Volcano- a mere hint of what a ‘limited’ nuclear war would be like
Climate scientists have applied lessons from volcanic eruptions like Tambora to estimate how nuclear fallout would affect the global climate. The projections aren’t good.
What the Volcano Can Teach Us About Nuclear War, GOOD, Alexandra Bell, Ben Loehrke on April 30, 2010 Think the ash cloud was bad? That’s nothing compared to what would happen if India and Pakistan exchange just a few nukes… Continue reading
Nuclear caste system, and nuclear doubletalk
Washington maintains a double standard that allows its friends
. “What is important is to preserve the right of non-nuclear states to the peaceful uses of nuclear weapons,– said Egypt’s Abdelaziz.
The nuclear caste system , Foreign Policy, by Colum Lynch , 30 April 2010. Next week, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will meet in New York with diplomats from more than 180 countries at the eighth review conference of the 1970 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (pdf), the Cold War pact that determines who can have nuclear weapons and who can’t. Continue reading
USA just does not know what to do with nuclear waste
Last month, the U.S Department of Energy convened a “Blue Ribbon” commission led by former lawmakers and regulators to study what to do next.
SRS communities angered by nuclear waste decision | ajc.com By Bob KeefeThe Atlanta Journal, April 28, 2010 -ConstitutionWASHINGTON — For decades now, workers and local residents have fully expected that giant canisters of nuclear waste put into temporary storage at the Savannah River Site would eventually be relocated from their backyards to a permanent nuclear repository at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. Continue reading
Melbourne anti nuclear waste dump protest targets Martin Ferguson
Nuclear dump opposed from Muckaty to Melbourne , Indymedia Australia, 30 April 2010, Community
opposition to Martin Ferguson’s nuclear waste dump at Muckaty Station continues to grow. About 40 people convened at short notice outside Martin Ferguson’s electoral office on High Street Preston in a colourful protest of speeches, song and street theatre. ‘Martin Ferguson’ gets ‘splashed’ with Muckaty nuclear waste in the street theatre performed outside his office. Continue reading
Australian input into anti-nuclear march to United Nations
Peace Trekkers Visit Montclair , Baristanet April 28, 2010 About 25 peace marchers, some of whom have been on the road since February, walked up Bloomfield Avenue today, chanting, beating drums and carrying their message of opposition to nuclear power and bombs to the Central Presbyterian Church on Park St., where they’ll be spending the night. The marchers are members of Footprints for Peace……. plan to reach the United Nations on Saturday. They said the Montclair Presbyterians offered shelter on 24 hours notice.
“I’ve only been walking for a month,” said Kerrie-Ann Garlick, who came from Australia to participate in the march, and who will be speaking at the UN. She said Australia is the third largest exporter of uranium in the world, which is why so many Australians are involved in the peace effort. “We want to close the whole industry down,” Garlick said. Peace Trekkers Visit Montclair (Baristanet)
New radioactive waste cleanup bill may stop uranium milling in Colorado
Colo. Legislature passes uranium cleanup bill, Google hosted news, By COLLEEN SLEVIN (AP) – 29 April DENVER — Colorado lawmakers have passed a bill that requires uranium mills to clean up radioactive waste before accepting more radioactive material. Continue reading
USA’s Radiation Exposure Compensation Act addresses ‘gruesome legacy’ of atomic testing
The new bill, introduced by Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico on April 19 to address the “gruesome legacy” of Cold War era weapons development, expands coverage to the entire states of Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Montana and Colorado, as well as those harmed by the original Trinity blast in 1945, in Alamogordo, N.M., and by the nuclear tests conducted upwind of Guam in the Pacific
Keeping Fear Alive. BuzzFlash.org, ROBERT C. KOEHLER, 29 April 2010, “………legislation introduced into Congress this month to expand the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act has put the suffering born by so many Americans — who lived downwind of the nuclear tests, worked in the industry or mined the uranium — back into the news. Continue reading
Women oppose nuclear power and nuclear weapons
Women and Nuclear Power, Nuclear Weapons – our theme for May 2010
When it comes to opposing nuclear power, the toughest and most active and conspicuous resistance has been among women.
If women had been asked if nuclear power should be used for energy production or if nuclear weapons should be produced there would hardly be any nuclear power stations in the world and no nuclear weapons. Women represent half of humanity. Our voice must be heard! – Ulla Klötzer, WISE – Nuclear issues information service
Australia – To Russia with Nukes
“the reality is that Australia would effectively be relinquishing responsibility for supplying the raw ingredient for bomb fuel to a nuclear weapons state with an acknowledged lack of transparency in its civil/military arrangements,”
Melbourne, 29 April 2010: The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear weapons (ICAN) is deeply disappointed at Foreign Minister Stephen Smith’s announcement that Australia will ratify a new agreement allowing uranium exports to Russia.
The move will see Australia supplying uranium to a nuclear weapons state whose nuclear security is poor, whose facilities are off-limits to international inspectors, and whose record on disarmament is woeful. Continue reading
Russia’s nuclear security and nuclear weapons proliferation dangers
A great example of Russia’s unscrupulousness is the $1 billion Bushehr nuclear station in Iran……..….
………….the plant designs promoted by Russian companies (in particular, the floating stations) present high proliferation and environmental risks because they use uranium of a very high enrichment level, have caused accidents in the past, and create a byproduct that scientists are yet to learn how to dispose of.
Russia: A Nuclear Security Leader? Partnership for a Secure America , by Volha Charnysh |26 April 2010, Considered the Pandora’s box of nuclear security issues for decades, Russia is now being recast as a nuclear security leader……. However, Russia’s active and at times reckless pursuit of nuclear business contradicts its claim to nuclear security leadership and could weaken the commitments made at the Summit. Continue reading
Australian government credibility on the line
A South Australian government official promises that Australia will change its rules, so as to sell uranium to India, even though India has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Meanwhile, fears of radiation exposure grow, in India, for India has no security safeguards for radioactive materials.
The Australian government prepares to sell uranium to Russia, even though Russia is furthering Iran’s nuclear technology, and despite Russia’s continuing bad record on nuclear security.
Australia to change rules so as to sell uranium to India?
Australia May Waiver Rules To Sell Uranium To India NUCLEAR EXPORT CONTROLS, Spectrum, April 26, 2010 Australia is planning to change its domestic rules to allow India to import Uranium from the country. Continue reading
Nuclear Waste Dump: three recommended Australian Defence Force sites excluded. Why?
A bill presently before parliament rules out the possibility of using one of three previously nominated sites on Australian Defence Force land in the Northern Territory,
Plan For Nuclear Waste Dump Faces Backlash, IPS ipsnews.net, By Stephen de Tarczynski, MELBOURNE, Apr 26, 2010 – Aboriginal landowners in Australia’s far north are battling government plans to construct this country’s long-term nuclear waste storage facility on their land… Continue reading
Because of its vested interests, Australia should not have a key position in Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty meetings
by Peter Ravine, 26 April 2010, I am concerned at Australia’s position with regard to proposed changes to the Non Proliferation Treaty. It holds a key position in the coming review as co-chair of the International Commission yet it has an unavoidable vested interest in promoting uranium exports.
It should be replaced by a neutral country like Ireland or New Zealand, and the Commission should be re-constituted with adequate informed renewable energy representation. The Commission’s proceedings to date should be rejected until a new neutral commission is formed to revise the proceedings as needed. (This article continues in item below)
Need to redraft Report of International Commission on Nuclear Proliferation and Disarmament.
Paragraph 15 and the remainder of the document would need to be re-worded to require phasing out nuclear power. Support for the following points might help to influence next month’s NPT New York conference.
by Peter Ravine, 26 April 2010, With due respect to Dr Gareth Evans, I am not impressed by the Commission’s December 2009 report as indicated by the following extract: Continue reading
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