A systems test in a Soviet graphite reactor goes out of control. The ensuing explosion releases enormous quantities of radioactive material, much of which spreads across huge swathes of Europe. Not only the surrounding region in Ukraine is contaminated, wind currents blow radioactive particles further west, across much of Europe where they mix with rain and fall to the ground. At first officials try to cove ...

For readers interested in the Fukushima disaster, Pressenza recommends you watch this 30-minute video Symposium: The Medical and Ecological Consequences of the Fukushima Nuclear Accident In this video filmed at the symposium, Arnie Gundersen presents his findings concerning the Fukushima Accident. The findings show that the population of Japan have been exposed to levels of radiation far higher that the aut ...

Interview: Dr. Gordon Edwards, of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility (CCNR) Pressenza: Could you expand on the statement: "produce commercial quantities of medical isotopes without the controversial use of highly-enriched, weapons-grade uranium"? Also, it seems so many parties are interested in this form of 'medical isotopes' but just how much is really needed for those medical and research a ...

The first day of the formal part of the ICAN Conference on the humanitarian consequences of the use of nuclear weapons finished today with a relentless flow of extraordinary information about how even a limited nuclear exchange would leave a fraction of humanity surviving and they would probably wish they were dead. According to organisers over 440 participants from 70 countries and all continents of the wo ...

We have seen nuclear accidents that kill and contaminate enough times to be sure that there is no such a thing as “safe” nuclear energy. Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, Fukushima… The theoretical risk of a meteorite hitting a nuclear facility came a little too close for comfort on Jan 15th as the latest rock large enough to bring about widespread damage hit the Earth. This time it was Russia, although it has ...

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says it will continue cooperation and talks with Iran over the country’s nuclear energy program. The IAEA inspectors have announced that they will continue to hold discussions with Iran; however, they say no final deal has been yet reached and that no date has been set for a fresh round of talks between the two sides. The IAEA team was in the Iranian capital cit ...

A study shows that a possible nuclear accident in France would cost the country about 430 billion euros, which is equivalent to 20 percent of its economic output. The study, conducted by the French Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), showed that a possible disaster in one of the nuclear reactors in France and a release of radioactivity into the environment would displace an esti ...

It never rains but it pours in the UK's nuclear industry. Plans to build new reactors are stalling as yet another company pulls out, and there is still nowhere to store nuclear waste permanently. The UK has pledged to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050, compared with 2010 levels. Nuclear reactors supply reliable power with low emissions, so are central to the government's plans. But thi ...

“French military and Malian government forces are restricting access to conflict areas for members of the media, making covering the situation a major challenge” By Peter Townson*, 23/01/2013 - As violence continues in Mali, the national and international media are finding it increasingly difficult to provide quality coverage of the situation. The primary reason behind the challenges is the fact that journa ...

Pressenza is delighted to start reproducing material with permission from Fairewinds Energy Education. The nuclear energy industry, its relationship to the nuclear weapons industry, the lack of transparency from the nuclear industry in general, the danger of cover-ups of mistakes to avoid affecting share-prices and the risks to nuclear proliferation from the 'peaceful' uses of nuclear technology are all sub ...