Antinuclear

How the media covers the nuclear industry – or doesn’t cover it

The public in USA, Britain, Europe, (even Australia, though rarely)- do have an opportunity to learn of the negative side of the nuclear industry. In particular, we learn of the desperate efforts of the nuclear industry to portray itself as “commercially viable”.

However, do the “customer countries” of AREVA, Westinghouse, BHP Billiton etc – Asian countries learn of this, – does their media cover this? How much of the touted “scramble for nuclear” really mean a scramble of Asian and Middle Eastern governments to get nuclear weapons.

Where the government runs the nuclear industry – well, it doesn’t have to be “commercially viable”

This suits the”First World” nuclear and uranium salesmen who cannot get anyone to invest in their product in their own country. – Christina Macpherson 21 July 09

Away from the media glare, Asean talks nuclear 2009/07/19 Sheridan Mahavera reporting from Phuket

ASEAN is again likely to be known as a group that is better at promoting development among its 10 member countries than promoting noble political principles like the rule of law or protecting human rights.

The idea of having its own human rights body has grabbed headlines in the region but some of the more noteworthy meetings that are going on away from the glare of the media are about how some member countries are going nuclear……………………….Thailand is planning to build a nuclear plant that could cost US$6 billion (RM21.4 billion) and produce 4,000-megawatts of electricity in 2020.

While Vietnam had announced that it would start building two nuclear power plants, each with two 1,000-megawatt reactors, in 2013 in its southern province of Ninh Thuan.

Malaysia has yet to make public its nuclear power plans but Tenaga Nasional Berhad has said it wants to build a power plant by 2025.

Meanwhile, Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan confirmed that officials would be putting the final touches to the China and Australia agreements over the next few days. Once signed, the pacts would create free trade zones between Asean and the two countries. NST Online Away from the media glare, Asean talks nuclear

July 20, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets and lies, uranium | antinuclear, nuclear, radioactive, secrets and lies, TOPICS, uranium