900大專失業者領綜援 4年增八成 學者﹕寧享「權利」換創意生活
(明報)2011年3月28日 星期一
【明報專訊】近年失業率回落，但30歲或以下（統稱「80後」）和擁有大專學歷者因失業領綜援 人數卻不跌反升，80後綜援在4年間增加逾四成至年初的6000人，大專學歷綜援更急增八成至約900人，社會學學者指出30歲以下年輕人失業率其實一直未改善，他們對領綜援觀念亦已由老一輩認為「羞恥」變成是「社會權利」，找工是理想行先、維生次要。
近年本港經濟向好，失業率已由2009年金融海嘯的5.1％回落至2011年2月底的3.3％，社署 資料顯示，今年截至1月底因失業而領取綜援人數為36,502名，較去年同期減少約2.3％。但分析失業綜援人士的年齡卻發現，被統稱為「80後」的30歲或以下人士，因失業領取綜援者卻持續上升。
領綜援「80後」增至6000人
2008年1月約有4200名30歲或以下人士因失業領綜援，09年增19％至5000人，2010年再增18％至5900人，今年則進一步增至6000人。社署發言人表示，署方並沒有相關人士的學歷分析資料，但以整體失業綜援人士中，擁大專教育程度者，亦由08年的約500人，增至今年約900人，即在4年間大增八成。
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學者﹕心態羞恥變權利
身兼關愛基金社福小組委員會主席的港大社會工作及社會行政學系講座教授周永新 指出，15至24歲組別人士失業率一向最高，至今未改善，「他們不會有老一輩覺得『不努力搵工，領綜援是羞恥』的想法，漸漸接受因失業領綜援是權利，因為他們找不到工是結構性問題，是社會的錯，是社會要承擔的代價」。
20歲以下失業率逾兩成
統計處按不同年齡層分析的失業率亦顯示，15至19歲年輕人失業率，確實由08年初的10.5％，增至09年初的16.6％，2010年初達18.2％，今年截至2月更達20.4％，20至29歲失業率則為5％，較去年和前年的5.6％和6.4％有所下降。
周永新不諱言，青少年失業人士與四五十歲中年失業者不同，後者在經濟差時最易被裁走，或因而要領綜援支持生活，但當經濟改善便會很快返回職場，但現下年輕人普遍也有中五以上學歷，雖然職場確有很多工，但不合他們要求，他們寧可不做，他們找工是以理想和興趣行先，講求滿足感，要有發揮空間，甚至會寧以綜援過活，換取有創意的生活空間，或去做義工。「這個社會現象會維持下去，無可改變！」
議員﹕副學士不獲認同難搵工
社福界立法會 議員張國柱則說，領綜援失業人士中擁大專或以上學歷者增多，其一原因可能是近年政府「製造」多了副學士，他們畢業後難獲專業認同，找工作難，部分或因而要領綜援維生，他直斥政府應增資源創造更多青年人就業機會，而非人人派6000元了事。
失業人士向社署申請綜援，要通過審查，資產不可超過2.3萬元，合資格單身人士每月可領取標準金額1890元。
根據社署向立法會財務委員會提供的資料，截至今年2月底，全港18區中，元朗、深水埗和觀塘是最多失業綜援人士地區。
明報記者 陳佩儀
2011-03-29
輻射塵飄散整個北半球 末日避難地堡生意勁升
輻射塵飄散整個北半球 末日避難地堡生意勁升
(星島)2011年3月28日 星期一
(綜合報道)
(星島日報 報道)日本 大地震引發海嘯、福島核電站大規模輻射 泄漏，輻射塵幾乎擴散至整個北半球，令人擔心自身安全問題。美國 多家售賣「末日避難地堡」的公司，生意勁升，其中一款可容納兩百人的地下避難所，一周內定單上升了十倍。
興建避難室的Vivos，一款可容納兩百人的末日碉堡，內有祈禱室、廚房和醫務所等設施，還有一個瞭望台，可以讓避難的人觀察外面的情況。預訂費驚人，需要二萬五千美元 （約十九萬港元），但上周預訂已經有十倍增長。
Fallout Shelters
Drugstores Online
上周定單十倍增長
美國有線 新聞財經網（CNNMoney）報道，專門興建家用地下避難室的公司Northwest Shelter Systems，自中東政局變天以來，銷售已增長了七成，日本地震後定單數量之多更是前所未有，今年至今已有十二個定單，以往每年公司只會接到約四宗訂購。
避難室一點不便宜，售價由二十萬美元（約一百六十萬港元）至二千萬美元（約一億六千萬港元）不等，但仍有不少人購買。
售賣地堡和活動式避難室的UndergroundBombShelter.com表示，自日本九級地震以來，收到顧客的查詢多了四倍。一款防核生化避難帳篷，過去一周也已售出四個。
另外，一名四十八歲逾期居留日本的中國籍男子，因為擔心受福島核電站輻射污染，為「保住性命」從東部千葉縣老遠跑到日本西南的長崎縣警署自首，要求遣返中國。
這名林姓男子（Lin Jian Ming），上周六下午到長崎縣警署自首，要求遣返中國。消息指，他向警方表示自己居住在千葉縣船橋市，一周前，因為擔心受福島核輻射污染，從千葉縣南逃到長崎。
怕死華裔人蛇自首
千葉縣距離福島只有約二百公里，但長崎縣則位處日本南部，距福島約一千五百多公里。消息指該男子認為遠離核電廠可以保命，免遭核輻射。警方指該男子涉嫌於二○○○年抵達日本後，逾期居留至今超過十年。根據日本法例，外籍人士持有效簽證可在日本逗留九十天，其後如未得當局的簽證續期，即屬違法。
(星島)2011年3月28日 星期一
(綜合報道)
(星島日報 報道)日本 大地震引發海嘯、福島核電站大規模輻射 泄漏，輻射塵幾乎擴散至整個北半球，令人擔心自身安全問題。美國 多家售賣「末日避難地堡」的公司，生意勁升，其中一款可容納兩百人的地下避難所，一周內定單上升了十倍。
興建避難室的Vivos，一款可容納兩百人的末日碉堡，內有祈禱室、廚房和醫務所等設施，還有一個瞭望台，可以讓避難的人觀察外面的情況。預訂費驚人，需要二萬五千美元 （約十九萬港元），但上周預訂已經有十倍增長。
Fallout Shelters
Drugstores Online
上周定單十倍增長
美國有線 新聞財經網（CNNMoney）報道，專門興建家用地下避難室的公司Northwest Shelter Systems，自中東政局變天以來，銷售已增長了七成，日本地震後定單數量之多更是前所未有，今年至今已有十二個定單，以往每年公司只會接到約四宗訂購。
避難室一點不便宜，售價由二十萬美元（約一百六十萬港元）至二千萬美元（約一億六千萬港元）不等，但仍有不少人購買。
售賣地堡和活動式避難室的UndergroundBombShelter.com表示，自日本九級地震以來，收到顧客的查詢多了四倍。一款防核生化避難帳篷，過去一周也已售出四個。
另外，一名四十八歲逾期居留日本的中國籍男子，因為擔心受福島核電站輻射污染，為「保住性命」從東部千葉縣老遠跑到日本西南的長崎縣警署自首，要求遣返中國。
這名林姓男子（Lin Jian Ming），上周六下午到長崎縣警署自首，要求遣返中國。消息指，他向警方表示自己居住在千葉縣船橋市，一周前，因為擔心受福島核輻射污染，從千葉縣南逃到長崎。
怕死華裔人蛇自首
千葉縣距離福島只有約二百公里，但長崎縣則位處日本南部，距福島約一千五百多公里。消息指該男子認為遠離核電廠可以保命，免遭核輻射。警方指該男子涉嫌於二○○○年抵達日本後，逾期居留至今超過十年。根據日本法例，外籍人士持有效簽證可在日本逗留九十天，其後如未得當局的簽證續期，即屬違法。
2011-03-28
直擊廣東省台山陽江核電廠 33座核反應堆包圍香港
直擊廣東省台山陽江核電廠 33座核反應堆包圍香港
飲食綠化 ----這就是慈悲
Sixth study in recent months links mercury in flu shots to brain damage, autism
The toxic effects of the mercury, also known in vaccines as Thimerosal, have once again been confirmed
Cookware chemicals disrupt hormones, lead to early menopause, study finds
Researchers from West Virginia University (WVU) recently found that perfluorocarbons (PFCs), an artificial chemical commonly used in non-stick cookware, can disrupt hormonal balance and lead to early menopause in women.
Obesity rates double worldwide as more countries embrace American junk foods, indoor lifestyles
Study: More than half of store receipts and nearly all money bills contain dangerously high levels of toxic BPA
Fukushima engineer confesses to participating in criminal coverup, says flawed steel in Reactor 4 has always been a 'time bomb'
March 26, 2011
Fukushima update: False radiation readings, radioactive water and anti-nuclear protesters
Radiation detected in Massachusetts rainwater as Fukushima crisis worsens
India's Holy Cow -- Becoming Extinct?
30 min. Video
This documentary filmed in the village of Radha Kund near Krishna's Vrindavan and it shows clearly the precarious position of Mother Cow in today's India. Mother Sudevi was born in Germany but she has lived in Radha Kund for more than 30 years and she has developed a very deep love and affection for Krishna's cows. This is a truly unique look into something that very few have seen before. India is famous for her "Holy Cows." Unfortunately although the sentiment still remains in India to protect Mother Cow in practice no one seems to care about the cows and India is fast becoming one of the biggest beef exporters in the world. This is a very touching, inspiring and heart-warming documentary.
iHerb $5 Discount Off First Order
六四維園模擬天安門 學生22小時體驗營
六四維園模擬天安門 學生22小時體驗營
(明報)2011年3月23日 星期三
【明報專訊】支聯會 每年到維園 舉行平反六四 集會，但80後「民運新秀」對1989年六四當晚的記憶十分模糊。教協和支聯會在今年六四紀念日，將破天荒由6月3日晚至6月4日下午舉行連續22小時體驗營，在維園足球場搭起帳篷化身天安門 廣場，由支聯會、學聯及記協代表等與學生一起「親歷」六四絕食和清場。
教協及支聯會日前在網站宣傳「廣場的日與夜」學生營，大會預計在6月3日傍晚6時至6月4日下午4時舉行，招募64名中三至中七學生，營費89元，象徵「8964」。
YesStyle
負責活動的80後李耀基表示，大會把維園5號足球場改建成「天安門廣場 」，同場開辦「民主大學」，由「我要回家運動」主席朱耀明牧師、學聯代表會前代表李蘭菊，及記協主席麥燕庭主持。
設女神像旗海 扮演學生工人
李耀基說：「六四事件距今已22年，想讓90後從未經歷過這件事的年輕人，用輕鬆及互動的方式接觸六四。民運對中國改革開放進程有重要角色，但教科書較少提及，希望透過民間活動了解。」
活動由「六四舞台」劇團協助佈置，模擬天安門廣場六四現場，預計設有標語、旗海、民主女神像、人民英雄紀念碑等。學生分8組，擔當不同角色，有大學生、家長、工人、一般市民等，但不設公安、中共領導人。學生在下午6時入營，約7時正式進入廣場「民主大學」，例如用視像對話與王丹 等前學運領袖面談，模擬跪諫、絕食、鎮壓情境。
6月4日學生蒙眼歷清場
學生約在6月4日凌晨2時至5時休息，清晨經歷清場一幕，李耀基指出，屆時學生會以黑布蒙眼，體驗黑暗中被士兵追趕。當日亦成立藝術紀念館，為「六四」薪火相傳。
接替司徒華 成為支聯會主席的李卓人 表示，暫時仍在聯絡海外民運人士如前學運領袖吾爾開希、柴玲等來港，若未能現身就以視像會議進行。
中學生聯盟公共關係副主席李芷馨說：「活動目的和形式能接觸不同意見人士，不是激進的行為，可以學習到中史科以外的知識。」現時為中三學生的李芷馨，指現時中史科只是教至五四運動，未知會否接觸六四事件。
資深通識科教師張銳輝指出，在通識科的「現代中國」，六四事件對改革開放有重要影響。他建議，學生在參加活動前可先了解六四事件的事實，再分析與會者的意見。
明報記者 彭美芳
(明報)2011年3月23日 星期三
【明報專訊】支聯會 每年到維園 舉行平反六四 集會，但80後「民運新秀」對1989年六四當晚的記憶十分模糊。教協和支聯會在今年六四紀念日，將破天荒由6月3日晚至6月4日下午舉行連續22小時體驗營，在維園足球場搭起帳篷化身天安門 廣場，由支聯會、學聯及記協代表等與學生一起「親歷」六四絕食和清場。
教協及支聯會日前在網站宣傳「廣場的日與夜」學生營，大會預計在6月3日傍晚6時至6月4日下午4時舉行，招募64名中三至中七學生，營費89元，象徵「8964」。
YesStyle
負責活動的80後李耀基表示，大會把維園5號足球場改建成「天安門廣場 」，同場開辦「民主大學」，由「我要回家運動」主席朱耀明牧師、學聯代表會前代表李蘭菊，及記協主席麥燕庭主持。
設女神像旗海 扮演學生工人
李耀基說：「六四事件距今已22年，想讓90後從未經歷過這件事的年輕人，用輕鬆及互動的方式接觸六四。民運對中國改革開放進程有重要角色，但教科書較少提及，希望透過民間活動了解。」
活動由「六四舞台」劇團協助佈置，模擬天安門廣場六四現場，預計設有標語、旗海、民主女神像、人民英雄紀念碑等。學生分8組，擔當不同角色，有大學生、家長、工人、一般市民等，但不設公安、中共領導人。學生在下午6時入營，約7時正式進入廣場「民主大學」，例如用視像對話與王丹 等前學運領袖面談，模擬跪諫、絕食、鎮壓情境。
6月4日學生蒙眼歷清場
學生約在6月4日凌晨2時至5時休息，清晨經歷清場一幕，李耀基指出，屆時學生會以黑布蒙眼，體驗黑暗中被士兵追趕。當日亦成立藝術紀念館，為「六四」薪火相傳。
接替司徒華 成為支聯會主席的李卓人 表示，暫時仍在聯絡海外民運人士如前學運領袖吾爾開希、柴玲等來港，若未能現身就以視像會議進行。
中學生聯盟公共關係副主席李芷馨說：「活動目的和形式能接觸不同意見人士，不是激進的行為，可以學習到中史科以外的知識。」現時為中三學生的李芷馨，指現時中史科只是教至五四運動，未知會否接觸六四事件。
資深通識科教師張銳輝指出，在通識科的「現代中國」，六四事件對改革開放有重要影響。他建議，學生在參加活動前可先了解六四事件的事實，再分析與會者的意見。
明報記者 彭美芳
北極疑首現臭氧洞 恐南擴至紐約一帶 增患皮膚癌風險
北極疑首現臭氧洞 恐南擴至紐約一帶 增患皮膚癌風險
(明報)2011年3月26日 星期六
【明報專訊】美國 國家地理網站報道，最新研究顯示今冬罕見的低溫天氣，破壞了北極 大氣中的臭氧層，料已造成了臭氧洞，該洞還可能擴大南移遠至紐約 一帶，恐使歐美俄羅斯 偏北地區民眾曬傷、患皮膚癌 比率增加。
德國 物理學家雷克斯（Markus Rex）表示，北極30個臭氧監測站獲得的初步數據顯示，北極區今冬損失的臭氧濃度較以往嚴重。儘管研究尚須進行電腦模擬和衛星測量等確定，但他推測，第一個北極臭氧洞也許已經形成。他說﹕「這種發展速度非常驚人，可載入史冊。」科學家過去發現的臭氧洞，只在南極出現。
北極冷氣團加劇 臭氧濃度降
專家表示，北極高空持續嚴寒結霜的情况，可能已使高空臭氧濃度，比標準濃度降低近一半，而且趨勢持續。今冬北極上空盤旋的冷氣團，面積約達1500萬平方公里，相當於40個德國。這股迅速移動的「北極漩渦」冷氣團可能持續到4月，有專家呼籲天氣回暖前，北半球偏北居民最好逗留室內。
雷克斯指出，距地球表面約20公里同溫層裏的臭氧層，可抵擋大部分太陽紫外線 射至地面。臭氧洞出現會令紫外線輻射 增加，將影響北極生態系統和人類健康。例如，更多陽光照射會導致特定海洋藻類的生長速度變慢，從而影響整個食物鏈。
專家指出，臭氧濃度低的北極漩渦冷氣團可南移到北緯40°到45°的地方，飄至歐洲城市意大利 北部地區，或者美國紐約和三藩市 。
臭氧層變薄 抵不住紫外線
美國國家大氣研究中心（NCAR）的大氣化學家迪爾梅斯（Simone Tilmes）說：「目前我們還不清楚北極的臭氧洞會擴至多大，因為現在臭氧層變得愈來愈薄。」
1980年代，科學家意識到廣泛用於噴髮膠和製冷劑等的「氯氟烴」（CFCs）等化學物質，對南極臭氧層構成極大破壞，遂簽訂《蒙特利爾議定書》，要求全球逐步淘汰氯氟烴。惟氯氟烴一旦進入大氣便逗留幾十年，故南極臭氧洞縱可望縮細，惟迄仍存在。氯氟烴進入上層大氣後，會分解成氯原子，在陽光激活後破壞臭氧分子。這過程又會在極地同溫層降至-78℃低溫，出現所謂「彩雲」後加速。
一注獨中6523萬六合彩
一注獨中6523萬六合彩
(明報)2011年3月27日 星期日
【明報專訊】昨晚攪珠的六合彩頭獎一注獨中派彩6523萬元，是六合彩推出35年來第二高派彩，攪珠結果為2、12、20、25、31、47，特別號碼29。
上周連續兩期六合彩頭獎無人中，逾5200萬元多寶獎金撥入昨晚攪珠，10元一注中頭獎的幸運兒，捧走高達65,235,750元彩金。六合彩最高頭獎彩金，是2003年9月12日的7096萬元，其次便是昨晚派彩。昨攪珠二獎同樣有一注中，派430萬元。三獎則有143.5注中，每注派近8萬元。總投注額高逾9000萬元。
Win Prizes UK
六合彩自去年11月加價1倍，每注金額由5元加至10元，市民購買注數減少，本季中頭獎的人數亦減少近一成半，獎金因而累積如「滾雪球」，不時出現高達數千萬元的巨額獎。下期六合彩將於周二（3月29日）晚開彩，倘一注獨中頭獎，彩金約800萬元。
（劉焌陶攝）
(明報)2011年3月27日 星期日
【明報專訊】昨晚攪珠的六合彩頭獎一注獨中派彩6523萬元，是六合彩推出35年來第二高派彩，攪珠結果為2、12、20、25、31、47，特別號碼29。
上周連續兩期六合彩頭獎無人中，逾5200萬元多寶獎金撥入昨晚攪珠，10元一注中頭獎的幸運兒，捧走高達65,235,750元彩金。六合彩最高頭獎彩金，是2003年9月12日的7096萬元，其次便是昨晚派彩。昨攪珠二獎同樣有一注中，派430萬元。三獎則有143.5注中，每注派近8萬元。總投注額高逾9000萬元。
Win Prizes UK
六合彩自去年11月加價1倍，每注金額由5元加至10元，市民購買注數減少，本季中頭獎的人數亦減少近一成半，獎金因而累積如「滾雪球」，不時出現高達數千萬元的巨額獎。下期六合彩將於周二（3月29日）晚開彩，倘一注獨中頭獎，彩金約800萬元。
（劉焌陶攝）
2011-03-27
日13座火山活動加劇
日13座火山活動加劇
(星島)2011年3月27日 星期日
(綜合報道)
(星島日報 報道)日本 氣象廳昨天透露，在「三•一一」九級大地震後，富士山等十三座活火山活動加劇。未來一至兩個月，專家將密切監測這些火山活動。觀測資料顯示，大地震後，臨近災區的富士山和日光白根山，甚至中部地區的阿蘇山及伊豆半島等十三處活火山出現了劇烈的火山運動。沉寂一陣後，最近幾天又開始運動，到二十五日為止的觀察顯示，富士山周邊的地震活動依然持續。中央社/中通社
Long Distance Phone
(星島)2011年3月27日 星期日
(綜合報道)
(星島日報 報道)日本 氣象廳昨天透露，在「三•一一」九級大地震後，富士山等十三座活火山活動加劇。未來一至兩個月，專家將密切監測這些火山活動。觀測資料顯示，大地震後，臨近災區的富士山和日光白根山，甚至中部地區的阿蘇山及伊豆半島等十三處活火山出現了劇烈的火山運動。沉寂一陣後，最近幾天又開始運動，到二十五日為止的觀察顯示，富士山周邊的地震活動依然持續。中央社/中通社
Long Distance Phone
日本福島第一核電廠泄漏輻射 核泄巨災12萬人恐患癌
核泄巨災12萬人恐患癌
(星島)2011年3月27日 星期日
(綜合報道)
(星島日報 報道)日本 福島第一核電廠泄漏輻射 水的危機擴大，繼三號反應堆機組出現含輻射超標一萬倍的積水，另三個反應堆也泄出高水平輻射水，意味三個堆芯都已受損。核災失控，歐洲輻射風險委員推斷，福島核廠事故，將導致世界上十二萬人患癌。
綜合報道
東京 電力公司承認，一號機組與三號機組一樣，積水所含的碘、銫和鋯均比正常超出達一萬倍，而第二及第四號機組的滑輪機廠房地庫同樣發現深達一米的積水，相信都含有放射物。專家們擔心，三號機組內用來保護堆芯的不鏽鋼外殼已經穿洞或出現裂痕，而一號機組的反應堆容器、閥門和管道已出現滲漏。
這意味著，核輻射泄漏的程度可能比原先想像中更加嚴重。發展下去，可能連地下水也會受到污染。
「一號」積水輻射超萬倍
Real Estate
這些情況對搶救福島核電廠的工作造成重大挫折。周四，有三名在三號機組渦輪廠房內工作的死士暴露在大量輻射之下，其中兩人的足部接觸過輻射水，送院急救。事態發展下去，是三號機組的堆芯在壓力缸的底部自我焚燒，或會泄漏更多輻射。
內閣官房長官枝野幸男昨日說，他無法預測核電廠危機何時才能控制，「現在還不是時候（預測）。」原子能保安院不排除把核事故級別，由國際機制（共七級）中的第五級調升至第六級，即重大事故級別。現在工作人員開始把淡水注入一號、二號及三號機內。美軍也協助這項作業，自橫須賀海軍基地運送五十萬加侖的淡水前來。
「三號」壓力缸隨時自焚
歐洲輻射風險委員會（ECRR）用自行設計的輻射風險研究模型推斷，福島第一核電廠輻射泄漏事故，將導致世界上十二萬人在未來五十年來患癌症。委員會同時指出，輻射泄漏也會對生育、心臟病 等多種疾病造成影響。
馬來西亞 環境工程局顧問陳嘉慶指出，即使低水平輻射也可導致癌症。小孩和胎兒的細胞和器官還在成長階段，對輻射尤其敏感，故長期在輻射範圍內的人，或會有生育問題，例如有機會誕下智障嬰兒。
專家：或誕智障嬰兒
美國 柏克萊大學葛福曼醫學教授估計，一九八六年烏克蘭 發生的切爾諾貝爾核電廠爆炸事故，已令歐洲四十七萬五千人死於癌症，和四十七萬五千人患上癌症。
俄羅斯 科學院核能安全發展問題研究所第一副所長阿魯秋尼揚，上周五在莫斯科 記者會上稱，福島核電廠有必要仿效切爾諾貝爾的做法，加蓋混凝土「石棺」，以防止輻射泄漏。不過，他說，在核燃料發熱時澆灌混凝土會產生裂縫，目前無法立即施工。
(星島)2011年3月27日 星期日
(綜合報道)
(星島日報 報道)日本 福島第一核電廠泄漏輻射 水的危機擴大，繼三號反應堆機組出現含輻射超標一萬倍的積水，另三個反應堆也泄出高水平輻射水，意味三個堆芯都已受損。核災失控，歐洲輻射風險委員推斷，福島核廠事故，將導致世界上十二萬人患癌。
綜合報道
東京 電力公司承認，一號機組與三號機組一樣，積水所含的碘、銫和鋯均比正常超出達一萬倍，而第二及第四號機組的滑輪機廠房地庫同樣發現深達一米的積水，相信都含有放射物。專家們擔心，三號機組內用來保護堆芯的不鏽鋼外殼已經穿洞或出現裂痕，而一號機組的反應堆容器、閥門和管道已出現滲漏。
這意味著，核輻射泄漏的程度可能比原先想像中更加嚴重。發展下去，可能連地下水也會受到污染。
「一號」積水輻射超萬倍
Real Estate
這些情況對搶救福島核電廠的工作造成重大挫折。周四，有三名在三號機組渦輪廠房內工作的死士暴露在大量輻射之下，其中兩人的足部接觸過輻射水，送院急救。事態發展下去，是三號機組的堆芯在壓力缸的底部自我焚燒，或會泄漏更多輻射。
內閣官房長官枝野幸男昨日說，他無法預測核電廠危機何時才能控制，「現在還不是時候（預測）。」原子能保安院不排除把核事故級別，由國際機制（共七級）中的第五級調升至第六級，即重大事故級別。現在工作人員開始把淡水注入一號、二號及三號機內。美軍也協助這項作業，自橫須賀海軍基地運送五十萬加侖的淡水前來。
「三號」壓力缸隨時自焚
歐洲輻射風險委員會（ECRR）用自行設計的輻射風險研究模型推斷，福島第一核電廠輻射泄漏事故，將導致世界上十二萬人在未來五十年來患癌症。委員會同時指出，輻射泄漏也會對生育、心臟病 等多種疾病造成影響。
馬來西亞 環境工程局顧問陳嘉慶指出，即使低水平輻射也可導致癌症。小孩和胎兒的細胞和器官還在成長階段，對輻射尤其敏感，故長期在輻射範圍內的人，或會有生育問題，例如有機會誕下智障嬰兒。
專家：或誕智障嬰兒
美國 柏克萊大學葛福曼醫學教授估計，一九八六年烏克蘭 發生的切爾諾貝爾核電廠爆炸事故，已令歐洲四十七萬五千人死於癌症，和四十七萬五千人患上癌症。
俄羅斯 科學院核能安全發展問題研究所第一副所長阿魯秋尼揚，上周五在莫斯科 記者會上稱，福島核電廠有必要仿效切爾諾貝爾的做法，加蓋混凝土「石棺」，以防止輻射泄漏。不過，他說，在核燃料發熱時澆灌混凝土會產生裂縫，目前無法立即施工。
500「真正死士」 前線搏命人工偏低
500「真正死士」 前線搏命人工偏低
(明報)2011年3月25日 星期五
【明報專訊】在搶修福島第一核電站的過程中，除了「50勇士」外，其實還有逾500人承擔著許多最繁重和危險的工作——在輻射 威脅下抬水管、清理碎石和做其他體力勞動，他們是數百名核能行業的普通勞工，教育水平並不高。
「我很怕。但總得有人去。」29歲的多田賢智，任職於專門生產防護塗層的東海塗裝株式會社（Tokai Toso Co.），他說正常情况下的工作，包括給反應堆設備腐蝕處添上防護塗料。周一他被安排與另外數百工作人員在核電站待命。
Pets Stores
東電無向搶修工人發加班費
這些人中有工程師和操作專員，其他人則主要負責拖電纜、鋪水管或在現場幹體力勞動。多田月薪約20萬日圓 （約1.9萬港元），遠低於日本 人月薪中位數的29.1萬日圓（約2.8萬港元）。雖然母親不讓他來，但他表示沒辦法，「總要有人做」。
東電及相關公司都承認，沒有額外付給這些工人加班費，或提供既有意外和疾病保險外的其他福利。他們辯稱忙於處理事故，無暇考慮這些事，工人亦未有提及，而且在危難關頭伸手要錢是失禮行為。東海塗裝株式會社資深常務董事池田義說，沒有一個人是為了錢而在這裏賣命。很多工作人員都是福島本地人，由於輻射關係被迫離開家園，他們非常願意盡力讓這裏恢復正常。與多田一樣，這批工人中許多教育程度不高。他們所具備的關鍵技能，就是對核電站環境很熟悉。
「福島50死士」鮮離保護屋
目前約有60名重要管理人員，由核電站負責人率領，住在核電站一個多重保護建築裏，外界稱呼他們為「福島50死士」，其實有點誤導，因為真正要冒死的，其實是更多像多田一類的最前線員工，所謂的「福島50死士」，主要是在幕後指揮修復工作，操作控制室並密切關注機組的各項指標。他們很少離開這座保護建築；相比下，其他普通工作人員每次完成工作後就撤出，留在輻射水平較低的地方。
周三，東電派出330名員工前往核電站，東海塗裝等東電稱之為合作企業的公司則派224人。工作人員穿戴防護裝備和面罩，每人身上有兩枚徽章，負責追蹤每次行程的輻射暴露量。
在核電站以西約32公里的田村市一避難所，一名核電設備工人說，本周初接到來電，奉命運送和鋪設為3號機組供水的管道。只有高中程度的他，薪酬與多田賢智相若，他說自己可拒絕任務，但他認為自己義不容辭，並說這樣他就會像在二戰期間執行自殺式任務的「神風敢死隊」一樣。但一名50多歲的工程師則坦言，害怕得不敢再進去受損的核電站，是在妻子的敦促下才再次回去工作。
華爾街日報 /朝日新聞
(明報)2011年3月25日 星期五
【明報專訊】在搶修福島第一核電站的過程中，除了「50勇士」外，其實還有逾500人承擔著許多最繁重和危險的工作——在輻射 威脅下抬水管、清理碎石和做其他體力勞動，他們是數百名核能行業的普通勞工，教育水平並不高。
「我很怕。但總得有人去。」29歲的多田賢智，任職於專門生產防護塗層的東海塗裝株式會社（Tokai Toso Co.），他說正常情况下的工作，包括給反應堆設備腐蝕處添上防護塗料。周一他被安排與另外數百工作人員在核電站待命。
Pets Stores
東電無向搶修工人發加班費
這些人中有工程師和操作專員，其他人則主要負責拖電纜、鋪水管或在現場幹體力勞動。多田月薪約20萬日圓 （約1.9萬港元），遠低於日本 人月薪中位數的29.1萬日圓（約2.8萬港元）。雖然母親不讓他來，但他表示沒辦法，「總要有人做」。
東電及相關公司都承認，沒有額外付給這些工人加班費，或提供既有意外和疾病保險外的其他福利。他們辯稱忙於處理事故，無暇考慮這些事，工人亦未有提及，而且在危難關頭伸手要錢是失禮行為。東海塗裝株式會社資深常務董事池田義說，沒有一個人是為了錢而在這裏賣命。很多工作人員都是福島本地人，由於輻射關係被迫離開家園，他們非常願意盡力讓這裏恢復正常。與多田一樣，這批工人中許多教育程度不高。他們所具備的關鍵技能，就是對核電站環境很熟悉。
「福島50死士」鮮離保護屋
目前約有60名重要管理人員，由核電站負責人率領，住在核電站一個多重保護建築裏，外界稱呼他們為「福島50死士」，其實有點誤導，因為真正要冒死的，其實是更多像多田一類的最前線員工，所謂的「福島50死士」，主要是在幕後指揮修復工作，操作控制室並密切關注機組的各項指標。他們很少離開這座保護建築；相比下，其他普通工作人員每次完成工作後就撤出，留在輻射水平較低的地方。
周三，東電派出330名員工前往核電站，東海塗裝等東電稱之為合作企業的公司則派224人。工作人員穿戴防護裝備和面罩，每人身上有兩枚徽章，負責追蹤每次行程的輻射暴露量。
在核電站以西約32公里的田村市一避難所，一名核電設備工人說，本周初接到來電，奉命運送和鋪設為3號機組供水的管道。只有高中程度的他，薪酬與多田賢智相若，他說自己可拒絕任務，但他認為自己義不容辭，並說這樣他就會像在二戰期間執行自殺式任務的「神風敢死隊」一樣。但一名50多歲的工程師則坦言，害怕得不敢再進去受損的核電站，是在妻子的敦促下才再次回去工作。
華爾街日報 /朝日新聞
日首富孫正義願照料逾千災民
日首富願照料逾千災民
2011-3-24
大公報
圖：日本首富孫正義表示將承擔部分災民一年的吃居飲食費用
新華社
【大公報訊】日本產經新聞、日本新聞網、中央社東京23日報道：日本首富、「軟體銀行」（Softbank）的華裔創辦人兼總裁孫正義22日親自到受災最嚴重的福島縣訪問，看望了遭受地震和核輻射雙重打擊的災民，並向田村市市民做出避難1年期間提供就業與糧食供應的保證。
孫正義和佐賀縣武雄市市長通渡啟佑一同前往災區，與田村市市長富塚宥進行會談。由於田村市位於福島第一核電站20到30公里的範圍內，全市4.1萬多人中，有3.7萬人依然在市內生活，並沒有疏散到其他城市。孫正義提議，讓災民以團體為單位進行避難。
Jobs Search
通渡啟佑說：「武雄市可以收容1200人，有空下來的廳舍」。孫正義也表示，「避難1年當中的交通、就業和飲食，都由我方（即軟體銀行集團）保證」。
地震期間電話任打
孫正義同時表示，願意在地震孤兒成長到18歲之前，提供他們手機和通話免費的支援。此前，有網友在Twitter上向孫正義提議，希望可以讓日本地震中成為孤兒、無支付能力的孩子免費通話，孫正義回覆：「就這麼辦。」其實，自日本11日發生大地震後，孫正義便立即宣布從3月11日起的一周內，凡日本國內通話，無論時間長短，一律免費。
孫正義領導的軟體集團旗下的「軟體通訊」目前是日本第二大的移動通訊公司，也是美國蘋果手機在日本的總代理。根據美國《福布斯》雜誌所公布的最新全球富豪榜，有華人血統的孫正義，是2011年的日本首富，個人資產為81億美元，排名世界第113位。過去兩年，日本首富一直是日本「優衣庫」（Uniqlo）的老闆「柳井正」。
個人資產81億美元
孫正義自稱出自春秋時代的著名兵法家孫武的一族，是從中國遷到朝鮮，到孫正義的祖父輩，又從韓國大邱遷到日本九州去。後代搬遷到朝鮮，再在日本定居。孫正義在日本定居已有三代。他的家族說：「孫氏和韓國固有的孫氏不一樣。我祖籍和漢民族的孫氏屬於同一根源。」1980年代末期，孫氏仍不是日本公民。他的日本妻子隨他姓孫。結婚後，法律承認了她的新姓氏，孫正義隨之而成為日本公民而不用改姓傳統的日本姓氏，直至1991年，孫正義才正式「歸化」為日本人，並擁有日本姓氏「安本」。
2011-3-24
大公報
圖：日本首富孫正義表示將承擔部分災民一年的吃居飲食費用
新華社
【大公報訊】日本產經新聞、日本新聞網、中央社東京23日報道：日本首富、「軟體銀行」（Softbank）的華裔創辦人兼總裁孫正義22日親自到受災最嚴重的福島縣訪問，看望了遭受地震和核輻射雙重打擊的災民，並向田村市市民做出避難1年期間提供就業與糧食供應的保證。
孫正義和佐賀縣武雄市市長通渡啟佑一同前往災區，與田村市市長富塚宥進行會談。由於田村市位於福島第一核電站20到30公里的範圍內，全市4.1萬多人中，有3.7萬人依然在市內生活，並沒有疏散到其他城市。孫正義提議，讓災民以團體為單位進行避難。
Jobs Search
通渡啟佑說：「武雄市可以收容1200人，有空下來的廳舍」。孫正義也表示，「避難1年當中的交通、就業和飲食，都由我方（即軟體銀行集團）保證」。
地震期間電話任打
孫正義同時表示，願意在地震孤兒成長到18歲之前，提供他們手機和通話免費的支援。此前，有網友在Twitter上向孫正義提議，希望可以讓日本地震中成為孤兒、無支付能力的孩子免費通話，孫正義回覆：「就這麼辦。」其實，自日本11日發生大地震後，孫正義便立即宣布從3月11日起的一周內，凡日本國內通話，無論時間長短，一律免費。
孫正義領導的軟體集團旗下的「軟體通訊」目前是日本第二大的移動通訊公司，也是美國蘋果手機在日本的總代理。根據美國《福布斯》雜誌所公布的最新全球富豪榜，有華人血統的孫正義，是2011年的日本首富，個人資產為81億美元，排名世界第113位。過去兩年，日本首富一直是日本「優衣庫」（Uniqlo）的老闆「柳井正」。
個人資產81億美元
孫正義自稱出自春秋時代的著名兵法家孫武的一族，是從中國遷到朝鮮，到孫正義的祖父輩，又從韓國大邱遷到日本九州去。後代搬遷到朝鮮，再在日本定居。孫正義在日本定居已有三代。他的家族說：「孫氏和韓國固有的孫氏不一樣。我祖籍和漢民族的孫氏屬於同一根源。」1980年代末期，孫氏仍不是日本公民。他的日本妻子隨他姓孫。結婚後，法律承認了她的新姓氏，孫正義隨之而成為日本公民而不用改姓傳統的日本姓氏，直至1991年，孫正義才正式「歸化」為日本人，並擁有日本姓氏「安本」。
2011-03-26
The Genetically Modified Organisms (Control of Release) Ordinance, Cap. 607
The Ordinance
The Genetically Modified Organisms (Control of Release) Ordinance, Cap. 607 (the Ordinance), gives effect to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity to control the release into the environment and the transboundary movement of living genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and provide for related matters.
Living organisms are defined as any biological entity capable of transferring or replicating genetic material, including sterile organisms, viruses and viroids. GMOs are living organisms that possess a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology which include the application of in vitro nucleic acid techniques (such as recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and direct injection of nucleic acid into cells or organelles), or techniques involving the fusion of cells beyond the taxonomic family, that overcome natural physiological reproductive or recombination barriers and are not techniques used in traditional breeding and selection. GMOs cover a variety of food crops (such as BT corn, anti-frost tomatoes and herbicide-tolerance soya beans), GM seeds, GM fish, GM flowers, etc. However, GMOs do not include non-living food products produced from GM crops, such as corn oil, soymilk and polished rice. They also do not include living organisms with genetic material altered through traditional breeding and selection techniques (e.g. hybrid rice and golden sweet maize).
Blue Mountain Greeting Cards
GMOs are regulated according to their intended uses, including:
GMOs intended for direct consumption as food or feed, or for processing (GMOs-FFP), such as virus-resistant papaya fruit, herbicide-resistant soy bean and BT maize;
GMOs intended for contained use, such as GM micro-organisms cultured in laboratories, transgenic plants growing in greenhouses and knock-out transgenic mice kept in cages; and
GMOs intended for release into the environment, such as seeds of GM crops to be sown on farmlands, experimental GM plants to be planted on open fields, and cut flowers of GM variety to be displayed in open area.
The Ordinance does not apply to or in relation to a GMO that is a pharmaceutical product for use by human beings.
The Ordinance ordains the following controls on GMOs in Hong Kong:
Restrictions on Release into Environment and Maintenance of Lives of GMOs
No one is not allowed to release a GMO into the environment, import a GMO intended for release into the environment or maintain the life of a GMO that is in a state of being released into the environment, unless:
the GMO has been approved and any condition for the approval has been complied with; or
the GMO has been exempted by the Secretary for the Environment from the restriction and any condition for the exemption has been complied with.
These restrictions do not apply to or in relation to a GMO that is in transit or transhipment. For detailed approval application process, please refer to the Guidelines for GMO Approval Application.
The approval will apply to all subsequent releases, after the GMO is approved and entered in the GMOs Register (www.afcd.gov.hk/gmo). There may be conditions attached to the approval. You may search the GMOs Register for the list of approved GMOs and the conditions for the approvals, before making an application or releasing a GMO into the environment of Hong Kong.
Contravention to the above restrictions commits an offence and is liable to a fine of HK$100,000 and to imprisonment for one year.
The Genetically Modified Organisms (Control of Release) Ordinance, Cap. 607 (the Ordinance), gives effect to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity to control the release into the environment and the transboundary movement of living genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and provide for related matters.
Living organisms are defined as any biological entity capable of transferring or replicating genetic material, including sterile organisms, viruses and viroids. GMOs are living organisms that possess a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology which include the application of in vitro nucleic acid techniques (such as recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and direct injection of nucleic acid into cells or organelles), or techniques involving the fusion of cells beyond the taxonomic family, that overcome natural physiological reproductive or recombination barriers and are not techniques used in traditional breeding and selection. GMOs cover a variety of food crops (such as BT corn, anti-frost tomatoes and herbicide-tolerance soya beans), GM seeds, GM fish, GM flowers, etc. However, GMOs do not include non-living food products produced from GM crops, such as corn oil, soymilk and polished rice. They also do not include living organisms with genetic material altered through traditional breeding and selection techniques (e.g. hybrid rice and golden sweet maize).
Blue Mountain Greeting Cards
GMOs are regulated according to their intended uses, including:
GMOs intended for direct consumption as food or feed, or for processing (GMOs-FFP), such as virus-resistant papaya fruit, herbicide-resistant soy bean and BT maize;
GMOs intended for contained use, such as GM micro-organisms cultured in laboratories, transgenic plants growing in greenhouses and knock-out transgenic mice kept in cages; and
GMOs intended for release into the environment, such as seeds of GM crops to be sown on farmlands, experimental GM plants to be planted on open fields, and cut flowers of GM variety to be displayed in open area.
The Ordinance does not apply to or in relation to a GMO that is a pharmaceutical product for use by human beings.
The Ordinance ordains the following controls on GMOs in Hong Kong:
Restrictions on Release into Environment and Maintenance of Lives of GMOs
No one is not allowed to release a GMO into the environment, import a GMO intended for release into the environment or maintain the life of a GMO that is in a state of being released into the environment, unless:
the GMO has been approved and any condition for the approval has been complied with; or
the GMO has been exempted by the Secretary for the Environment from the restriction and any condition for the exemption has been complied with.
These restrictions do not apply to or in relation to a GMO that is in transit or transhipment. For detailed approval application process, please refer to the Guidelines for GMO Approval Application.
The approval will apply to all subsequent releases, after the GMO is approved and entered in the GMOs Register (www.afcd.gov.hk/gmo). There may be conditions attached to the approval. You may search the GMOs Register for the list of approved GMOs and the conditions for the approvals, before making an application or releasing a GMO into the environment of Hong Kong.
Contravention to the above restrictions commits an offence and is liable to a fine of HK$100,000 and to imprisonment for one year.
Why the U.S. can't abandon the nuclear renaissance
Why the U.S. can't abandon the nuclear renaissance
By Cyrus Sanati, contributor
March 17, 2011
FORTUNE -- The devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami last week has claimed an untold number of Japanese victims, but there's one casualty in the U.S. that won't go down without a fight: the nuclear power industry.
The resulting damage to one of Japan's nuclear power plants has resurrected old debates about the safety and soundness of nuclear technology and its ability to be used as a viable power source.
But even if nuclear power plant construction costs rise as a result of this incident, the economics of power generation still favor a mix of energy sources that include nuclear.
Renewable sources of energy, like wind and solar, while recently becoming more cost-competitive to nuclear energy (thanks in part to generous government subsidies), are still unable to efficiently generate enough power to keep the lights on and fully replace nuclear power in the United States just yet.
The possibility of multiple reactor core meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear power plant has captured the world's attention. We don't yet know if this will become another Chernobyl -- what we do know is that no matter happens, it is a public relations disaster for the nuclear industry.
Electric Car Conversion
In Germany, plans to overturn a directive that would have kept the nation's 17 nuclear plants from being closed in the coming years were placed on hold for three months.
Switzerland said that it was suspending efforts to keep three of its nuclear plants operating, while the European Union announced that it wants stress tests performed on all of its 143 nuclear reactors in response to what the EU's energy chief said was an "apocalypse" in Japan.
In Washington, the Republicans, who have traditionally championed nuclear power, have been pretty much silent on the news. But some liberal Democrats, like Rep. Ed Markey from Massachusetts, have called for a moratorium on nuclear plants in earthquake prone areas of the country, while Senator John Kerry, the Democrat from Massachusetts, went a step further and called for all nuclear power plant construction to be halted immediately.
This has put the White House in an awkward position. The Obama administration has earmarked $36 billion in its 2012 budget to help finance the construction of several new nuclear plants across the country.
That's in addition to the $18.5 billion in funds that were earmarked by Congress back in 2007, of which $10.2 billion remains unspent.
The nuclear commitment
In total, it looks like the US government has placed a $55 billion bet on an industry that could meltdown thanks to the Fukushima incident. President Obama has reiterated his support for nuclear power since the disaster struck, but that could change quickly, putting that $36 billion top-up to the industry in jeopardy. Republicans vow to slash line items in the budget, but the nuclear issue has not been their primary target, yet. As for the general public, it doesn't see the need for government support for the industry. An opinion poll conducted by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News released on March 3, before the incident, found that financial support for the nuclear industry was the single most popular possible budget cut, with 57% agreeing.
It wouldn't take much to let the nuclear industry just die out in the US. Until last year, the government had not approved the construction of a new plant since the partial reactor meltdown at the Three-Mile Island nuclear facility in 1979. The last plant went online in 1996.
There are currently 20 projects being reviewed by the government but only three seem to be going anywhere. Atlanta-based Southern Company (SO, Fortune 500) is the farthest along and has been promised $8 billion by the government for the construction of a $14 billion plant Georgia.
But it is highly unlikely that any of the other projects will ever get built if the government takes away funding. While nuclear plants are cost effective in the long run, they have significant start-up costs. For example, the $14 billion price tag on the Southern Company's plant is around half of its entire market capitalization. Other companies far into the permitting process, like Dynegy (DYN), have market caps that are a fraction of the costs to get a plant constructed.
Those rallying against nuclear energy are pushing for the government to back other energy alternatives like solar and wind. Both have made great strides in becoming more cost competitive over the years, thanks in part to large government subsidies. While they remain highly uncompetitive to fossil fuels, they have overtaken nuclear on a cost per kilowatt basis.
That's because the cost to build a new next generation nuclear facility in the US has jumped 37% in the past year from an average build cost of $3,902 per kilowatt to $5,339/kW, according to a recent government study. New design specifications and a lack of competition in the nuclear construction industry were blamed from the increase in costs.
Solar power now looks on the surface to be potentially competitive. The cost to build a photovoltaic solar plant is down 25% in the past year from an average build cost of $6,303 per kilowatt to $4,755. The build cost for a solar thermal plant dropped 10% to $4,692 per kilowatt. Wind power remains the cheapest and the most expensive alternative to both nuclear and solar. Onshore wind power costs just $2,438 per kilowatt while offshore wind power costs $5,975/kW. For a comparison, natural gas blows all of them out of the water, costing just $978 per kilowatt.
Obstacles to solar and wind
But comparing alternatives on a cost per kilowatt basis is deceptive. Even with the government's careful controls of geography and markets, the cost factor doesn't seem to take into account the resources needed to generate the power on a scale that could serve the population.
For example, it is not possible to install wind or solar plants on a commercial scale everywhere because some areas of the country are just not windy or sunny enough to yield enough power.
That compares to a nuclear plant that could theoretically be built almost anywhere.
More importantly, alternatives don't generate enough power to do the job. Nuclear energy is a dense form of energy that requires very little in the form of land and transmission lines to carry it to a population center.
Alternative energies are not dense at all and require gobs of space to generate a fraction of the energy generated by a small nuclear facility.
For example, the government assumed a certain output would be generated by a plant in their calculations. For a nuclear plant it was 2.2 million kilowatts, while it was just 150,000 kilowatts for a photovoltaic plant and 100,000 kilowatts for an onshore wind plant.
That nuclear power plant is a large jolt of electricity neatly contained to an area of 8 to 10 square miles. Compare that to an onshore wind plant, the cheapest alternative according to the government. Each 2,000 kilowatt wind turbine takes up a quarter of a square mile worth of space, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
So to replace that nuclear power plant with wind would mean dedicating nearly 280 square miles of land to a gigantic wind farm, which would be about the size of New York City.
The energy concentration in nuclear power plants is just one reason why nuclear remains so attractive, despite the high start up costs. The nuclear industry has spent millions of dollars over the years touting its safety record and lobbying for government support, but just one incident by a massive earthquake has wiped most of that effort away.
It remains to be seen if the industry spent enough money to ensure that the government keeps its coffers open to them.
By Cyrus Sanati, contributor
March 17, 2011
FORTUNE -- The devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami last week has claimed an untold number of Japanese victims, but there's one casualty in the U.S. that won't go down without a fight: the nuclear power industry.
The resulting damage to one of Japan's nuclear power plants has resurrected old debates about the safety and soundness of nuclear technology and its ability to be used as a viable power source.
But even if nuclear power plant construction costs rise as a result of this incident, the economics of power generation still favor a mix of energy sources that include nuclear.
Renewable sources of energy, like wind and solar, while recently becoming more cost-competitive to nuclear energy (thanks in part to generous government subsidies), are still unable to efficiently generate enough power to keep the lights on and fully replace nuclear power in the United States just yet.
The possibility of multiple reactor core meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear power plant has captured the world's attention. We don't yet know if this will become another Chernobyl -- what we do know is that no matter happens, it is a public relations disaster for the nuclear industry.
Electric Car Conversion
In Germany, plans to overturn a directive that would have kept the nation's 17 nuclear plants from being closed in the coming years were placed on hold for three months.
Switzerland said that it was suspending efforts to keep three of its nuclear plants operating, while the European Union announced that it wants stress tests performed on all of its 143 nuclear reactors in response to what the EU's energy chief said was an "apocalypse" in Japan.
In Washington, the Republicans, who have traditionally championed nuclear power, have been pretty much silent on the news. But some liberal Democrats, like Rep. Ed Markey from Massachusetts, have called for a moratorium on nuclear plants in earthquake prone areas of the country, while Senator John Kerry, the Democrat from Massachusetts, went a step further and called for all nuclear power plant construction to be halted immediately.
This has put the White House in an awkward position. The Obama administration has earmarked $36 billion in its 2012 budget to help finance the construction of several new nuclear plants across the country.
That's in addition to the $18.5 billion in funds that were earmarked by Congress back in 2007, of which $10.2 billion remains unspent.
The nuclear commitment
In total, it looks like the US government has placed a $55 billion bet on an industry that could meltdown thanks to the Fukushima incident. President Obama has reiterated his support for nuclear power since the disaster struck, but that could change quickly, putting that $36 billion top-up to the industry in jeopardy. Republicans vow to slash line items in the budget, but the nuclear issue has not been their primary target, yet. As for the general public, it doesn't see the need for government support for the industry. An opinion poll conducted by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News released on March 3, before the incident, found that financial support for the nuclear industry was the single most popular possible budget cut, with 57% agreeing.
It wouldn't take much to let the nuclear industry just die out in the US. Until last year, the government had not approved the construction of a new plant since the partial reactor meltdown at the Three-Mile Island nuclear facility in 1979. The last plant went online in 1996.
There are currently 20 projects being reviewed by the government but only three seem to be going anywhere. Atlanta-based Southern Company (SO, Fortune 500) is the farthest along and has been promised $8 billion by the government for the construction of a $14 billion plant Georgia.
But it is highly unlikely that any of the other projects will ever get built if the government takes away funding. While nuclear plants are cost effective in the long run, they have significant start-up costs. For example, the $14 billion price tag on the Southern Company's plant is around half of its entire market capitalization. Other companies far into the permitting process, like Dynegy (DYN), have market caps that are a fraction of the costs to get a plant constructed.
Those rallying against nuclear energy are pushing for the government to back other energy alternatives like solar and wind. Both have made great strides in becoming more cost competitive over the years, thanks in part to large government subsidies. While they remain highly uncompetitive to fossil fuels, they have overtaken nuclear on a cost per kilowatt basis.
That's because the cost to build a new next generation nuclear facility in the US has jumped 37% in the past year from an average build cost of $3,902 per kilowatt to $5,339/kW, according to a recent government study. New design specifications and a lack of competition in the nuclear construction industry were blamed from the increase in costs.
Solar power now looks on the surface to be potentially competitive. The cost to build a photovoltaic solar plant is down 25% in the past year from an average build cost of $6,303 per kilowatt to $4,755. The build cost for a solar thermal plant dropped 10% to $4,692 per kilowatt. Wind power remains the cheapest and the most expensive alternative to both nuclear and solar. Onshore wind power costs just $2,438 per kilowatt while offshore wind power costs $5,975/kW. For a comparison, natural gas blows all of them out of the water, costing just $978 per kilowatt.
Obstacles to solar and wind
But comparing alternatives on a cost per kilowatt basis is deceptive. Even with the government's careful controls of geography and markets, the cost factor doesn't seem to take into account the resources needed to generate the power on a scale that could serve the population.
For example, it is not possible to install wind or solar plants on a commercial scale everywhere because some areas of the country are just not windy or sunny enough to yield enough power.
That compares to a nuclear plant that could theoretically be built almost anywhere.
More importantly, alternatives don't generate enough power to do the job. Nuclear energy is a dense form of energy that requires very little in the form of land and transmission lines to carry it to a population center.
Alternative energies are not dense at all and require gobs of space to generate a fraction of the energy generated by a small nuclear facility.
For example, the government assumed a certain output would be generated by a plant in their calculations. For a nuclear plant it was 2.2 million kilowatts, while it was just 150,000 kilowatts for a photovoltaic plant and 100,000 kilowatts for an onshore wind plant.
That nuclear power plant is a large jolt of electricity neatly contained to an area of 8 to 10 square miles. Compare that to an onshore wind plant, the cheapest alternative according to the government. Each 2,000 kilowatt wind turbine takes up a quarter of a square mile worth of space, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
So to replace that nuclear power plant with wind would mean dedicating nearly 280 square miles of land to a gigantic wind farm, which would be about the size of New York City.
The energy concentration in nuclear power plants is just one reason why nuclear remains so attractive, despite the high start up costs. The nuclear industry has spent millions of dollars over the years touting its safety record and lobbying for government support, but just one incident by a massive earthquake has wiped most of that effort away.
It remains to be seen if the industry spent enough money to ensure that the government keeps its coffers open to them.
Why earthquake-prone Japan relies on nuclear power
The Christian Science Monitor
Global News Blog
Why earthquake-prone Japan relies on nuclear power
Nuclear power is increasingly seen as a way for Japan, and other nations including the United States, to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Fukushima Daiichi power plant's Unit 1 is seen in Okumamachi, Fukushima prefecture, Japan, on Friday, March 11. The nuclear power plant affected by a massive earthquake is facing a possible meltdown, an official with Japan's nuclear safety commission said Saturday.
Buy.com
(Yasushi Kann/The Yomiuri Shimbun/AP)
By Stephen Kurczy, Staff writer
posted March 14, 2011
Nuclear energy provides an estimated 30 percent of electricity in Japan, despite it being one of the world's most seismically volatile nations.
Why? Nuclear power is increasingly seen as a way for Japan to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. That's the same reason why President Obama has also been pushing the US to build its first nuclear power plant in almost three decades. In his 2010 State of the Union address, he called for "a new generation of safe, clean nuclear power plants."
But as shown by the unfolding nuclear crisis in Japan, with two reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station suffering explosions since Friday's massive earthquake knocked out cooling systems at the plant, there is simply no easy solution to humanity's need for energy. While fossil fuel raises concerns of climate change, nuclear energy raises the specter of radioactive contamination.
"Japan's debate closely mirrors those worldwide, as governments highlight nuclear power as an easier way to cut carbon emissions than boosting wind and solar power," the Monitor wrote a year ago in the article "Earthquake prone Japan sees green in new nuclear power plants."
Nuclear role in cutting carbon
Japan has touted nuclear power as key to reducing carbon emissions to 75 percent of 1990 levels by 2020. The public remains wary about the push, with one poll showing that 54 percent of the population feels anxious or uneasy about nuclear power. Shunsuke Kondo, chairman of Japan's Atomic Energy Commission, told the Monitor then that his nation's nuclear power plants were built to withstand all but a "once in 10,000 year" earthquake.
Tragically, that's exactly what hit Friday when an 8.9-magnitude temblor rocked the nation's northeast coast and sent a 30-foot high tsunami crashing inland, knocking out electricity at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station and causing cooling systems to fail in at least three reactors.
Nuclear plants also provide an estimated 20 percent of US power, with Obama recently pledging $8 billion in loan guarantees for the construction of the first nuclear power plant in the US since 1979, the year of the Three Mile Island meltdown. Proposals are currently being heard for 20 new reactors to be built over the next 15 to 20 years.
According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, there are currently 104 licensed nuclear power plants, with eight sitting in the earthquake-prone West Coast states of Washington, California, and Arizona. (Here's a map of reactors across the US.) Two of those plants in California sit especially close to fault lines.
The New York Times today reports that "most of the nuclear plants in the United States share some or all of the risk factors that played a role at Fukushima Daiichi: locations on tsunami-prone coastlines or near earthquake faults, aging plants and backup electrical systems that rely on diesel generators and batteries that could fail in extreme circumstances."
Overreacting to the nuclear crisis?
Even a year ago, as the Monitor reported, Japan's earthquake-prone geology caused concern among activists and raised the specter of a quake-induced Chernobyl. Comparisons to Ukraine's 1986 disaster have been stated repeatedly in recent days, despite officials downplaying such a scenario.
The Wall Street Journal's Op-Ed page has criticized American media for "overreacting" to the nuclear crisis in Japan. "Unlike the Soviets at Chernobyl, the Japanese have been taking sensible precautions like evacuating people near the plants and handing out iodine pills even if they may never be needed. These precautions increase public worry, but better to take them even if they prove to be unnecessary," the WSJ said.
"We should learn from the Japanese nuclear crisis, not let it feed a political panic over nuclear power in general," the Journal said.
Global News Blog
Why earthquake-prone Japan relies on nuclear power
Nuclear power is increasingly seen as a way for Japan, and other nations including the United States, to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Fukushima Daiichi power plant's Unit 1 is seen in Okumamachi, Fukushima prefecture, Japan, on Friday, March 11. The nuclear power plant affected by a massive earthquake is facing a possible meltdown, an official with Japan's nuclear safety commission said Saturday.
Buy.com
(Yasushi Kann/The Yomiuri Shimbun/AP)
By Stephen Kurczy, Staff writer
posted March 14, 2011
Nuclear energy provides an estimated 30 percent of electricity in Japan, despite it being one of the world's most seismically volatile nations.
Why? Nuclear power is increasingly seen as a way for Japan to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. That's the same reason why President Obama has also been pushing the US to build its first nuclear power plant in almost three decades. In his 2010 State of the Union address, he called for "a new generation of safe, clean nuclear power plants."
But as shown by the unfolding nuclear crisis in Japan, with two reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station suffering explosions since Friday's massive earthquake knocked out cooling systems at the plant, there is simply no easy solution to humanity's need for energy. While fossil fuel raises concerns of climate change, nuclear energy raises the specter of radioactive contamination.
"Japan's debate closely mirrors those worldwide, as governments highlight nuclear power as an easier way to cut carbon emissions than boosting wind and solar power," the Monitor wrote a year ago in the article "Earthquake prone Japan sees green in new nuclear power plants."
Nuclear role in cutting carbon
Japan has touted nuclear power as key to reducing carbon emissions to 75 percent of 1990 levels by 2020. The public remains wary about the push, with one poll showing that 54 percent of the population feels anxious or uneasy about nuclear power. Shunsuke Kondo, chairman of Japan's Atomic Energy Commission, told the Monitor then that his nation's nuclear power plants were built to withstand all but a "once in 10,000 year" earthquake.
Tragically, that's exactly what hit Friday when an 8.9-magnitude temblor rocked the nation's northeast coast and sent a 30-foot high tsunami crashing inland, knocking out electricity at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station and causing cooling systems to fail in at least three reactors.
Nuclear plants also provide an estimated 20 percent of US power, with Obama recently pledging $8 billion in loan guarantees for the construction of the first nuclear power plant in the US since 1979, the year of the Three Mile Island meltdown. Proposals are currently being heard for 20 new reactors to be built over the next 15 to 20 years.
According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, there are currently 104 licensed nuclear power plants, with eight sitting in the earthquake-prone West Coast states of Washington, California, and Arizona. (Here's a map of reactors across the US.) Two of those plants in California sit especially close to fault lines.
The New York Times today reports that "most of the nuclear plants in the United States share some or all of the risk factors that played a role at Fukushima Daiichi: locations on tsunami-prone coastlines or near earthquake faults, aging plants and backup electrical systems that rely on diesel generators and batteries that could fail in extreme circumstances."
Overreacting to the nuclear crisis?
Even a year ago, as the Monitor reported, Japan's earthquake-prone geology caused concern among activists and raised the specter of a quake-induced Chernobyl. Comparisons to Ukraine's 1986 disaster have been stated repeatedly in recent days, despite officials downplaying such a scenario.
The Wall Street Journal's Op-Ed page has criticized American media for "overreacting" to the nuclear crisis in Japan. "Unlike the Soviets at Chernobyl, the Japanese have been taking sensible precautions like evacuating people near the plants and handing out iodine pills even if they may never be needed. These precautions increase public worry, but better to take them even if they prove to be unnecessary," the WSJ said.
"We should learn from the Japanese nuclear crisis, not let it feed a political panic over nuclear power in general," the Journal said.
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