A Nuclear Christmas Tale
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the land
Not a creature was stirring, ‘cept Atomic Anne.
Her stocking was hung by the cooling towers with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas (Sarkozy) soon would be there.
(Links to story about uranium mining in Lapaland)
Greenpeace Nuclear Reaction 26th Dec 2009 more >>
Dungeness
The estate agent’s blurb about an ‘exceptional detached fisherman’s cottage’ and accompanying photo showing beautiful windswept coastline gave the impression of a rural idyll. So most prospective purchasers were horrified to find the whitewashed bungalow situated in the shadow of Dungeness nuclear power station. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder and for one couple it felt like home as soon as they set eyes on it.
Daily Mail 26th Dec 2009 more >>
Areva
French nuclear corporation AREVA is launching what it calls a ‘Community Advisory Council’ (CAC). The Council will apparently ‘raise greater awareness of the benefits of clean energy technology, including nuclear energy and renewables’ and ‘build a working group of representatives from influential organizations who will informally advise the company on energy and sustainability issues’. It says there must be no taboo subjects. If this is the case then why, in the month since Greenpeace announced it had found radioactive contamination on the streets of a village close to AREVA’s uranium mines in Niger, has there not been a single word on the subject from AREVA?
Greenpeace Nuclear Reaction 24th Dec 2009 more >>
Iran
Iran’s foreign minister says Turkey could be a venue for Tehran to exchange nuclear material with the West. The statement is another of several offers Tehran has recently made without formally responding to a UN-drafted proposal that would reduce Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium and ease Western concerns over Tehran’s nuclear intentions.
Belfast Telegraph 26th Dec 2009 more >>
Armenia
Armenia has cleared the way for a new nuclear power plant, despite green groups’ objections that its location could put capital at risk. Earlier this month, the government approved the creation of Atomstroyexport, a joint Russian-Armenian company that will own the station.
Institute for War and Peace Reporting 24th Dec 2009 more >>
Nuclear Weapons
Russia will work on a new generation of atomic weapons to strengthen its nuclear deterrent, President Dmitry Medvedev said on Thursday, just hours after Moscow test-fired one of its most feared missiles. Mr Medvedev said that Russia and the United States were close to a landmark deal on cutting arsenals of Cold War nuclear weapons, but that Moscow would still push ahead with the development of new strategic offensive weapons.
FT 24th Dec 2009 more >>
BBC 24th Dec 2009 more >>