.S. Nuclear Plants Vulnerable to Cyber Attacks, Analysts Say, Bloomberg, By Jeff Bliss – Nov 18, 2010 U.S. computer systems that run energy, water, nuclear and manufacturing plants are vulnerable to computer worms similar to one that infected an Iranian nuclear power facility, cyber-security analysts told a Senate panel today. Continue reading →

November 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear technology, reactors | Leave a comment

United Nations to report on impacts of nuclear testing on Marshall Islanders

UN TO STUDY NUCLEAR TESTING EFFECTS IN MARSHALLS Report on impacts due next year WELLINGTON, New Zealand (RNZI, Nov. 17, 2010) – The United Nations has agreed to investigate the impacts of US nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands between 1946 and 1958.In a resolution adopted yesterday, the UN agreed to produce a report next year on the nuclear testing impacts on the group of Islands.The report is expected to focus on scientific questions, including safe exposure levels, but also look more broadly at the economic and social impacts of testing.The Marshall Islands Ambassador to the UN, Phillip Muller, says the government will work closely with the four atoll communities most directly affected by the tests.Radio New Zealand International:http://www.rnzi.com/ UN TO STUDY NUCLEAR TESTING EFFECTS IN MARSHALLS – November 17, 2010

November 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | OCEANIA, weapons and war | antinuclear, indigenous, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear weapons, plutonium, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

NATO and Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Europe – targets for terrorism

Little is known about the state of security on the Russian side, but Nunn draws attention to a 2008 US study that found that most of the nuclear weapons sites on the Nato side do not meet US defence department security guidelines……

Tactical nuclear weapons in Europe: the terrorist threat, guardian uk, 18 Nov 10, A former US senator calls for joint Nato-Russian security for vulnerable bombs The disarmament lobby is in damage-limitation mode after the body blows inflicted on Tuesday, with Jon Kyl’s apparent strangulation of the New Start treaty, and the realisation that Nato‘s “new strategic concept” – to be adopted at the Lisbon summit at the weekend – will do next to nothing to change the nuclear status quo in Europe. Continue reading →

November 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | EUROPE, weapons and war | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

Computer worm threatens world’s nuclear plants, and more

Stuxnet targets computer control systems made by German industrial giant Siemens commonly used to manage water supplies, oil rigs, power plants and other critical infrastructure.

Stuxnet a threat to critical industries worldwide: experts, Google hosted news, By Chris Lefkow (AFP) – 18 Nov 10, WASHINGTON — The Stuxnet worm that infiltrated Iran’s nuclear facilities poses a threat to critical industries worldwide such as water, power and chemical plants, cybersecurity experts warned on Wednesday. Continue reading →

November 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, safety | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, reactors | Leave a comment