Nuclear War

Nuclear plants to reassess limits on tainted releases:

Tritium leaks are not a new problem. They have been found over the last nine years at a closed plant in Haddam, Conn.; the Salem plants in southern New Jersey; the Savannah River plant in South Carolina; and the Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island, according to the NRC.

"It has not been a major issue," [NRC chief physicist Steve] Klementowicz said in an interview. But the recent string of disclosures has changed the situation, he said. "It just seems like the whole world is raining tritium right now."

Asbury Park Press claims to be "the Jersey Shores Biggest and Best News Source," which could be true. I blogged this article, in part, because of the remarkably comprhensive "RELATED ARTICLES" column.

Same link as yesterday: NRC on Tritium and the "leaks."

Tritium "EXIT" signs are radioactive, which is what makes them glow without plugging them in...

From the Nuclear Regulatory Comission Website's Tritium Fact Sheet:
"Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that typically is produced in nuclear reactors or high-energy accelerators. It decays at a rate of about five percent per year (half of it decays in about 12 years). Tritium’s decay makes it necessary for routine replenishing in U.S. nuclear weapons. The United States has not produced tritium since 1988, when the Department of Energy's (DOE's) production facility site in South Carolina closed. Immediate tritium needs are being met by recycling tritium from dismantled U.S. nuclear weapons. According to DOE, resumption of tritium production is essential for maintaining the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile."

No mention of whether supplies for EXIT signs are running out at this time.

item 22, on the Berkeley City Council's Agenda for last Tuesday:

a. Phase-Out of Tritium Exit Signs, from: Community Environmental Advisory Commission (PDF, 92 KB)

The City Councill passed the above resolution on it's consent calandar (in other words, without debate) this week, along with the plan from the city manager to implement the recommendations:

Berkeley won't buy any new Tritium Exit Signs, they're gonna count all of the tritium exit signs that are in city buildings before November, and they're gonna train city employees how to recognize the particular signs and dispose of them properly. According to this company selling an alternative EXIT sign technology, most of the radio active signs end up illegally thrown out in the garbage.

All of this, by the way, has little to do with the real Tritium News of the day.: NRC to investigate tritium leaks at Indian Point, elsewhere

NRC on Tritium and the "leaks."

From the Wichita Eagle:

"[Kansas Governor Kathleen] Sebelius signed a bill giving immunity to security guards at the Wolf Creek nuclear power plant near Burlington who use deadly force to defend the plant or its workers against intruders."

The stubby little Reuters piece:

"There's no doubt that nuclear facilities are a potential target for terrorists," said Sebelius in a press statement. "Kansas has one nuclear plant, Wolf Creek, and we must make sure it's properly protected. Allowing guards to use deadly force in certain circumstances increases the security of the plant, and of our state," said Sebelius... (pictured at right with Elmo and Rosita)

Texas and Arizona have similar laws...

From Kansas Homeland Security press release:

Kansas Army National Guardsmen of the 1st Battalion, 127th Field Artillery will train near the Wolf Creek Generating Plant this spring...

Approximately 200 soldiers will conduct "lanes" training in the vicinity of Burlington and Wolf Creek. The weekend drills will consist of anti-terrorism measures; establishing checkpoints; protecting against nuclear, biological and chemical weapons; first aid and other tasks.

The Kansas Army National Guard provides support for homeland defense in addition to performing its wartime mission.

Wolf Creek Generating Station website:

FAST FACTS from the fabulous Wolf Creek site:

"Nuclear power plants in the United States supply about 20 percent of the nation's electricity each year..."

"Worldwide, 31 countries are operating 434 nuclear plants for electricity generation. In 14 countries, 36 new nuclear power plants are under construction...."

You could probably avoid getting shot if you call ahead:
"For tour information, call Susan Maycock, (620) 364-4141 - For information about Speakers Bureau opportunities, call Tammy Hughes, (620) 364-4078 - For fishing information, call the Daily Lake Status hotline, (620) 364-2475."

Bush came to the the Riderwood Village retirement community last week in the DC suburbs to talk about medicare.

I am quoting below an enormous chunk of the transcript because it is incredible who was there, and their relationship to the history of global nuclear issues:

Bush worked the elderly crowd like a pro, and fielded nearly half an hour of genuine queries about the health care issues facing seniors, and then the following occured:


Q Mr. President, I just want to take the opportunity to thank you for your far-sighted policy in India, of assisting them in their civilian nuclear program.

THE PRESIDENT: Oh, thank you, sir.

Q I was at Tarapur 40 years ago, when General Electric inaugurated the first nuclear plant in India. And I think it's going to go a long way towards keeping our friendship with that important country in Asia. Thank you very much.

THE PRESIDENT: Thanks for bringing that up. He's referring to a trip I just took to India and Pakistan and Afghanistan. And we were working on an agreement with India to encourage India and help India develop its civilian nuclear power industry. And one -- a couple of reasons why one would do that. One, when India's demand for fossil fuels goes up it causes the price of our fossil fuels to go up. And so, therefore, to encourage them to use a renewable source of energy that doesn't create greenhouse gas, this makes a lot of sense.

Secondly, India has been a -- is a non-proliferator, has proven to be a non-proliferator for the past 30 years. In other words, they've got a record, and in my judgment should cause the Congress to pass old law to treat them as a new partner. Thirdly, India wants to be a part of international agreements that will help deal with proliferation.

And so I thank you for your comments. I appreciate you saying that.

Yes, sir.

Q It was particularly courageous, in view of the fact that Pakistan is one of our allies in the war on terrorism, and of course, it's going to affect their attitude to some extent.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I appreciate you saying that. The good news is that, as I said in the speech there in India, we now -- I think Indians understand it's good for the United States to be friendly with Pakistan, and the Pakistanis understand it's good for the United States to be friendly with India -- which is, as you know, a change of kind of the relationship of the United States with those two countries.

I had a good visit with President Musharraf, who is dedicated to routing out al Qaeda if they hide in his country, and we really appreciate his dedication. And at the same time, he's dedicated toward advancing democracy. So it was a great visit. Thanks for bringing it up...


A little while later a different retiree spoke up:


Q Mr. President, there are some -- and I guess I would include myself -- who have different views about the Indian agreement, because they're concerned about the effect that the agreement will have on the capacity of India to stimulate its own production of nuclear weapons --

THE PRESIDENT: No, I understand.

Q -- by helping them. But I would go beyond that and ask you, while you're still President, to consider one aspect of this whole nuclear question. I guess I'm one of the three standing -- left standing Americans who helped -- who did the negotiation of the nonproliferation treaty. And the basic bargain there was that other countries would give up their nuclear weapons if we, the nuclear powers, would engage in a program of nuclear disarmament.

Now, I'm aware of all of the agreements that have taken place. I'm aware of the negotiations that you had with Mr. Putin. The point is that we cannot expect that agreement, that basic agreement to hold if the United States, particularly, goes on acting as -- and has the position that we might initiate a nuclear war if it is necessary.

And I would ask you just to think about the time -- while you're still President, taking the one position that only one American President has taken, and that is President Johnson, to consider a "no first-use" policy to help the prospect of nuclear proliferation in the long run.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you. Thank you very much. Thanks for your contribution, by the way. I appreciate it. (Applause.)

Part of the Indian deal is to actually get them to formally join some of the institutions that you helped -- your work created. And you're right. I did do an agreement with President Putin -- thanks for noticing -- where we're -- both of us are reducing nuclear stockpiles. But I'll take your words to heart, and think about it. Thank you. No commitment standing right here, of course. (Laughter.) ....

And then there was a very pregnant pause...... after which Bush wrapped things up quickly, encouraging everyone to just give the contravesial new medicare system a closer look, and closing with a "God bless you all."

Apparently Tony Blair may usher in a new nuclear age in the UK, much like Bush here in the US. They're considering building new nuclear power plants in Britain.

Peter Hain has become the first member of Blair's cabinet to criticize the plan publicly.

Hain breaks ranks to oppose nuclear power

"...serious concerns must remain about nuclear: the financial costs are impossible to estimate, security implications are vast, its label as 'clean' is unwarranted as uranium enrichment is carbon-emitting and we rely on other nations for its supply."


I hadn't realized Uranium enrichment emitted green house gasses - I wonder how?

As for "relying on other nations for its supply." - One of the "other nations" that could supply the UK's growing uranium needs is Australia. Let's hear it for the old empire! (although the UK may have to bid against the likes of China and India for their share of the ore.)

U.S. May Hurt India-Pakistan Peace Efforts by opposing Iranian pipeline.

"Officials from India, Pakistan and Iran were meeting in Tehran on Wednesday to discuss the multibillion-dollar pipeline which has the potential to forge a lasting link between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan, which have fought three wars.

Analysts say U.S. opposition to the pipeline is aimed at curbing Iran, which Washington says is trying to build nuclear weapons, while the U.S. offer of nuclear aid to India reflects an effort to offset China's growing power in Asia. "

(LEFT) - W. leans in to speak with India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during meetings Thursday, March 2, 2006, in New Delhi. White House photo by Eric Draper

(RIGHT) - W. is escorted by an honor guard as he reviews Pakistan troops at his official welcome to Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad, Pakistan, Saturday, March 4, 2006. White House photo by Eric Draper



The President visited, India and Pakistan and even found time for a quick stop in Afghanistan on his wirlwind trip. While there, he struck a deal with India. A BIG DEAL:

" A landmark US deal extending civilian nuclear technology to India could open up 100 billion dollars in business ventures for Americans in the Indian energy sector, a top US business lobby group said overnight.

US President George W. Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh clinched the deal in New Delhi last week that still required mandatory US Congress approval for implementation."

As a jew by birth and identity (I don't go to temple) it bugs me when Al Jazeera repetedly calls Israel the jewish state.

Tough beans for me though. The place is full of jews, from what I've been told, and they do run the country.

That being said, this article straddles two recent stories regarding "The Jewish State" and nuclear war.

The presence of "U.S.-supplied Harpoon cruise missiles armed with nuclear warheads in Israel's fleet of Dolphin-class submarines, which provides the Jewish State with ultimate ability to strike any targets it wishes in any of its Arab neighbours..."

And:

Over 40 years ago, the UK provided Israel with Plutonium and other materials so the Jewish state could build some Jewish Nukes.

Depleted Uranium [DU] is a by-product left over when natural uranium ore is enriched for use in nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons. It is a toxic, dense, hard metal...about 40% less radioactive than [plain old] uranium. IAEA

...when alloyed, Depleted Uranium is ideal for use in armor penetrators [with] the speed, mass and physical properties to perform exceptionally well against armored targets. DU provides a substantial performance advantage, well above other competing materials. This allows DU penetrators to defeat an armored target at a significantly greater distance...On impact with a hard target (such as a tank) the penetrator may generate a cloud of DU dust within the struck vehicle that ignites spontaneously creating a fire that increases the damage to the target...globalsecurity.org

A recently released study shows increased levels of uranium in the air over England durring the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Scientists conducting the study requested the data from the AWE, the Atomic Weapons Establishment which had been collecting samples from the air around their weapons facilities and nuclear power plants ever since a public outcry over a large number of cancer cases. But the scientists had to wait a year to get the information they requested, until the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) became law in the UK. Then, when they did finally recieve the information, data for early 2003 was left out. The time period covering Gulf War 2.

After another long wait, the measurements of Uranium in the air over England durring that crucial time period (Shock and Awe) was made public through a different agency than the AWE.

UK officials are calling the increases a coincidence.

The Department of Defense has an old website dedicated to Depleted Uranium. GulfLink, the Office of the Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses which has a lot of sober, reasonable data that proves that DU is no biggie. We all eat, drink and breath a little bit of Uranium every day according to the site, and then we piss it out. And DU is much less radioactive than regular U, they argue, plus only those at the point of impact are at risk of exposure.

But the study by Chris Busby and Saoirse Morgan shows that there is at least some exposure to DU dust, far from the battlefield. The Full 18 page scientific paper concludes:

Despite many pieces of evidence that uranium aerosols are long lived in the environment and are able to travel considerable distances, this is the first evidence as far as we know, that they are able to travel thousands of miles...

From Baghdad to Reading.

The authors of the study then go on to compare the battlefield use of Depleted Uranium to the atmospheric atomic tests of nuclear weapons in the 1960's and the Chernobyl Melt Down. Events that were proven to have exposed the entire globe to radiation.

But the IAEA website downplays the risks from small amounts of DU, and would appear to agree with the thrust of the Department of Defense argument, while being more direct about the potential harm that exposure to DU may cause.

A very "nuts and bolts" description of the joint U.S. - Japanese military excersices, dubbed Keen Edge and taking place now, appears on the stars and stripes site.

What Stars and Stripes leaves out is any mention of the "enemies." Or the colors they've been assigned, as reported in a Tokyo daily, and repeated (in English, for our reading pleasure) by a Korean paper online:

...Neighboring countries have each been given a color: Japan is blue, the U.S. is green, North Korea is purple, Russia is red and South Korea is the color of tea...

Colors. Like playing RISK?

...The war games include a simulation where the U.S. finds North Korea getting ready to fire a ballistic missile...

yikes.

According to Stars and stripes, "Keen Edge" altenating yearly with "Keen Sword" has been taking place since 1986.

GlobalSecurity.org has a summary of some of these recent joint US/Japanese military excersizes. For example, this from before the Axis of Evil got it's name:

The November 1995 exercise 'Keen Edge' involved 26,500 troops from the US and Japan, including 400 planes and 27 ships, and was reportedly the largest ever joint exercise. Keen Edge may have been a substitute for the cancelled US-South Korean exercise 'Team Spirit', which was cancelled as part of the US-North Korean nuclear agreement.

I do not know whether or not outgoing commander of the 8th U.S. Army in Korea, Lt. Gen. Charles C. Campbell (pictured here showing off his new Korean name, 'Kim Han-soo') will be taking part in Keen Edge this time around.

Another scenario for hostilities between Japan and China described in the article, apparently involves some unihabited rocks that the nations can not agree upon. Read more about Japan not getting on to well with it's neighbors (all the way down at the bottom of the page) in the always informative CIA factbook, including the CIA's compact summary of why Russia and Japan still havn't signed a peace treaty to formally end World War Two!