France wants investors to help its nuclear debt
France seeks foreign cash to grow nuclear sector
PARIS, Dec 14 (Reuters) By Nina Sovich – France pledged 1 billion euros ($1.5 billion) to support next generation reactor design and said it would seek foreign capital to back its move to the forefront of nuclear energy expansion.
The investment is part of a 35 billion-euro spending plan French President Nicolas Sarkozy Sarkozy unveiled on Monday aimed at improving France’s competitiveness. ………………. The French government, which owns majority stakes in both nuclear reactor maker Areva (CEPFi.PA) and utility giant EDF (EDF.PA), is trying to position France as the market leader in designing and running these power plants…………… To fund these costs, the French government recently asked Areva to sell its electricity business for some 4 billion euros. It has also invited foreign utilities to take stakes in new plants being built in France…………………..
Last month Proglio blasted French energy companies bidding on a contract to build nuclear power plants in Abu Dhabi for its lack of coherence.
Anti thyroid cancer medication for residents near nuke plants
Anti-radiation potassium iodide pills to be distributed near Perry nuclear power plant CLEVELAND.com By Harlan Spector, The Plain Dealer December 13, 2009, Potassium iodide pills distributed years ago to neighbors of the Perry nuclear power plant have reached the end of their shelf life.The pills, which protect against thyroid cancer in the event of a radiation accident, were first distributed in 2002, and they expired in May. Local health officials say they are preparing to distribute new potassium iodide pills to people within 10 miles of the Perry plant, which besides Lake, includes small parts of Geauga and Ashtabula counties. Meanwhile, there is a renewed push in Washington to expand the pill-distribution area from 10 miles to 20 miles.
Tilman Ruff speaks for a nuclear-free S.E. Asia
Australia warned to brace for arms race By Timothy McDonald for ABC Radio The World Today 14 Dec 09 “………Dr Lyons says ………. Australia cannot rule anything out, including the nuclear option.
Dr Lyons says ………. Australia cannot rule anything out, including the nuclear option.
………Associate Professor Tilman Ruff, the chair of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, says the idea is foolish. Continue reading
Watch award winning online doco on depleted uranium
The Doctor, the Depleted Uranium, and the Dying Children Top Documentary Films 15 Dec 09 An award winning documentary film produced for German television by Freider Wagner and Valentin Thurn. Continue reading
Uranium industry piggy-backs on Copenhagen
Oil, uranium to ride global warming policy wave * Robin Bromby, The Australian * December 14, 2009 “………….the thing that sticks in the mind about the chatfest in Denmark is a report from nearby Brussels that predicts the climate meeting will lead to oil hitting more than $US160 a barrel next year and uranium heading for a new high………..The bank also says uranium will benefit from Copenhagen. More nuclear plants will be built in the fight to reduce carbon emissions
Oil, uranium to ride global warming policy wave | The Australian
Promoting nuclear in the name of Climate Change
The farce in the name of climate change Promoting business interest by other means! Organiser By MD Nalapat -Dec 2009 “…………..All too many Climate Warriors are smiling all the way to the bank, as companies they have invested in get the benefit of the measures they propose……………What is the actual agenda of key delegations to the Copenhagen Conference? The first is the sale of expensive technologies to developing countries, primarily nuclear energy…… Continue reading
Global poll shows people want renewable energy
Investments in renewable energy seen as method to address climate change Renewable Energy Focus 13 December 2009 A global survey of 24,071 adults around the world shows majority support for government investments in renewable energy to address climate change. Continue reading
Push for Australian nuclear bomb is revived
Nation given N-bomb warning * Christian Kerr The Australian * December 14, 2009 AUSTRALIA may be forced to acquire nuclear weapons to tackle deteriorating Asian security, a government-funded defence think tank has warned. Continue reading
India tests nuclear missile
India Successfully Tests Nuclear-Capable Missile Voice of America 13 December 2009 The surface-to-surface Dhanush missile was fired Sunday from a ship in the Bay of Bengal. India says it has successfully test fired a short range, nuclear-capable missile. Continue reading
International “Don’t Nuke the Climate” protest
Nuclear power protested from Copenhagen to Washington FACING SOUTH 11 Dec 09 The nuclear power industry’s efforts to promote new reactors as a solution to climate change is inspiring creative protests by environmentalists. Continue reading
ACF’s South Australian election call on uranium
ACF calls on all political parties in the South Australian State Election 2010 to act on:………….
Uranium
7. Prevent South Australia becoming the Radioactive State by requiring BHP Billiton’s Roxby mine to only trade in copper, to not export radioactive concentrates, and to leave the uranium and other radioactive waste at the mine site.
8. Require rehabilitation of the proposed Roxby open pit, with disposal of tailings in to the pit for the 10,000 year isolation period required under the Federal Government rehabilitation standards that apply to the Ranger uranium mine, and prevent liquid radioactive waste leakage from Roxby tailings piles….
www.acfonline.org.au
Aborigines seek review of uranium mine approval
Court to review Federal approval of uranium ABC News 11 Dec 09 A review has been sought in the Federal Court of the approval for Australia’s fourth uranium mine in South Australia’s far north-east.The action was taken by the Indigenous Justice Advocacy Network. Continue reading
AREVA’s false nuclear case for Copenhagen
For Copenhagen, AREVA makes the false nuclear case Beyond Nuclear 12 Dec 09 In anticipation of the Copenhagen climate conference which began this week, Areva CEO, Anne Lauvergeon, stated during a French radio interview that nuclear power “does not release CO2” and that it “produces very little waste.”
These remarks were immediately condemned by the leading independent French radiological laboratory -CRIIRAD -who demanded that Lauvergeon take immediate steps to clean up the company’s contaminated African uranium mine sites in Gabon and Niger.
CRIIRAD also reminded Lauvergeon that (1) nuclear releases significant amounts of greenhouse gases, (2) that every stage of the nuclear fuel chain produces large quantities of radioactive wastes for which no safe storage solution has been found and (3) Areva has left populations to live on land or in dwellings contaminated by its activities.
Any decisions made at Copenhagen should not be based on erroneous information emanating from the nuclear industry, CRIIRAD said. From uranium extraction to enrichment, reprocessing and contamination of water supplies, Areva’s nuclear activities leave a virtually permanent trail of highly radioactive waste. The CRIIRAD press release is available in French and contains details of the radioactive contamination caused by Areva’s activities in France and overseas. And see also an article in English from Agence France Presse about Areva’s radioactive contamination in Gabon.
Rudd’s aim for arms control, (but tainted by support for nuke industry)
If you read the full item below, it reinforces the urgent need fot Nuclear Non-Proliferation. The trouble is, this is all in the context of a “peaceful”
pro-nuclear push, partly devised by Australia’s own Gareth Evans. Dounds very supportive of a new, Obama-endorsed Glonal Nuclear Energy partnership
Rudd push for nuclear arms control The Age DANIEL FLITTON December 12, 2009 BEFORE tackling climate change in Copenhagen, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will travel to Tokyo next week to add Australia’s voice to the push to avert a different type of global calamity – the threat of nuclear Armageddon.
Mr Rudd will launch the report of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament, Continue reading
Uranium industry cosy with Australian government
It’s nice, how the world’s biggest uranium miner positions itself with the Australian government. For example BHP Billiton is a big funder of the Government’s new ‘independent’ think-tank – the Grattan Institute.
And now – we have a big BHP Billiton advisor on the Foreign Investment Review Board.
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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