uranium « nuclear-news

Nuclear lobby has spent $953 million to promote its wares

there is real danger that the nuclear industry will continue to promote itself as a ‘silver-bullet’ solution to climate change……“The worst thing about new nuclear is that it steals billions of public dollars from other more effective things like energy efficiency,”

Nuclear Energy Steals Billions from Other Technologies, By Stephen Leahy*, 20 July 2010, Costs of nuclear skyrocket while costs of renewables falling quickly say energy experts Why is nuclear energy back on the table?One reason is a powerful U.S. lobby where 14 energy companies spent 48 million dollars in 2007 alone to convince American politicians to give the industry huge loan guarantees because they cannot get financing anywhere else, says Ellen Vancko, a nuclear energy analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists, a U.S.-based non governmental organisation (NGO). Continue reading →

July 20, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, uranium | 1 Comment

Uranium, asbestos: the continuing history of corporate denial

The uranium mining and nuclear fuel industries are just the latest in a long list of corporate deniers.

ETU STATE COUNCIL BANS MEMBERS FROM WORKING IN NUCLEAR INDUSTRY | Coober Pedy Regional Times, 17 July 2010, “….. Corporate denial of the dangers of various substances and products has a long history. Continue reading →

July 20, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA, spinbuster, Uranium | AUSTRALIA, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, radiation, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

AREVA’s Olkiluoto nuclear reactor a total financial disater

“It’s a total disaster for Areva,” Schneider says. Areva will have to sell another 12 reactors to cover the cost overruns thus far or else French taxpayers will,”

Nuclear Energy Steals Billions from Other Technologies « Stephen Leahy, International Environmental Journalist, w2w0 July 2010, “…..The other reason is the French.France gets about 77 percent of its power from 58 reactors and is often cited as the model for other countries. “France is a special case. The entire industry is 85 percent owned by the government,” says Mycle Schneider, a Paris-based energy and nuclear policy analyst.

The industry gets direct and indirect subsidies, government loans and loan guarantees “on practically anything they want”, Schneider told IPS. Continue reading →

July 20, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, France | antinuclear, AREVA, France, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, nuclear technology, reactors, uranium | 3 Comments

Weak uranium market

DJ MARKET TALK: Uranium Weakness Drags Paladin Dow Jones Commodities Service 19 July 2010, RBS downgrades Paladin Energy (PDN.AU) to Sell from Hold, target price moved to A$3.20 vs previous A$3.52 and yesterday’s A$3.61 close after June quarter production report. ….. “We would need to see some life in the spot uranium market to change our investment view on PDN, as the stock is likely to go sideways or down while the uranium market remains weak.” (david.fickling@dowjones.com)

DJ MARKET TALK Uranium Weakness Drags Paladin Cut To SellRBS | Cmemarkets.com – Business News, Financial News, Stock Market Analysis, Technology & Global Headline News

July 20, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, business and costs, Uranium | antinuclear, nuclear, uranium | Leave a comment

USA used tactical nuclear weapons in Iraq/Afghanistan

just one small group of US Naval vessels dropped here the equivalent of many thousands of Nagasaki bombs…

Did US drop tactical nuclear weapons on Iraq/Afghanistan – You bet!, Cplash, Peter Eyre19 July 2010 “….. the US , UK , NATO and Israel have been using WMDs on an almost daily basis since the conflict in the Balkans in the 1990s. In fact it started well before this when the Israelis went to war with Egypt … this was the first time WMDs had been used on mass with weapons purchased from the US and with US technicians acting in an advisory role… Continue reading →

July 20, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Afghanistan, Iraq, weapons and war | antinuclear, cancer, depleted, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons, radiation, reactors, uranium | 5 Comments

About David Bradbury’s new film on uranium mining

The message from When the Dust Settles is simple and clear: Despite assurances from the mining companies, there is NO SAFE LEVEL of radiation exposure, below which there is no risk of cancer or birth defects occurring.

When the Dust Settles – new drama/doco outlines uranium mining risks When the Dust Settles is a 35-minute documentary film commissioned by the ETU Qld & NT for the purposes of this renewed campaign against the nuclear industry. It combines comedy and serious content to explain the dangers of uranium mining, the nuclear fuel cycle and the use of depleted nuclear materials – much of which originates in Australian uranium mines – in weapons production. Continue reading →

July 20, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA, Resources -audiovicual | antinuclear, AUSTRALIA, nuclear, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive, uranium | 1 Comment

Navajo’s stand against uranium mining supported by scientists

“I’ve never seen such poor science, poor accountability and poor traceability,” said Mike Wallace, a groundwater hydrologist who has worked in the nuclear industry at WIPP in New Mexico and the Yucca Mountain site in Nevada.

Scientists Back Navajos’ Uranium Mining Fight: Tribe fears contamination of drinking water BRENDA NORRELL Indian Country 19 July 2010, RED ROCK, N.M. – Navajos fighting proposed uranium mining in an area once devastated by a radioactive spill, were bolstered by scientists who criticized the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for approving new uranium mining that could result in the contamination of drinking water for 15,000 Navajos and ultimately lead to kidney failure.” Continue reading →

July 20, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | indigenous issues, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear technology, radiation, radioactive, uranium, water | Leave a comment

Why New Zealand ports should not allow uranium shipments

……the risks are there, and the risks are genuine. Accidents do happen, especially at sea. Fires can rage for days, and cargo can move around on board, splitting open containers. Our ports and our port workers are not equipped to deal with radioactive spills.

Feature Columnist: Gareth Hughes | Craccum, 19 July 2010, Recently, the Paranagua Express, carrying tonnes of radioactive uranium ore, was berthed at the Port of Auckland.. Continue reading →

July 20, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | New Zealand, safety, Uranium | antinuclear, AUSTRALIA, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, uranium | Leave a comment

Australian union educating workers on dangers of uranium mining

the ETU has commissioned a 35-minute film, When the Dust Settles, which has been posted to every ETU member in Queensland and the NT.

ETU STATE COUNCIL BANS MEMBERS FROM WORKING IN NUCLEAR INDUSTRY | Coober Pedy Regional Times July 17, 2010

Uranium – the new asbestos

1. Major union bans members working in uranium mines, nuclear power stations, et al
2. ETU’s educational video launched in Brisbane

The debate over uranium mining and the role of nuclear energy in Australia has intensified with a major union launching a campaign against the nuclear industry by banning its members from working in uranium mines, nuclear power stations or any other part of the nuclear fuel cycle. Continue reading →

July 20, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA, spinbuster, Uranium | antinuclear, AUSTRALIA, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive, uranium | Leave a comment

Brain diseases in Punjab children affected by uranium

the presence of the metal in the soil is a dangerous sign and it has a life span of a billion years.

VIDEO Doctors link uranium contamination to disabled Punjab children Channel NewsAsia, Damanjeet Kohli, 19 July 2010 Traces of uranium have been found in a large number of autistic children in India’s northern state of Punjab….. A study was conducted to find out the cause of the growing number of cerebral palsy and epilepsy among children in the district. Continue reading →

July 19, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | health, India, Uranium | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive, uranium | Leave a comment

Video on depleted uranium and Gulf War Syndrome

Iraq War Q&A: 12) Depleted Uranium and Gulf War Syndrome

July 19, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Resources -audiovicual | antinuclear, cancer, depleted, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive, uranium | 1 Comment

75 tons of depleted uranium in Gaza following Israeli attacks

No less than 75 tons of depleted uranium found in Gaza soil and subsoil as aftermath of Israeli attacks | Gauhar.com, 16 July 2010, Gaza / PNN – ‘Citizens Action to Dismantle Nuclear Weapons Completely’ has prepared a 33 page report showing the presence of tens of tons of depleted uranium in the Gaza Strip.The Israeli attacks of late December and January are the culprit, report the international organization.”The quantity of depleted uranium may amount to no less than 75 tons found in the soil and subsoil in the Gaza Strip,” is the study’s quote. Continue reading →

July 19, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | depleted uranium, Gaza, Uranium | antinuclear, depleted, nuclear, nuclear weapons, radiation, reactors, uranium | 87 Comments

Another holdup to UK nuclear industry – should community opposition be ignored?

UK nuclear industry: energy minister orders “re-consultation” Industrial Fuels and Power, July 16th, 2010 by Charles Hendry, the UK’s energy minister, has ordered a reassessment of the national policy statements governing the planning permission system responsible for large infrastructure developments. The review is a response to concerns that in their current form, the rules could mean that opposition from local communities to new nuclear build could be ignored.….

UK nuclear industry: energy minister orders “re-consultation” | Industrial Fuels and Power

July 17, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, UK | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

Arab nations likely to develop nuclear weapons

This is causing unease in Washington …….The Americans have sought to ensure that none of the Arab states will seek to enrich uranium to weapons-grade level.

Ready to Churn out Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Weapons: Arab States « international environmental law, 17 July 2010, Saudi Arabia’s decision last week to sign a nuclear cooperation pact with France marks a major step forward for a pan-Arab drive toward nuclear power, even as the United States strives to rein in Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Continue reading →

July 17, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | MIDDLE EAST, politics international | antinuclear, enriched, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear weapons, radiation, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

Olympic Dam uranium mine a threat to Australia’s groundwater

“Not only is the expansion at Olympic Dam going ahead without the consent of traditional owners, but tens of thousands of gigalitres of water per day is being sucked out of the Artesian Basin on Arabunna land to service the mine,”

Protesters gather at mine site, Sydney Morning Herald, July 16, 2010 –An anti-nuclear protester has chained himself to a four-wheel-drive blocking the road to BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam uranium mine in South Australia’s far north. Continue reading →

July 17, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA, opposition to nuclear, Uranium | antinuclear, AUSTRALIA, climate change, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive, uranium, water | Leave a comment