Bob Carr- Australia furthering plans to sell uranium to India
India, Australia to hold civil nuclear talks in March http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/government-and-policy/india-australia-to-hold-civil-nuclear-talks-in-march/article4328430.ece?ref=wl_industry-and-economy NEW DELHI, JAN 21:
India and Australia have agreed to hold the first round of negotiations on the civil nuclear co-operation agreement here in March, the visiting Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr said on Monday.
“Australian and Indian officials will be working to conclude the agreement, which will enable the export of uranium from Australia to India,” the Minister said after holding talks with External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid.
Carr said the issue of further strengthening bilateral investment ties, including the Australian Minister of Trade’s visit here later this month to advance the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) was also discussed.
Sources said while issues regarding the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement did come up at the talks, it was decided that this would be taken up during the forthcoming visit of the Australian Trade Minister.
The Minister announced that as part of the Australia-India water technology partnership, the first phase of the $12-million initiative would commence with a pilot project of an Australian modelling tool for water management in the Brahmani and Baitarani river basins in eastern India.
Pointing out that trade negotiators had been engaged in broadening their understanding towards a mutually beneficial CECA, Khurshid said, “Our investments in Australia have grown significantly in recent years, particularly in the resources sector. We have welcomed the Australian side to invest in the opportunities in India. Our Defence Minister will be visiting Australia soon for further discussions on co-operation in defence and security.”
Fishermen from 10 Indian cities continue their protest against Kudankulam nuclear power plant
Indian fishermen protest against nuclear planthttp://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/southasia/view/1249285/1/.html
By Zain Awan 21 January 2013
INDIA: Fishermen in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu have again protested against the controversial Kudankulam nuclear plant Their latest demonstration was in the state capital, Chennai. They want to stop the plant’s operations, which they say will ruin livelihood of hundreds of fishermen along the coast.
Protesters are also demanding that the police to drop their cases against fishermen who had taken part in earlier peaceful demonstrations. “To separate the sea from the fishermen, the central government has purposefully brought the Kudankulam plant. If this plant is constructed, the lives of thousands of fishermen will come to a stand still,” said T Peter, secretary of National Fishermen Forum.
Fukushima radiation increasing in sea food chain? Record Cesium level in rockfish
Record cesium levels measured in Fukushima rockfish, signaling radiation woes in food chain far from over in Japan Part of: Nuclear meltdown in Japan Less than two months shy of the second anniversary of the devastating triple nuclear meltdown at Japan’s coastal Fukushima Daiichi plant, a fish containing more than 2,500 times Japan’s legal limit for radiation has been caught by the plant’s operator in waters near the wrecked facility. Bellona, Charles Digges, 21/01-201
The ‘murasoi’ fish, similar to a rockfish – indicating an amount of cesium measuring 254,000 Becquerel per kilogram, or 2,540 times Japans limit for radiation in seafood – was caught at a port inside the plant by its owner, Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) Friday, according to AFP.
The utility also released a photo of the fish, caught near an unloading point north of the No. 1 through No. 4 reactors. No fishermen operate in the nuclear plant’s port.
Friday’s catch shatters the previous record for wildlife contamination as a result of radioactive contamination, which was was 25,800 Becquerel of cesium per kilogram found in two greenlings caught about 20 kilometers north of the plant in August 2012, the Asashi Shimbun newspaper reported.
Other countries are also increasingly distressed by the amount of irradiated marine life turning up near their coastlines along the Pacific Rim: Over the summer, Russia’s state English language television station RT reported concern over fish caught off its coast near Japan.
In May, a tuna contaminated by low levels of radiation was found near the California coast, Reuters reported……. http://www.bellona.org/articles/articles_2012/fukushima_rockfish
Committee considers uranium Bill – 12 out of 15 members took money from uranium company
Uranium firm pumps money into assembly BY MARY BETH JACKSON, The Register & Bee, 21 Jan 13, The Senate bill proposing to lift the moratorium on uranium mining will be considered by a committee in which 80 percent of its members have taken money from Virginia Uranium.
Sen. John Watkins has said the legislation, filed Friday with the Senate Clerk, will be vetted through the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee; 12 of 15 committee members have accepted campaign money and trips from Virginia Uranium since 2008.
Virginia Uranium wants to mine a 119-million-pound uranium ore deposit in Pittsylvania County, approximately six miles from Chatham. The company has been lobbying the legislature to write regulations for uranium mining and milling, which would effectively lift a 1982 moratorium on the industry. Continue reading
France imposes media blackout, sends over 2,500 troops to uranium rich Mali
France imposes media blackout on Mali war. Press TV, Jan 21, 2013 France has reportedly imposed a media blackout on its invasion of Mali amid a growing war that rages on in the West African nation.On January 11, France launched the war under the pretext of halting the advance of fighters in Mali. 
However, as Paris has stepped up its ground offensive and aerial strikes in Mali few images of the conflict have come out of the African country.
French networks TF1 and France Televisions have also sent several teams to Bamako, but a media blackout on images of the clashes has confined all journalists to the city.
This comes as French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has said the number of French troops on the ground in the West African country could top the initially-planned number of 2,500.
“Two thousand five hundred is what was initially announced, maybe that will be exceeded,” Le Drian said in a Saturday television interview.
Also on Sunday, Le Drian announced that Paris’ goal in the African country “is the total reconquest of Mali,” adding, “We will not leave any pockets” of resistance.
Meanwhile, the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, said it was preparing for around 700,000 people to flee the violence in Mali.
The United States, Canada, Britain, Belgium, Germany, and Denmark have already said they would support the French war against Mali. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has also pledged to support the French war by sending 5,800 soldiers to Mali.
Some analysts believe that Malian abandoned naturalresources, including gold and uranium reserves, could be one of the reasons behind French war on the country. http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/01/21/284689/france-slams-media-blackout-on-mali-war/
Was there fraud in Japanese elections, giving pro nuclear party the win?
Source: Allegations of General Election Fraud on Dec. 16, 2012 in Japan 17 Jan 13, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) won the majority of votes though they only had 14% of the vote. The new Government started on Dec. 26, 2012, and the media said one of the reasons why LDP won was that there were too many new parties that support a nuclear free society.
Therefore none of them got enough support from citizens who want a nuclear free society. However there have been so many reports from the general public through twitter and blogs on allegations of election rigging in the last one month.
Lots of voting places closed 1-4 hours earlier without any notice. Normally in Japan about 60% of the population goes to vote but this time so many people said there were very long queues outside the building. 85% of the nation doesn’t want nuclear energy, yet none of the ｐｏｌｉｔｉｃａｌ parties that support a nuclear free society did not do well. This does not sound right.
Furthermore one company called MUSASHI CO., LTD dealt with the whole election: from counting votes to publicity; there is speculation that this company has something to do with nuclear power.
http://www.musashinet.co.jp/english/
Finally a written complaint of election fraud was submitted to the Tokyo High Court on Jan. 14th, 2013 and was accepted. I hope justice will be done before next general election this summer.
(Reference)
http://canadadenihongo.blogspot.ca/2012/12/blog-post_29.htm
h/t mia
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 