Nuclear disarmament program could spell the end of uranium mining
Back in 2009, President Obama ordered a measure to help the ailing uranium industry – to lift the price of uranium.
He ordered a halt to the program to use weapons grade uranium from old nuclear weapons as fuel for copmmercial nuclear reactors.
Now, that program is to be re-started, and with the aim of spreading this use of old military uranium as nuclear fuel – to Russia , and the world – as part of the nuclear disarmament program.
In which case, – nobody would need new mined uranium!
Nuclear Summit’s plans to use old weapons fuel for commercial nuclear power
the US and Russia will today sign a long-delayed agreement to dispose of 34 tonnes of plutonium from decommissioned weapons, by using it in power stations.
US summit expected to back Barack Obama’s plan to prevent nuclear theft | World news | The Guardian 12 April Leaders from more than 40 countries will tomorrow back Barack Obama’s plans to prevent the theft of nuclear material from vulnerable stockpiles around the world. Continue reading
U.S. military base in Central Australian to remain (a nuclear target?)
Our bases retain role in US plan, The Age DANIEL FLITTON, April 12, 2010 TOP-SECRET military bases in Australia will remain a key part of America’s nuclear arsenal despite President Barack Obama’s sweeping changes to limit the use of atomic weapons…..Senator Faulkner – ” ..Australia supports that US nuclear deterrence posture by hosting the joint-facilities as well.”
The satellite communication base at Pine Gap near Alice Springs is the largest of the joint US-Australian facilities, believed to monitor possible nuclear missile launches from Russia and China…..
[Obama] stopped short of declaring that America would never again be the first to use nuclear weapons as some arms control activists had hoped….
Senator Faulkner – ”As a major uranium supplier, Australia has got a particular interest in the security of nuclear materials,’‘ he said. Our bases retain role in US plan
Uranium price continued slump leaves Cameco investors deeply in the red
The Cameco stock is currently around CAD 27.00 a share, leaving buy-and-hold investors which bought the stock across 2006 and 2007 deeply in the red.
Are uranium stocks oversold? “……… the sector has been on the backburner for months, if not years. Mineweb, Barry Sergeant , 09 Apr 2010 JOHANNESBURG – Relative to most mining subsectors, listed uranium stocks have rendered a poor performance, for some years now, inviting examination as to whether this area is oversold. Continue reading
Nuclear Power Lobby in a Bigger Mess Than I Thought
by Christina Macpherson 9 April 2010, Some big corporations have an obvious interest in Australia promoting nuclear power. But which sort? Better not get Fourth Generation nuclear reactors – or the whole uranium industry is stuffed!
Today, thanks to Renfrey Clarke (3 items from him below) I learned about:
Second Generation Nuclear Reactors – those presently in use (Pressured Water Reactors – uranium-intensive and so ultimately producing lots of greenhouse gases, and not very safe, )
Third Generation Nuclear Reactors – still being built – updated versions of the Second Gen, super-expensive, a bit safer, but same waste and proliferation problems
‘Fast Breeder’ Reactors and Fourth Generation Nuclear Reactors – the latter still at the design stage, carry serious fire and radioactive waste risk. Worst of all, for Australia, they won’t need uranium mining , as they could use existing huge stockpiles of depleted uranium
“Third Generation” Nuclear Reactors” safety, pollution, proliferation dangers
Why James Hansen is wrong on nuclear power | Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal, By Renfrey Clarke April 8, 2010 -“…….Third-generation reactors are in essence evolved versions of the pressurised-water installations that provide almost all of today’s nuclear energy. Now being built for the first time, “third-generation” plants are arguably still at the pre-commercial stage. Continue reading
Uranium price slipping further down
Uranium prices falter on lack of demand Industrial Fuels and Power April 7th, 2010 The spot price of uranium oxide slipped by US$0.25 to US$41.75/lb on April 5, according to Ux Consulting Company. Earlier, on Friday 2, TradeTech had reported an identical decline, pushing the price down to US$41.50 as no transactions or new demand were apparent, prompting sellers to offer lower prices.
Uranium prices falter on lack of demand | Industrial Fuels and Power
‘Fourth Generation’ ‘Integral Fast Nuclear Reactors’ would not need uranium mining
This would be achieved through the irradiating of depleted uranium, of which large stockpiles exist. Fresh mining of uranium would not be needed for hundreds of years……
Why James Hansen is wrong on nuclear power | Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal, By Renfrey Clarke April 8, 2010″……Compared to earlier installations, the projected fourth-generation plants – specifically, the “integral fast reactor” (IFR) designs that have drawn most attention – promise important advantages., Continue reading
Gareth Evans – Australia’s uranium salesman
Is there any potential for Viet Nam and Australia to make co-operation in this issue?
Gareth Evans :Yes, there are because Australia has the biggest reserves of uranium in the world.
VietNam to play a clear role in nuclear non-proliferation Viet Nam News April, 08 2010 Gareth Evans speaks “…….Viet Nam also has an important role in the peaceful use of nuclear energy Continue reading
The rush to roll out ‘second generation’ nuclear reactors
Why James Hansen is wrong on nuclear power | Links April 8, 2010“…….With both third- and fourth-generation nuclear plants outside the time bracket, what is left for environmentalists who hanker after nuclear power? The only option for them is the one embraced by the French and Chinese governments, and now, it seems, by the Obama administration in the US: an accelerated roll-out of second-generation nuclear plants, built to standardised designs following rushed or non-existent consultation with the plants’ future neighbours. Continue reading
Plane “upgrade to nuclear weapons” is part of Obama’s Nuclear Posture Review
Nuclear Upgrade for the Pentagon’s Gajillion-Dollar Fighter Wired.com Danger Room By Nathan Hodge April 7, 2010 As part of a newly unveiled Nuclear Posture Review, the Pentagon has made public plans to make its all-purpose stealth fighter capable of carrying nuclear weapons. Continue reading
I do not mourn the death of Australia’s only pro-nuclear political party
by Christina Macpherson 7 April 2010, I don’t know whether you’ve noticed this – BUT – over the past year, just about every environmental news site for Australia has been carrying an advertisement for “Environmentalists for Nuclear Energy”.
Somebody must have spent many thousands of dollars on this publicity. It’s rather heartening to know, coming from this antinuclear angle, with no funding whatsoever – to see that money can’t always buy opinion and political support.
Lack of support closes political party”Environmentalists for Nuclear Energy”
Pro-nuclear party runs out of energy, The Canberra Times, BY PHILIP DORLING0, 7 Apr, 2010 Australia’s only strongly pro-nuclear power political party has exited the electoral stage with a whimper rather than a bang.The Australian Electoral Commission yesterday announced that it had accepted an application for voluntary party deregistration by Environmentalists for Nuclear Energy Australia. Continue reading
UK govt clamping down on unnecessary medical radiation
Radiation fears lead to curb on CT scans, Ministers stop short of banning whole body scans for the worried well Sarah Boseley, guardian.co.uk, 6 April 2010, A clampdown on clinics offering MOT health checks to the worried well – which can include whole body scans – was signalled by the government today, amid concerns over the exposure of healthy people to unnecessary radiation. Continue reading
Australia firm on no uranium sales to India
Australia not to supply uranium to India , Hindustan Times, Indo-Asian News Service Melbourne, April 06, 2010 Australia on Tuesday ruled out changing its policy and said it would not supply uranium to India, ……. Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean told reporters in Canberra: “There is no prospect for a change. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 