More From This User
Related Docuements
nm663
From arabtrader
GNEP
From AffNeg.Com
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN CANADA RESIST URANIUM EXPLORATION
Since 28 June, the Algonquin First Nations, along with non-natives, have occupied a proposed mining site at Robertsville.The site is located north of Sarbot Lake in Northern FrontenacCounty in eastern Ontario and is targeted in order to prevent theFrontenac Ventures Corporation from carrying on operations thathave been underway for a year.
(658.5815) Laka Foundation
- TheRobertsville site includes an oreprocessing mill and some other buildings,which were cordoned off by the FirstNations, who have established a camp inthe area behind the front gate. FromJune 29 to July 2, an information picketremained in place, and the area behindthe gate gradually developed into a moreorganized camp, with several tents andtrailers in place, a parking area, and twocooking and food storage canopies. Onthe afternoon of 8 July, nearly 300protesters held a march against uraniummining in the Crotch Lake region.Frontenac Ventures Corporation(Frontec) has been renting a building onthe site as their base of operations andhas been improving and using an accessroad that runs west from the mine site toexplore a uranium deposit on 30,000acres of land that they have staked in theregion. The majority of staked land isCrown land, and the rest is private land.The corporation has put its operations onhold in Northern Frontenac County,leaving residents with mixed feelings. On7 July, the uranium mining company leftNorth Frontenac Township after localFirst Nations threatened to hold a day ormultiple days of protest. The land is partof the territory traditionally claimed by theSharbot Lake and Ardoch Algonquins. Amap of the area that will be most affectedby the mining is found on the website ofthe Ardoch Algonquin First Nation(http://www.aafna.ca/) . The area is partof a huge territory that is covered byRoyal Proclamation from 1763 whichreserves the Ottawa Valley for Algonquinuse, a royal proclamation that has neverbeen rescinded. Aland claims processover the land has been underwaybetween two levels of government andAlgonquin representatives since 1992.Both the Sharbot Lake Algonquin FirstNation and the Ardoch Algonquin FirstNation say they are opposed to theFrontenac plans to develop uraniumdeposits in the area. They consider thearea as their Sacred Territory. Instatements on their website they refer totheir own experiences: "Indigenouspeople have been disproportionatelyaffected by the international nuclearweapon and fuel industry. The Nuclearfuel chain poisons our people, land, airand waters. It threatens our veryexistence and our future generations."And they give some facts: "TheEnvironmental effects of Uranium mininginclude the contamination of groundwater with dissolved metals andradioactive materials, dispersal ofradioactive dusts, and releases ofradioactive gas into the air. Whenuranium ore is processed, 85% of theradioactivity is left behind in the tailings,and must be managed safely forhundreds of thousands of years."
Sources:
Ottawa Citizen 8 July, 2007; Ottawa Sun 9 July,2007 / CBC 25 June, 2007Six days at the Robertsville mine: anti-uranium actioncould last indefinitely / http://www.newsweb.ca/2007/July_5/Six_Days_at_Robertsville_Mine.html
Contact:
Shabot Obaadjiwan First nation: Chief DoreenDavisTel: +1 613 279-1970Email: chiefdoreen@frontenac.netWeb: http://www.sharbotlakealgonquinfirstnation.com/
JULY 13, 2007|No. 658
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE INCANADA RESISTS URANIUMEXPLORATION1GERMANY: FIRE DID AFFECTNUCLEAR REACTOR; PHASE-OUT PLANS TO STAY 2SCOTLAND OPTS OUT OF NEWWASTE CONSULTATION 3EURATOM: COUNTRIES FREE TOSTEP OUT4NOMADIC REBELS IN NIGER ATTACKED URANIUM MININGFIRMS6IN BRIEF7
GERMANY: FIRE DID AFFECT NUCLEARREACTOR; PHASE-OUT PLANS TO STAY
After a fire at the Kruemmel nuclear power plant in late June, energy company Vattenfall wasquick to reassure the public that the reactor was not affected. But later, the news has beenrevealed that the fire did in fact have an effect on the reactor. The news came at a time whenthe German government was debating the future of nuclear power.
(658.5816) WISE Amsterdam
-Contrary to previous reports, a fire atthe Kruemmel nuclear power plant inGermany on June 28, did in fact affectthe reactor. At first, officials said that thefire only affected a transformer in theplant but not the reactor itself and thatthere was no risk of a radioactivity leak.No one was injured in the firewhich started when coolant in a largeelectric power transformer substationignited due to a short circuit.However experts who are investigatingthe cause of the fire have discoveredthat the reactor was in fact affected. In astatement released on July 3 by theHealth Ministry in the state ofSchleswig-Holstein, which is responsiblefor nuclear safety, it reported that theauthorities had checked "severalincidents caused by the shutdown of thereactor."The experts found that one of thepumps which supply water to the reactorhad shut down unexpectedly, and twosafety and relief valves had openedaccidentally. The result was that thewater level and the pressure in thereactor fell quickly. However the drop inwater level and pressure could be"balanced out by switching on a reservesupply system," the ministry said,adding: "Despite these incidents, thesafety of the facilities was guaranteed."Immediately after the fire, Vattenfall, theutility company which operates thenuclear plant, had claimed that thereactor was not affected by the fire.Now politicians are asking why theseriousness of the problem wasn't madepublic earlier.Experts have been studying the sceneof the fire in Kruemmel. They were onlyable to get into the interior of thetransformer hall on July 2, where theyfound the transformer has been soseverely damaged that it cannot berepaired and will have to be replaced.The cable which connects the powerstation and the transformer may alsohave to be replaced, Vattenfall said.The reactor at Kruemmel came intooperation in 1983 and is one of theoldest types of reactors still working inGermany.Asecond nuclear power plant at nearbyBrunsbuettel was shut down only a fewhours before the Kruemmel fire after ashort-circuit. There is speculation thatthe problem at Brunsbuettel may havecaused the fire at Kruemmel due to achange in voltage in the network afterBrunsbuettel was shut down.The German branch of Friends of theEarth, BUND, demanded "fulltransparency in the investigation of thecauses of the fire and possible dangers"from the plant's operator, Europeanenergy group, Vattenfall. BUNDdemanded the immediate closure ofboth plants.Greenpeace also accused Vattenfall andthe local government in Kiel ofwithholding important information on theconsequences of the incident. Accordingto the environmental organization, thiswas an obvious attempt to avoid conflictat Germany's third annual energysummit in Berlin, which was focusing onexploring ways to reduce greenhousegas emissions and curb global warming.At that meeting, German chancellorAngela Merkel called the battle againstclimate change the "greatest challengeof the 21st century" - and said there willbe no change to the government's planto phase out nuclear power. Merkelunveiled plans to cut carbon emissionsby up to 40% by 2020. Shedisappointed the nuclear industry headsat a Berlin summit by reiterating that thegovernment does not expect to agreeany change to its nuclear energy policybefore 2009, when the currentlegislative period ends.Germany's nuclear power plantsgenerate about 26% of its electricity andare due to close by 2021 under anagreement reached by the previousadministration and ratified by Merkel'scoalition government. Utility chiefs wantto operate nuclear plants for longer, andindustrial leaders had hoped the debateabout the nuclear phase-out could bereopened as a result of the Berlinmeeting. Many members of Merkel'sConservative party would also like tosee the phase-out dropped, but the planremains strongly supported by theSocial Democrats, who form half of thecoalition government.Merkel said the government wants toachieve the carbon cuts by improvingenergy efficiency by 3% per year, anamount many energy industry expertshave called unrealistic. The July 3discussions are to form the basis of anational energy plan, with the Germangovernment to produce a package oflegislative measures. Decisions areexpected at a cabinet meeting inAugust.Klaus Toepfer, a leading conservative(and Party Member of Merkel) andformer German environment minister,who until last year headed the UnitedNations Environment Program, wasquoted in the Sunday Telegraph saying:"We need a future without nuclearpower and we must do everything todevelop renewable energy sources andincrease energy efficiency to achievethis."
Sources:
Spiegel Online, 4 July 2007 / Deutsche Welle, 5 July 2007 / WNN, 3July 2007 / Sunday Telegraph, 8 July2007
Contact:
Greenpeace Germany, SigridTotz, Grosse Elbstrasse 39, 22767Hamburg, Germany.Tel: +49 40 30618-0Mail: sigrid-totz@greenepace.de
(658.5817) NENIG
- The UKGovernment says the consultation isbased on the recommendations of theCommittee on Radioactive WasteManagement (CoRWM) for a deeprepository - however critics say theGovernment is ignoring CoRWM'sreservations about a repository, its callfor much greater research, forconsideration of interim storage and itsstatements that it was only consideringthe management of existing wastes, notwastes from any new reactors.The consultation also looks at theconcept of 'voluntarism' - wherecommunities express an interest inhousing a possible repository ratherthan having on forced upon them - andthe technical aspects of developing anunderground repository. The details of apossible repository given in theconsultation documents are very similarto those produced by Nirex in the 1990sfor Sellafield.
Scottish Executive says no
The Scottish Executive has refused totake part in the consultation - rejectingany idea of a deep undergroundrepository in Scotland. Environmentsecretary Richard Lochhead said herecognized the challenge of dealing withradioactive waste but they did notaccept "that geological disposal is theright way forward. This is a matter ofprinciple for us and I have no doubt thatpublic opinion in Scotland supports ourview." He said they supported CoRWM'srecommendations for interim storageand further research on long-term wastemanagement. "This out of sight out ofmind policy should not extend toScotland." Mr Lochhead said theexecutive would work with the UKgovernment and other devolvedadministrations on waste managementissues where they had sharedobjectives. The LibDem environmentspokesman, Mike Rumbles, commentedthat the executive now had "a duty totell the people of Scotland whatproposals they have for dealing withScotland's share of the nuclear wasteburden."
Cumbria says 'no' to Scottish wastes
Following the Scottish Executive'swithdrawal from the consultationCumbria County Councillors have saidthey will oppose taking Scottishradioactive wastes to Sellafield. TheHunterston and Torness reactors sendspent fuel to Sellafield for reprocessingand while Dounreay manages its ownwastes, there are proposals to sendspent fuel from the site to Sellafield.Timothy Heslop, executive member onthe county council for nuclear issues,said the Scottish Executive had taken itsstand and "let them accept that theirwaste is not coming across the border."Although it has agreed to take part inthe consultation the Welshadministration in Cardiff made it clearthey have not agreed in any way to arepository being build in Wales.The Nuclear Decommissioning Authoritywelcomed the Government'sconsultation and noted the responsefrom the Scottish Government. TheNDAsaid it would have to "carefullyconsider" this news.
No choices yet
Environment minister Ian Pearson thisweek denied that Sellafield had alreadybeen chosen by the Government as thesite for a deep underground wasterepository. Mr Pearson said they hadnot started the site selection processand still needed to decide how siteselection will be made.The Nuclear Free Local Authorities gavea cautious welcome to the consultation.NFLAchair Mike Rumney said theGovernment's plan for new reactors wasdriving the timetable for radioactivewaste management and this could leadto a loss of public confidence.The inspector on the 1995 planninginquiry into Nirex plans for a deeprepository at Sellafield has said the siteis unsuitable for such a development.Mr Chris McDonald said the siteselection process at the time wasflawed, not taking safety as the mostimportant factor and the irrational desireto build a repository as close aspossible to Sellafield. The site is notsuitable for a repository "andinvestigations should be movedelsewhere".Full details of the consultation, that endson 2nd November 2007, are availableat:www.defra.gov.uk/environment/radioactivity/waste/hilw/index.htm
Source:
N-Base Briefing 532, 1 July2007
Contact:
NENIG, The Quarries, Gruting,Bridge of Walls, Shetland ZE2 9NR, UKTel: +44 1595 810266Email: briefing@n-base.org.ukWeb: http://www.n-base.org.uk
SCOTLAND OPTS OUT OF NEW WASTE CONSULTATION
The UK Government and the Welsh and Northern Ireland administrations launched a newconsultation on “Managing Radioactive Waste Safely: A framework for implementing geologicaldisposal.” However the Scottish Executive has refused to take part, arguing that it rejectsbuilding a deep underground waste repository.
The U.K. government Thursday gave the preliminary go-ahead to the design of four nuclear reactors, even though ithas yet to decide whether to formally support nuclear power.Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Areva, GE Energy, andWestinghouse Electric Co. have all submitted individualdesigns for the four reactors. Before the generic designs ofthe nuclear power plants are completely approved or pre-licensed, the government's new Department for Business,Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, established by newPrime Minister Gordon Brown, must consider the designsmore carefully.The initial stages of pre-licensing are taking place at thesame time and are subject to the outcome of a nuclearconsultation, which is expected to close in October. The U.K.government previously gave its support for nuclear powerafter a public consultation, and claimed new nuclear reactorswere needed in order to meet the U.K.'s climate changeobjectives, while at the same time securing reliable energysupplies. But the government had to launch a furtherconsultation after environmental group Greenpeace won alegal challenge in February which found that thegovernment's initial consultation was "legally flawed".
Dow Jones, 5 July 2007
No decision yet on nuclear power, but go-ahead to 4 nuclear reactor designs.
of 00
Indigenous People in Canada and Niger Resist Uranium Exploration
1,501 Reads
Info and Rating
| Category: | Uncategorized. |
| Rating: | |
| Upload Date: | 03/27/2008 |
| Copyright: | Attribution Non-commercial |
| Tags: |
Free download as PDF File (.pdf), text file (.txt) or read online for free.
Leave a Comment