March 09

POLITICAL CONTEXT OF THE IRAN CRISIS By Paul Rogers. Source: Oxford Research Group

Iran Nuclear power United States of America Israel-Palestine Trackbacks (0)

Conclusion
While there is much uncertainty, given the complexities of the political context in all three countries, it is reasonable to conclude that there is a particular risk of some kind of military confrontation in the six months to September. This is in spite of the many voices in the United States, Western Europe, and even Israel, that are calling for restraint. It is certainly likely to be
a time of considerable tension, and in such circumstances the so-called “AIM” factor becomes important – Accidents, Incidents and Mavericks. Any one of these factors might exacerbate a crisis, and this means that it is particularly important to work for an easing of the tensions. Ifthat happens and a conflict is avoided in the coming months, then there is a good chance that
negotiations in a calmer atmosphere next year might meet with success.

 http://www.oxfordresearchgroup.org.uk/sites/default/files/FebEn12.pdf

January 17

Nuclear Materials Security Index. Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI)

Atomic weapons, including nuclear proliferation Nuclear power Trackbacks (0)

The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) Nuclear Materials Security Index is a first-of-its-kind public benchmarking project of nuclear materials security conditions on a country-by-country basis. The NTI Index, prepared with the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), was created to spark an international discussion about priorities required to strengthen security, and most importantly, encourage governments to provide assurances and take actions to reduce risks.

The project draws on NTI's nuclear expertise, the EIU’s experience in constructing indices, and the reach of the EIU’s global network of 900 analysts and contributors. NTI—working with an international panel of nuclear security experts and a number of technical advisors—focused on the framework and priorities that define effective nuclear materials security conditions. The EIU was responsible for developing the Excel-based model and gathering the data.

The NTI Index assesses the contribution of 32 states with one kilogram or more of weapons-usable nuclear materials toward improved global nuclear materials security conditions, using five categories: (a) Quantities and Sites, (b) Security and Control Measures, (c) Global Norms, (d) Domestic Commitments and Capacity, and (e) Societal Factors. An additional 144 states, with less than one kilogram of weapons-usable nuclear materials or none at all, are assessed on the last three of these categories.

+ Link to full report (PDF; 5.78 MB)

From Docubase

March 28

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) – Fukushima Nuclear Accident Update Log

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The website provides daily updates on the situation from the International Atomic Energy Agency. It includes a link to the INES The international nuclear and radiological event scale which it uses to rank the severity of incidents. And the accident emergency centre which gives background detail on responses to emergencies.
OECD Nuclear Energy Agency also has its own news releases and links to technical resources.
On this theme the Guardian datalog has a list and ranking of all nuclear accidents since 1952 From a different angle Japanese artist Sao Hashimoto has posted on YouTube an art installation of Time-Lapse Map of Every Nuclear Explosion Since 1945 The Japan Atomic Energy Agency has technical details on reactors in Japan but no updates on the English page of the accident.
The World Nuclear Association has a database of facts about reactors worldwide. it includes facility names, locations and images. Extensive detailed information facts/figures and bibliographic references can be traced on the IAEA digital library see nuclear science references to search for references for articles about nuclear physics taken from over 80 specialist journals. A different set of references relating to nuclear energy, focussing more fully on bombs and warfare but also including materials relating to the dangers of radiation, nuclear after-effects. Is the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum database which has references to books, journals and reports. It is possible to search in English. The site also links to online exhibitions relating to Hiroshima.

From New research selected by LSE Library:

http://lselibraryresearch.blogspot.com/
March 19

Earthquakes Since 1973 And Nuclear Power Plant Locations

Nuclear power Maps Disasters and humanitarian relief Trackbacks (0)
March 18

Fukushima Plant Disaster Blog Posts. Union Of Concerned Scientists.

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http://allthingsnuclear.org/tagged/Japan_nuclear

All Things Nuclear is the blog of the Global Security Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. We’ll cover nuclear weapons, fissile materials, arms control, missile defense, space weapons, reprocessing, China and security, nuclear power, and a few other things for good measure, all in the context of science, security, and policy.

March 17

Myth Of Nuclear Power. Heinrich BöLl Foundation

Nuclear power Energy Trackbacks (0)
March 16, 2011
The recent earthquake damage to at least one reactor in Japan has again highlighted the potential hazards of nuclear power in a dramatic way. The description of nuclear power as reliable, secure, and a source of unbeatable energy has turned out to be a myth. The nuclear power industry has struggled to make a comeback for decades. Now a revival is more unlikely than ever before. The catastrophe in Japan puts new focus on the operation of existing plants.

To address the myths of nuclear power, the .  has commissioned renowned international nuclear experts to deliver reports that provide the public with an overview of current, facts rich, and nuclear-critical know-how.


GERD ROSENKRANZ
Myths of Nuclear Power - An Overview
The book, “Myths of Nuclear Power: How the Energy Lobbyists Duped Us" delivers the long-overdue, nuclear critical know-how for the debate, pointing to alternatives, and unmasks nuclear energy for what it is: an irresponsible and expensive high-risk technology.

STEVE THOMAS
Myth: Nuclear Power Provides Lower Energy Prices
Steve Thomas, the author shows the true cost of nuclear power and makes it clear that nuclear energy in the free market economy without government support is not competitive.

HENRY SOKOLSKI 
Myth: Civilian and Military Use of Nuclear Energy Can Be Separate
"Nuclear power plants are building blocks for nuclear bombs," says Henry Sokolski, the disarmament expert. Those striving for a world without nuclear weapons should not revive civilian nuclear energy. Climate change and nuclear non-proliferation should not be pitted against each other.

ANTONY FROGGAT / MYCLE SCHNEIDER
Systems for Change:Nuclear Power vs. EnergyEfficiency + Renewables?
A new myth of the nuclear lobby is the claim that nuclear power and renewable energies are complementary forms of energy. The authors Antony Froggat and Mycle Schneider prove the opposite: Those who build nuclear power plants hinder the expansion of renewable energies. 

OTFRIED NASSAUER
Nuclear Weapons and Nuclear Energy – Siamese Twins or Double Zero Solution


March 29

Nuclear Renaissance: Nuclear Weapons Proliferation And Terrorism

Terrorism & Counter-Terrorism Atomic weapons, including nuclear proliferation Nuclear power Trackbacks (0)
Nuclear renaissance: nuclear weapons proliferation and terrorism
This site provides free access to a report by Frank Barnaby published by the Institute for Public Policy Research in March 2009. The 12 page report discusses the security risks that might ensue if increasing dependence on nuclear energy led to a more widespread availability of access to plutonium that could potentially be used to fabricate nuclear weapons, both by countries and by terrorists. From Intute.ac.uk
http://www.ippr.org.uk/publicationsandreports/publication.asp?id=650
January 06

Iran: Breaking The Nuclear Deadlock

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Source: Chatham House

The report considers the ways in which the West can most effectively engage with Iran. It both analyses the current situation and makes a series of practical recommendations about next steps for policymakers in the US under the Obama administration, and in the UK and Europe.

The report argues that Iran’s economic and political weaknesses could provide the catalyst for a breakthrough in the nuclear dispute. It finds that Iran’s domestic politics, energy industry and regional power may not be strong enough for it to resist international demands for a serious negotiation over its nuclear programme and that, despite the triumphalist rhetoric of its leadership, the economy remains Iran’s Achilles’ heel.

+ Full Document (PDF; 782 KB)

Docuticker permalink

September 05

Annual Assessment Of Nuclear Safety

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International Nuclear Safety Group (INSAG) - whose mandate is to "provide recommendations and opinions on current and emerging nuclear safety issues to the IAEA, the nuclear community and the public" - submitted their latest annual global assessment to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

UN Pulse Permanent Link: Annual assessment of nuclear safety

September 04

Peaceful Use Of Nuclear Energy (NPEC)

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Falling Behind: International Scrutiny of the Peaceful Atom (PDF; 236 KB)
Source: Nonproliferation Policy Education Center (NPEC)

(T)he final updated version of this NPEC report examines the International Atomic Energy Agency's ability to safeguard peaceful nuclear energy, and provides a series of recommendations to shore up the NPT-IAEA safeguards systems shortfalls.

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August 10

IAEA 2006 Annual Report

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The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has issued its 2006 Annual Report (full report, pdf, 1.33 MB). It includes a summary of major issues, activities, and achievements, and status tables and graphs related to safeguards, safety, and science and technology. Permanent Link: IAEA 2006 Annual Report

UN Pulse

April 19

The United Nations And Chernobyl

United Nations Nuclear power Trackbacks (0)

URL: http://chernobyl.undp.org/english/

This website "is part of an overall UNDP efforts to raise awareness about the many challenges facing the region affected" by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in April 1986. Features "UN official documents on Chernobyl nuclear accident as well as the updates from UN Coordinator of international cooperation on Chernobyl," and links to related sites. Available in several languages. From the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/23634