December 2013

Radioactive Waste 59 - Hanford Supporters and Critics

          I have written a number of posts about the problems at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Eastern Washington State. After decades of nuclear weapons research and development with too little concern for the fifty six million gallons of radioactive waste they produced, the struggle to clean up the site has not been going well. Buried single walled tanks of waste are leaking and the double walled tanks that were supposed to replace the single walled tanks are starting to leak.

Attacking Japanese Journalists who Investigate the Japanese Nuclear Industry

          I have written about the cozy relationship between business and government in the Japanese nuclear industry. There seems to be a universal pattern in countries with nuclear industries where the government supports the industry with subsidies, tax breaks and even state ownership of nuclear corporations. Regulatory agencies are in a confused position of having to both promote and regulate nuclear companies. Often, there is more promotions than regulation.

Nuclear Reactors 99 - European Commission Investigates Hinkley Point EDF project in the U.K.

          Last week the European Commission (EC) began an investigation into the support that the British government is giving to the project to construct a new reactor at Hinkley Point C in Somerset. The Chinese have bought into the project which has concerned some departments in the British Government that deal with foreign investment in British projects. Two Areva ERP reactor reactors are to be built by EDF, the French nuclear contactor.

Nuclear Weapons 59 - Japanese Nuclear Doomsday Cult

          Various religions and cults have predicted the imminent end of the world for thousands of years. Some have been content to merely comment while others have actively sought to prevent it and others work to make it happen. There has been a worrisome trend among Christians who believe that we are currently in what they call the End Times and that Jesus will soon return to judge mankind. The Christian Dominionists believe that the U.S. should become a theocracy before the world ends.

End of Year Wrap Up for 2013

              I have been blogging on radiation, radioactive materials, nuclear power and nuclear issues for about a year and a half now. During that time I have learned an enormous amount about nuclear issues. Being completely honest, I will say that I have never been a fan of nuclear power. When I was a kid during the cold war, we had nuclear attack drills and people were building bomb shelters.

Nuclear Weapons 56 -U.S. to Spend 355 Billion Dollars Upgrading Nuclear Arsenal

          I have devoted a number of posts to issues involving nuclear weapons. The world has been moving towards nuclear disarmament through various treaties and agreements for decades. On the other hand, there has been a worrying trend of late on the part of major nuclear powers such as the U.S. and Russia to modernize their nuclear forces. It was recently announced that the U.S. will spend three hundred and fifty five billion dollars in the next decade to enhance our nuclear arsenal.

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