By George Harvey Zachary Shahansβs CleanTechnica articles, βHow Russian Attacks On Democracy & The USA Relate To Cleantech,β and βWhere Does US Democracy Go From Here?β moved me to examine American Putin and the Alt-Right, the heirs of the old Soviet system and the American right-wing. Together, they are undermining American politics to a dangerous […]
Putin and the Alt-Right β Lying Together Read More π
If anyone needed proof that the US Congress is now a whipped puppy that slavishly obeys the orders of its masters — Charles and David Koch — the House last week completely eliminated funding for ARPA-E while giving the administration more money for fossil fuel research than the #FakePresident asked for. What Is ARPA-E? ARPA-E
Not only posing significant risks for Earth’s natural systems, the effects of global warming on humans and human systems have only recently begun receiving the expanded attention they critically require. From hazardous effects causing potential loss of life, injury, or other negative health impacts, to the potential exposure of social, economic, and infrastructure assets to
Effects of Global Warming on Humans – From 2015 IPCC SYR Data Read More π
Releasing this exclusive freely in the public interest, best-selling author Dr. Nafeez Ahmed is offering a unique view of the critically significant impact that climate change is having on our lives, our livelihoods, and even our likelihood of survival on this planet. Dr Nafeez Ahmed is an international security scholar and investigative journalist, currently serving as a
Climate Change-Induced Collapse of Civilization by 2040 Reports UK Foreign Office Read More π
Storing solar energy in a battery in Spain is more criminal than spilling radioactive waste. That’s the implied message written between the lines of a recently drafted law poised for fast-track approval by the government of Spain. Proposed fines for residential and SME use of solar energy self-consumption will be as high as β¬60 million
In Spain, Solar Energy Storage is Worse Than Nuclear Spillage Read More π
The recent drop in gas prices in the US, while a boon to consumers, is no indication of the viability or longevity of fossil fuels, and continuing to bet on coal, even so-called “clean coal,” or on seemingly-abundant natural gas, isn’t a good move for anyone except the coal power industry. With all that we
Our Epic Future: Which Energy Future Will You Choose? Read More π
Cherry blossoms in the foreground of Mount Fuji (image: ladyadventurer.co.uk) So far, at least, the famed blossoming cherry trees of Japan don’t discriminate geographically. This time of year, they grace even the surroundings of nuclear power generators shaken by earthquake, tsunami, and meltdowns three years ago. Otherwise, though, the Fukushima landscape remains desolate. Despite widespread
Drone Captures Fukushima Desolation Amid Cherry Blossoms Read More π
For this little Fukushima irony, many thanks to Fukushimaemergencywhatcanwedo.blogspot.com!
No control at FukUShima (cartoon) Read More π
Though we try to keep a very positive focus here, PlanetSave isnβt just a blog about the wonders of the natural world and the glory of Mankindβs inventions. It also offers knowledge and a caution about our failures as individuals and as a species. Weβve all made mistakes before, big and small. By acknowledging anthropogenic
Review: The Long Shadow Of Chernobyl Read More π
Construction of the Advanced Liquid Processing System at TEPCOβs ruined Fukushima nuclear power complex (photo: TEPCO, via mainichi.jp). Still dealing with the aftermath of the 2011 TΕhoku earthquake, subsequent tsunami, and three meltdowns at its Fukushima I nuclear power complex, Tokyo Electric Power Company had more bad news yesterday about its Fukushima ALPS cleanup efforts.
All 3 Fukushima ALPS Nuclide Scrubbers Shut Down Tuesday Read More π
Bad news from the annual American Geophysical Union’s Ocean Sciences Meeting in Honolulu. Researchers there announced today that radioactive isotopes from the Fukushima nuclear disaster, when three reactors melted down after the March 11, 2011, Tohoku earthquake and subsequent mega-tsunami, have finally reached the West Coast. John Smith, a research scientist at Canada’s Bedford Institute
Canada Water Tests Positive For Fukushima Cesium-134 Read More π
A diver in California’s kelp forest. A new study will explore possible radioactive contamination from the 2011 Fukushima meltdowns (Wikimedia Commons/Ed Bierman). Biology professor Steven L. Manley of California State University, Long Beach, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s Head of Applied Nuclear Physics Kai Vetter have set up monitoring off the state’s coast throughout
Academic, Government Researchers Watch Coastal Kelp For Fukushima Contaminants Read More π
NHK World reports the beginning of Fukushima Reactor Unit 4 fuel rod transfer. (Screenshot of NHK broadcast, video released by TEPCO.) The ticklish operations involved in decommissioning Tokyo Electric’s ruined nuclear power plant at Fukushima began on Monday. Workers at the plant began removing unused nuclear fuel from the fourth-floor storage pool at the damaged
TEPCO Begins Relocating Fuel At Fukushima Unit 4 Read More π
If you’ve ever wondered about the composition of the electricity delivered to your home (most of us have no clue), there’s one quick and easy way to find out. The EPA’s ‘Power Profiler’ tool has apparently been around for at least 2 years, but I only discovered it recently. Although the data used to generate
How Clean Is Your Electricity? Ask The EPA Read More π
The San Onofre nuclear plant has been shut down for over a year, and may stay that way permanently. The reason for the current closure is a problem with new steam generators. They experienced some kind of rapid degradation which compromised the plant’s safety. The plant is operated by Edison International, the parent company of
Nuclear Plant In California May Close Read More π
Here’s one of my favorite videos ever. It’s an ad for ECOtricity, which is a clean energy utility company in the UK. Check it out and share it: http://youtu.be/FLlczvGNVvU (Those are coal and nuclear power plant towers coming down in the video.) Thanks to NewEnergyNews for sharing it recently and bringing it back onto my
Opera Of Power Plants (Video) Read More π
Quite frankly, nuclear reactors already costs too muchΒ even if they don’t run into any problems. The financial risk of nuclear power plants means that they are never funded by the private sector. If a new nuclear power plant is to get funded, is must do so through considerable governmental or utility support and subsidy. But
Generally speaking, we compare products when shopping. We look for the cheapest, greenest, most socially responsible options we can find. It’s quite common for us to do this when it comes to food, clothing, electronics, and even cars. However, there’s one huge expense we pay for regularly without even thinking (or hardly thinking), and
A Huge Purchase You Make Without Thinking Read More π
A new survey conducted by UK pollsters YouGov has shown that support for renewable energy remains consistently strong in Britain whilst support for fossil fuels continues to decline. However, the same survey shows that there is division over whether large scale fracking in the north of England should go ahead, and most people continue to
Brits Love Renewable Energy, Hate Fossil Fuels, Divided on Fracking Read More π
The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea since ancient times, using it to treat everything from headaches to depression. While green tea has so many healthy benefits, consumers need to be wary if their tea comes from certain parts of Japan. […]
Japan Green Tea Exports Banned Due To High Radiation Levels Read More π
The last nuclear reactor in Japan was shut down today. The last of 50 nuclear reactors, this will be the first time in 40 years that Japan doesn’t generate any electricity with nuclear power. Last year on March 11, an earthquake and tsunami caused meltdowns at the Fukushima Dai-ichi power plants, causing enormous human,
Japan's Last Nuclear Power Plant Shut Down Read More π
Yep, times have changed. Aggressive renewable energy (especially solar) policies have made rooftop solar power more competitive than fossil fuels or nuclear energy in Germany. And that has the fossil fuel and nuclear industry pulling all the strings they can to try to kill this democratized electricity revolution in Deutschland. [repostus hash=515137636ca1caa273dbc6674e6767bf title=German%20Solar%3A%20Mission%20Too%20Well%20Accomplished%2C%20from%20Perspective%20of%20Fossil%2FNuclear%20Lobby%20(Reader%20Comment) host=Clean%20Technica
Cheap Solar Energy Threatening Fossil Fuel & Nuclear Lobby in Germany Read More π
Tomorrow, March 11, is my birthday, which makes the date of one of the worst disasters the world has ever seen quite easy to remember. On March 11, 2011, a tremendous earthquake and series of aftershocks struck the country of Japan. For days to follow, but especially that entire birthday, I was feverishly following
Japan Earthquake, Tsunami, & Fukushima Nuclear Meltdown Anniversary Read More π
A couple days ago, over on sister site CleanTechnica, I reposted a Grist piece on a new study by former Microsoft executive Nathan Myhrvold and climate scientist Ken Caldeira. The post and new study were about what energy transition is needed to address global warming this century. The basic conclusions of it all (also
Clean Energy Needed (NOW) to Stop Global Warming (.. Natural Gas Not a Good Option) Read More π
Some top green news from around from the past day or so: Global Warming Heartland associate taught ‘biased’ climate course at Ottawa universityΒ An associate of the Heartland Institute, the thinktank devoted to discreditingΒ climate change, taught a course at a top Canadian university that contained more than 140 false, biased and misleading claims about
Green News of the Day (VIDEO) Read More π
I want to start covering clean energy news much more here on Planetsave, but as they say, “so much to do, so little time.” Also, since we cover that extensively on sister site CleanTechnica, I just sort of assume you all can easily pop over there and subscribe to that page for news on this
Via DailyKos, here’s the “official meme of 2011“: Seems spot on to me. We certainly covered the Japan nuclear meltdowns, Arctic ice cap meltdown, and multiple (Republican-driven) Congressional meltdowns repeatedly here on Planetsave. Though, decided that the Charlie Sheen and other meltdowns were outside our jurisdiction, somewhat thankfully. What will 2012 bring?
Official Meme of 2011: Meltdown (Cartoon) Read More π
2011 was a big year for the environment, in some good ways and some bad ways. Here’s a quick run-down of the top 10 stories of the year, in my opinion: 1. Tremendously high levels ofΒ carbon emissions continue to warm Earth. Despite efforts to switch to clean energy, increase energy efficiency, and use more
Green (& Not So Green) News of the Year (2011 Top 10 List) Read More π
Nuclear power isn’t popular anywhere (well, except in nuclear industry board rooms, I guess). And it is something that gets people motivated enough to physically protest. The latest such protest seems to have been in Taiwan. “About eighty environmental activists protested outside the fourth nuclear plant in New Taipei City Tuesday as a safety
80 Taiwan Environmentalists Protest Outside Nuclear Power Plant Read More π
Some top activism news from the past week or so: 1. Masked Activists in Germany Sop Transport of Nuclear Waste As the title indicates, some activists in Germany are fed up with the creating and unsafe transport and storage of nuclear waste (well, no one even knows where to ‘permanently’ store the nuclear waste). So,
Over 200 anti-nuclear activists blocked the Hinkley Point power plant in Somerset, UK yesterday. While the effort is now over, the activists consider the event to have been a wonderful success.
Over 200 Anti-Nuclear Activists Block UK Nuclear Power Plant Read More π
A few weeks ago we were sorely reminded of the extremism of the majority of the current Republican candidates. Among many other alarming things said, Republicans suggested eliminating or privatizing: FEMA, NASA, the EPA, the Federal Labor Relations Board, Medicaid and food stamps. Herman Cain promised not to appoint any Muslims who want to kill Americans to his cabinet. Michele Bachmann supports statesβ rights on gay marriage, but also supports a constitutional amendment outlawing it. Rick Santorum wants to βa system of disciplineβ to βpunishβ gay soldiers, which suggests that his problem with pornographic Google results is not likely to abate. Tim Pawlenty views Iraq as βone of the shiniest examples of success in the Middle East.β
Current Extremism and it's Toll on the Environment Read More π
Some top activism news of the past few days:
Top Activism Stories Read More π
The North Anna nuclear power plant, located 20 miles from the epicenter, is shut down and in a safe condition, a company official and the Louisa County public information office report. There has been no release of nuclear material, Louisa County spokeswoman Amanda Reidelbach said
Earthquake Shuts Down Virginia Nuclear Plant {Video} Read More π
TEPCO reported that radiation levels are over 10,000 millisieverts per hour on the second floor of reactor one. The problem with that report is that Geiger counters can’t measure past 10,000 millisieverts per hour. So how high is the radiation level on the second floor of reactor one?
Fukushima Radiation So High, Geiger Counter Can't Register It! {Video} Read More π
We have featured a number of WellHomeβs infographics on our site and, as a result, the folks there decided to ask us what matters we thought were most important at the moment and worth creating infographics about. I supplied them with my feedback and theyβve gone ahead and made an infographic on some of the topics I thought was hot and worthy of their time.
Renewable Energy vs Nuclear Energy Infographic Read More π
Some top environmental, climate, animal activism news from the past week or so….
Activism Stories {Weekly Round-Up} Read More π
Well, it’s no Fukushima, but the concerning news from Nebraska, where one (Calhoun) nuclear power plant is shut down and waiting for flood waters to recede to start up again (something that may not be until the Fall) and another (Cooper nuclear power plant) has mostly been in operation but is under threat as well now. The news is that, yesterday, a dam (or AquaDam) built around the Cooper nuclear power plant and other flood protection systems broke. And that may just be a sign of things to come….
Nebraska Nuclear Situation Gets Worse Read More π
One of our most popular stories over the past week was about a Nebraska nuclear power plant (or two, actually) at risk of some serious problems. A ton of people have been coming to our site via Google searches related to that for days. Normally, with such big news, we have to compete with other leading news sites for such views and may get a lot fo traffic for awhile, but generally not for several days. But, that didn’t seem to happen this time. Turns out, there may have been an obvious reason for that.
A fire in an electrical switch room on Tuesday briefly knocked out cooling for a pool holding spent nuclear fuel at the Fort Calhoun nuclear plant outside Omaha, Neb., plant officials said….
Electrical Fire Knocks Out Spent Fuel Cooling Pool at Nebraska Nuclear Plant Read More π
Some top green activism stories form the past week or so (that we didn’t cover,.. or pieces of them we didn’t cover)….
Environmental Activism News of the Week Read More π
Check that out! Some Greenpeace activists in Italy dropped a huge anti-nuclear banner 20 minutes into a huge Italian soccer match (and you know Italians are huge soccer fans). Furthermore, the banner stayed up for the whole game!
The game was apparently the Italian league finals for the Coppa Italia — the Italian Cup. The two teams playing were renowned Palermo and Internazionale (Inter) Milan.
That’s not the kind of thing you want to hear, especially not with the flooding going on. But, reportedly, Grand Gulf Nuclear Plant workers in Mississippi “accidentally released water from an abandoned unit into the river.” A large amount of tritum, a cancer-causing radionuclide, was in the water according to sensors.
Mississippi River Gets Radioactive Water Dumped into It from Nuclear Plant Read More π
One of our loyal readers (the creator of the environmental music film above) passed on to me that Florida Power & Light (FPL) wants to put two new nuclear reactors on the shores of Biscayne Bay and the South Florida Wildlands Association is organizing a mock evacuation and rally for tomorrow (Saturday) in opposition to such a plan. Here’s more….
Mock Evacuation & Rally Against Nuclear Expansion in Florida Tomorrow {VIDEO} Read More π
The title above comes fro the YouTube page. For more, watch the video
Busby: 400,000 to Develop Cancer in 200-km Radius of Fukushima {VIDEO} Read More π
After a month of partial and failed fixes to three of the Dai-ichi Fukushima nuclear plants, the Nuclear Safety Commission of Japan (NISA) has just now raised the level of severity to ‘7’ — the same rating ascribed to the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. Its previous rating of the disaster’s severity had been ‘5’.
Japan's Nuclear Agency Raises Crisis Severity Rating to 'Chernobyl Level' Read More π
Here’s an interesting infographic for you — all you wanted to know about radiation and more. A nice follow-up to the radiation dose chart I shared last week.
Radiation Infographic Read More π
I wrote a short piece last week on onshore wind energy being cost-competitive with coal in some regions. Now, EU climate chief Connie Hedegaard has added that offshore wind energy is cheaper than nuclear.
Offshore Wind Power Cheaper than Nuclear Power, EU Climate Chief Emphasizes Read More π