Stuxner computer worm targeted Iran’s uranium enrichment plant
the worm that has infected Iranian nuclear computers was meant to sabotage the uranium enrichment facility at Natanz
‘Computer virus in Iran actually targeted larger nuclear facility’. Haaretz Daily Newspaper By Yossi Melman, 28 Sept 10,New analysis, based on the characteristic behavior of the Stuxnet worm, contradicts earlier assessments that the target was the nuclear reactor at Bushehr. Continue reading
Wobbly Word of the Week – “Rare Earths”
Yes – Rare Earths – What are they? The title sounds innocuous, and there’s no doubt that some “rare earths” are essential to many of today’s technology items.
It’s just that we should not lose sight of the radiation problems involved in mining and processing rare earths, nor let them slip under the radar as pro-uranium governments, like South Australia’s , promote the nuclear fuel cycle
Well, take the Arafura project below – this project includes a (small) commercial quantity of uranium product, and a large volume of thorium waste, enriched to ten times the radioactivity of the ore.
Did a very clever sofware worm target Iran’s nuclear reactor?
“This was assembled by a highly qualified team of experts, involving some with specific control system expertise,”
Software smart bomb fired at Iranian nuclear plant: experts, Google hosted news, By Glenn Chapman (AFP) 24 Sept 10, SAN FRANCISCO — Computer security experts are studying a scary new cyber weapon: a software smart bomb that may have been crafted to find and sabotage a nuclear facility in Iran. Continue reading
al-Qaida kidnaps AREVA’s uranium workers in Niger
Six of the seven hostages worked at a huge uranium mine in northern Niger run by French state-owned nuclear power giant Areva. The seventh was married to an Areva employee…….
France’s Sarkozy calls Niger kidnappings worrying, By JENNY BARCHFIELD (AP) – 23 Sept 10, PARIS — French President Nicolas Sarkozy vowed on Wednesday to mobilize his government to free five French people abducted last week by an al-Qaida affiliate in Niger, Continue reading
Martin Ferguson represents uranium lobby, not Australian public
Mr Ferguson’s determination to override environmental processes had him putting investors ahead of the Australian public. “These processes catch not just risks to the environment but risks during transport, to public health, occupational health and safety, and heritage,” …
“The minister is quite brazenly telling the market these things will be shouldered aside.”
Uranium push at environment’s expense, Sydney Morning Herald, September 22, 2010 Continue reading
Silex Systems: Nuclear company involved in Mildura solar plant
“It will build on Silex’s large-scale demonstration photovoltaic solar project planned for near Mildura which is being supported by a $50 million government grant.”
Mildura’s $100m solar project – Weekly Times Now, Andrew Mole | September 22, 2010 “…..The city which brags about having more sunshine than Queensland’s Sunshine Coast will now be home to Australia’s largest solar power station. Continue reading
Australian govt in the grip of uranium industry
Mining tax policy overseers – Don Argus (from BHP Billiton), Keith Spence, (from Rio Tinto) , Toro Energy Erica Smyth, (from Toro Energy).
Climate adviser – Marius Kloppers (BHP Billiton)
Minister for Energy Martin Ferguson – hand in glove with uranium industry
Minister for Climate Change – Greg Combet, coal engineer background, supporter of coal industry
Marius Kloppers – Australia’s new Climate Change Minister?
described Kloppers as the climate change minister who wasn’t voted in by the public.
Kloppers under fire, The Age, September 22, 2010 AN ONLINE entrepreneur has accused the federal government of kowtowing to the boss of Australia’s biggest company. Continue reading
Uranium mining advocates oversee Australia’s tax policy
The high-ranking group, headed up by Resources Minister Martin Ferguson and former BHP chairman Don Argus, will consult with industry groups and hopes to have at least a couple of key issues resolved by the end of the year…..
Mining chiefs to advise minister on mineral resources tax | The Australian September 20, 2010 THE policy transition group overseeing the government’s mineral resources rent tax has met for the first time in Canberra today. Continue reading
Martin Ferguson – Australia’s Minister For the Uranium Industry?
Labor to expand uranium mining: report Business Spectator, 22 Sep 2010 The federal government will support uranium mining but not nuclear power, Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson told The Australian Financial Review. Mr Ferguson said he aims to oversee a large expansion of the uranium industry…..The stance threatens to create divisions in parliament. Recently the Green Party said it would use its power to try to stop planned uranium mines, phase out three existing mines and halt exports……Labor to expand uranium mining: report | News | Business Spectator
Huge Berlin anti nuclear protest attracts German youth
thousands of young people joined in as well, along with many middle-of-the road Germans who had never been at a protest before….the protest is a strong signal that a broad spectrum of Germans is opposed to extending nuclear lifetimes,
Most Germans Don’t Want Nuclear Power’ – SPIEGEL ONLINE , 20 Sept 10, Anti-nuclear campaigners demonstrating in Berlin on Saturday sent a powerful message of opposition to Chancellor Angela Merkel’s plan to extend the lifetimes of German reactors. Media commentators say she would be unwise to ignore it, because her own supporters don’t want nuclear power either. Continue reading
USA, Eu – nuclear industry stalling due to wastes problem
On Wednesday last week, Greenpeace launched a broadside against the European repository plans, arguing that leaders were being misled over safety issues – particularly relating to groundwater contamination. It appears the repository battle is about to go nuclear here, too.
President Barack Obama’s Yucca Mountain decision is a blow to US nuclear power- Telegraph UK, By Garry White 20 Sep 2010, Continue reading
Coal and nuclear lobbies at odds now?
For decades the fossil fuel lobby has been using their very effective tactic of “sowing doubt” about global warming and climate change. It has worked well for them – to “Divide and Conquer” public opinion.
Now – it could be their undoing. Their plan was surely to keep coal going until a smooth transition to nuclear.
Well – it hasn’t worked. While the fossil fuel lobby tries to discredit global warming, their previous ally, the nuclear lobby, now says that human-caused climate change is real!
“Divide and Conquer” now seems to be working against these lobbies, as their own doubts rebound against them.
Meanwhile – reality is coming home to the nuclear/uranium lobby – as the nuclear industry stalls in USA, UK, Germany, France, India, .. The more experience a country has had with nuclear technology, the more opposition arises to it.
Uranium interests, not the public’s, served by BHP’s Marius Kloppers
A tax would favour international nuclear electricity generators and boost pressure to overturn Australia’s ban on nuclear generators. Both effects would aid BHP’s uranium interests.
BHP Billiton chief Marius Kloppers knows how to look after his shareholders’ interests, Paul Kerin The Australian, September 20, 2010 BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers’ touting of a carbon tax serves his shareholders’ interests — not the public’s. Continue reading
70,000 tons of high level nuclear waste already in USA
the country’s political leaders are no closer to a safe, permanent disposal plan for nuclear waste than they were a generation ago,
Nuclear waste piles up with no disposal plan, APP.com | Asbury Park Press, By RAJU CHEBIUM • WASHINGTON BUREAU • September 15, 2010 — Tens of thousands of tons of potentially lethal radioactive waste have been piling up across the nation for more than a generation, but the federal government has yet to decide how to get rid of it permanently. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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