research / reports from institutions & academic bodies responsible for overseeing the nuclear industry.
Lancet reports Chernobyl dissent
Debate over health effects of Chernobyl re-ignited
Lancet Ed Holt 24 April 2010
Calls have been made for comprehensive studies into the continuing health effects of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster after a rise in birth defects was identified in one of the regions most affected by the catastrophe.
The findings, published in Pediatrics, are in stark contrast with a major, but highly criticised, 2005 study by WHO and other groups, which suggested that there was no evidence of an increased risk of birth defects in areas contaminated by the accident. Wertelecki says that the results of his study show claims that birth defects are not linked to the disaster need to be re-evaluated. He told The Lancet: “The official position is that Chernobyl and birth defects are not connected. That position needs to be reconsidered at the very least.”
[Read more]Chernobyl 'still causing cancer in British children'
Chernobyl 'still causing cancer in British children'
By Geoffrey Lean, Environment Editor Published: 23 April 2006
By Geoffrey Lean, Environment Editor Published: 23 April 2006
Cancer
More than a third of Britain is still contaminated by radioactivity from the Chernobyl disaster two decades ago, and children are getting cancer as a result, an Independent on Sunday investigation has
established. ...
Chernobyl: The Great Cover-Up
Cancer
Cancer
More than a third of Britain is still contaminated by radioactivity from the Chernobyl disaster two decades ago, and children are getting cancer as a result, an Independent on Sunday investigation has
More than a third of Britain is still contaminated by radioactivity from the Chernobyl disaster two decades ago, and children are getting cancer as a result, an Independent on Sunday investigation has
established. ...
established. ...
The World Health Organisation and Nuclear Power
ALISON KATZ / Le Monde diplomatique 1apr2008
http://mondediplo.com:80/2008/04/14who
For 50 years dangerous concentrations of radionuclides have been accumulating in earth, air and water from weapons testing and reactor incidents. Yet serious studies of the effects of radiation on health have been obscured – not least by the World Health Organisation.
Chernobyl Effects Could Last for Centuries
By Pavol Stracansky 30.08.2010
http://english.pravda.ru/science/earth/30-08-2010/114807-chernobyl_effects_could_last_fo-0/#
Nearly 25 years after the worst nuclear accident in history, new scientific findings suggest that the effects of the explosion at Chernobyl have been underestimated. Experts last month published a series of studies indicating that, contrary to previous findings, populations of animals decreased in the exclusion zone surrounding the site of the former nuclear power plant, and that the effects of radioactive contamination after the outbreak had been "overwhelming." [Read more]
NUCLEAR ACCIDENTS: BOTHERED, BEWITCHED OR BEWILDERED?
Nation Union Journalists
http://www.nujcec.org/paris/NUCLEAR-ACCIDENTS-BOTHERED
Wednesday 11 February 2009, by Patricia Brett
A version of this article appeared in the IHT in October 2008.
Nuclear energy results in the release of radioactivity into the atmosphere and into bodies of water, either through routine, scheduled releases or because of accidents. Each nuclearized country has a watchdog to control the industry, but how well do they actually perform? This article looks at a few worrisome examples of regulators at work. [Read more]
2. Alternatives
Summarising "non-nuclear" opinion in the sustainable energy world: there are a vast array of alternatives to nuclear power. The first is conservation of energy. The second is to change the economic and social structure in ways that reduce demand for energy e.g. transport, housing, consumer goods etc. The third is the development and expansion of existing technology with appropriate fiscal and monetary stimulus coupled with planning for local production for local consumption. These technologies include , wind, tidal & wave [in wide range of innovative models] together with solar thermal for heating and electricity and photo voltaics. Big saving are made from combine heat and power both large and small scale such as micro CHP for small housing complexes.
There are innumerable developments under way from algae breeding to fuel cell storage to ground & air heat pumps to hydrogen production from bacteria working on biodegradable organic matter. The links below are just a starter to news & views on some of the innovative clean, sustainable, safe, efficient and appropriate methods of producing and or conserving energy.
Most of these technologies are controllable by the community and local society. Nuclear power is most certainly not controllable by those it supplies. Nuclear power represents an enormous trust in the mechanism of power in the UK and the infallibility and accountability of private corporations. Alternative options are posted below.
Greenpeace paper on decentralised energy versus nuclear power [2007]
http://www.mng.org.uk/gh/resources/no2n_decentralised_energy.pdf
50% electricity from marine renewables by 2050
http://www.renewableenergyfocus.com/view/13581/europe-50-electricity-from-marine-renewables-by-2050/
http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/safe_alternatives_to_nucle_27062006.html
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-08/haog-ef080609.php
http://www.wired.com/cars/energy/news/2007/11/hydrogen_bacteriax
3. Politics
Economics of nuclear power:
Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute reports that the US Government is offering massive subsidies to the nuclear industry to construct new nuclear plants. There are no takers as yet. Lovins also questions the energy & carbon accounting of the industry. Interview here on Democracy Now - interview 3/4 though programme.
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/7/16/amory_lovins_expanding_nuclear_power_makes
Reuters reports on a Vermont Law School study
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS16237343320100916 warning of risks to the taxpayer from the development of nuclear power.
When the Soviet Union collapsed there was panic in nuclear regulator circles as the nuclear programme was bankrupt, haemorrhaging skilled staff and without the possibility of funding basic safety guidelines. Are we so confident that Europe, Britain etc. can guarantee financial security for ever?
Dr. Bandazhevski was a prisoner of conscience. Amnesty International has stated on their website "His conviction was widely believed to be related to his scientific research into the Chernobyl catastrophe and his open criticism of the official response to the Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster on people living in the region of Gomel." His arrest came soon after he published reports critical of the official research being conducted into the Chernobyl incident. [Read more]
The Rocky Mountain Institute has undertaken some detailed analysis which demonstrates that alternatives to nuclear power can achieve similar objectives at lower cost. Amory Lovins, of RMI says:
“So the big question about nuclear "revival" isn't just who'd pay for such a turkey, but also...why bother? Why keep on distorting markets and biasing choices to divert scarce resources from the winners to the loser — (3)
CURRICULUM VITAE (Mar 2010)
Prof. Dr Christopher Busby
http://unreportedworld.blogspot.com/2000/01/dr-c-busby-cv.html
Download at http://www.llrc.org/misc/subtopic/cvbusby.pdf
