‘MONTEVIDEO,
URUGUAY - In the latest twist to the growing
nuclear debate in Latin America, Uruguay
accused Argentina of neglecting due process
of consultation before going ahead with
plans to build a new nuclear power station.
The first hints of a developing row over
Argentina's nuclear plans came nearly a
month after Brazil unveiled plans to expand
its uranium processing operations, possibly
with sights set on export potential, and
Venezuela's pledge to explore nuclear energy.
Uruguay's open criticism of Argentina, conveyed
indirectly through the media, came within
a week of near resolution of a 5-year dispute
between the two countries on an eucalyptus
pulp mill near the shared Uruguay river.’
NSG meeting: China as
'responsible' nuclear power
‘The June 24 meeting of the 46 member NSG
(Nuclear Suppliers Group) at Christchurch,
New Zealand is an important event for many
reasons but is likely to be over-shadowed
by the defiant posture being adopted by
China over the supply of two additional
nuclear reactors to Pakistan - without the
concurrence of the NSG. It is understood
that the U.S. and some allies have conveyed
their dismay to Beijing over this development
- but in vain. China is reported to have
taken a stand that this deal had been 'grandfathered'
six years ago in mid 2004, when the details
of Sino-Pak nuclear cooperation were first
made public. The argument being advanced
by Beijing is that this deal is for civilian
nuclear energy -and similar to that arrived
at between the U.S. and India in late 2008.
While it is true that both India and Pakistan
(as also Israel) are not signatories to
the NPT, the comparison is not valid. India
has been accorded an exceptional status
by the NSG after many months of arduous
negotiations when its non-proliferation
track record and other attributes were closely
scrutinized - and only then was the U.S.
able to conclude its bi-lateral agreement
with India for civil nuclear cooperation.’
Cameco Pursues Strategic
Co-operation With China Guangdong Nuclear
Power
‘Cameco announced today it is pursuing long-term
co-operation opportunities with China Guangdong
Nuclear Power Holding Co., Ltd. (CGNPC)
to supply uranium fuel for its growing fleet
of nuclear power plants. CGNPC, China's
largest clean-energy enterprise, with the
largest number of nuclear power plants under
construction in the world, needs uranium
to fuel its four existing reactors and others
currently under construction. CGNPC indicates
that it has about 20,000 megawatts (MW)
of nuclear capacity under construction and
expects to have over 50,000 MW on line by
2020. Cameco and CGNPC today signed a non-binding
framework agreement committing the companies
to negotiate long-term uranium purchase
agreements and potential joint development
of uranium resources. Discussions between
the two companies are ongoing. "The
announcement today moves Cameco one step
closer to supplying uranium to one of the
fastest growing nuclear companies in the
world," said Jerry Grandey, Cameco's
CEO. "Our plan to double uranium production
by 2018 aligns well with China's vigorous
reactor construction program."’
Uranium all over, health
dept limits probe to centre
‘FARIDKOT: In the midst of a fear gripping
Punjab after high concentrations of uranium
were detected in drinking water, the state
health department has reacted by directing
its probe at the centre whose kids are the
worst affected. This comes days after Germany's
Microtrace Mineral Lab had found abnormally
high presence of the radioactive element
in hair samples of 80% of 149 neurologically
disabled children at the Baba Farid Centre
here. Instead of investigating the cause
of toxicity, the department has chosen to
make inquiries about the organisation taking
care of the special children. The probe
team formed by the government is yet to
collect samples of water, soil, vegetation
or hair of patients to verify the authenticity
of Germany's laboratory report. Officials
have directed the centre to submit details
of its income, expenditure, approval certificate
to run the institute, children treated,
names and details of doctors working there
and proof that kids have been affected by
uranium.’
New Brunswick talks
with French firm about building 2nd nuclear
reactor
‘FREDERICTON _ The New
Brunswick government has renewed efforts
to see a second nuclear reactor built in
the province, but at least one industry
observer doesn’t believe it will ever happen.
Energy Minister Jack Keir is heading to
Florida for three days of discussions with
French nuclear engineering group Areva,
starting Sunday. "I would categorize
it as more than preliminary," Keir
said Thursday of the discussions. "I
don’t want to raise expectations until I
come back, but I’m excited about the opportunity."
Keir said he has talked with company officials
a number of times since they contacted him
before Christmas last year. "They’ve
come forward with plans to build the merchant
plant to look to the New England area to
sell that electricity, and have come forward
with discussions about setting up a centre
of excellence in nuclear," Keir said.
He said Areva, which is controlled by the
government of France, likes New Brunswick’s
geographic location and the fact the province
is bilingual. He said universities in the
province could conduct research and produce
employees who speak both English and French.’
+ More
Just another fish?
Sara Holden, Greenpeace
International whales campaigner, writes...
I read a very revealing
interview yesterday, with Iceland’s chief
whaler. Kristjan Loftsson has merrily defied
the global moratorium on commercial whaling
for decades and now sits on Iceland’s government
delegation to the International Whaling
Commission. He is, of course, also big pals
with the Japanese and Norwegian delegations.
In the article he dismisses
whales as “just another fish”, rubbishing
the notion that whales are intelligent –
saying “if they were so smart they would
stay out of Icelandic waters”.
A couple of things about
intelligence Mr Loftsson – whales are NOT
fish – they are mammals. They suckle their
young. Often it is the pregnant females,
that are harpooned in the Southern Ocean
hunt run by the Japanese government. Clearly
these fish are too stupid to stay out of
that ocean too.
Secondly – the waters
around Iceland were home to the whales long
before humans even walked the planet, let
alone created exploding harpoons. And the
balance of nature, with plentiful fish –
and I mean fish – was not an issue then.
People catch too many fish, not whales.
Professor Callum Roberts
of York University, has published a fascinating
book “ An Unnatural History of the Sea”
that takes first hand accounts from early
explorers, sailors, pirates, merchants,
and fishermen to describe pre-industrialised
oceans as “waters teeming with whales, sea
lions, sea otters, turtles, and giant fish”.
It is ridiculous, dare I say stupid, to
blame the whales for failing fish stocks.
Mr Loftsson also claims
the IWC debate is about creating unemployment.
It is true that Iceland has suffered hugely
and even disproportionately as a result
of the global economic crisis – but whale
watching in Iceland is a massive industry
for that small nation, creating far more
wealth and jobs that Mr Loftsson’s tiny
army of whale hunters. The same is true
worldwide, including in Mr Lofftson’s other
favourite whale hunting country, Norway,
where whalers even harpooned a whale in
front of a boat load of tourists who had
paid good money to enjoy the majesty of
whales swimming freely in their ocean home.
Not the smartest approach to ensuring more
customers.
But Mr Loftsson has
to be given some points for being smart.
He says that shutting down the whaling industry
in Iceland would be like cutting 15,000
jobs in the US. Very clever psychology,
Kristjan, because of course the figure that
now sticks in your head is 15,000 lost jobs.
Until, as they say in
the US, you do the math.
According to the US
Census Bureau, in 2009 the USA has a population
of 309, 576,203 people. That is three hundred
and nine million, five hundred and seventy
six thousand, two hundred and three people.
15,000 jobs as a percentage
of the US population is 0.004845 %.
Iceland’s population
in 2008, according to the World Bank was
317,414. If you calculate the same percentage
– which Mr Loftsson says is the equivalent
- ending whaling in Iceland would cost 15.37
jobs. Fifteen jobs. That is the number to
remember.
Every job is precious
in these times. Call me crazy - which I
believe he does! - but I am certain that
by stepping out of the shadow of international
condemnation that hangs over Iceland because
of its relentless pursuit of commercial
whaling, Iceland can grow its whale watching
and green jobs sector even more, and will
provide those fifteen people with other
employment. That would be the intelligent
thing to do.
He goes on to say about
whaling in Iceland - "It was a good
summer job with a good salary, enough to
buy drinks and some entertainment."
I am presuming that he is not referring
to the same kind of entertainment that the
Sunday Times newspaper in the UK recently
exposed in their article “Flights, Girls
and Cash buy Japanese Whaling Votes”.
But let’s leave that and go back to the
issue of intelligence.
Mr Loftsson concedes
that he would never participate in catching
the last whale, which is commendable. But
history teaches us that humans are actually
not so smart or thoughtful. The near extinction
of whale species, because we would not or
did not know when to stop, is exactly why
there is a moratorium in place in the first
place.
But that does not seem
to be an issue for them as they push to
commercialise an industry that wrought devastation
to the seas.
According to Albert
Einstein, who I think we can all agree was
a pretty intelligent guy, doing something
over and over again expecting a different
result is the definition of madness.
