Utopia Found? In Ethiopia?

Yet another adventure in utopia.  I wonder how it would stack up against the classic utopian models as documented by Rosabeth Moss Kantor in her book, Commitment and Community: Communes and Utopias in Sociological Perspective (Harvard University Press, 1972).  It has been awhile since I read that one.

In Ethiopia, One Man's Model for a Just Society - Christian Science Monitor - 21-Aug-07

"In the 1980s, Nuru finally launched the egalitarian society he dreamed of with 19 other people who adopted his vision.  Today Awra Amba has some 400 members and is lauded as a model to alleviate poverty and promote gender equality in a country where women generally hold a subservient status to men.  The experimental community first came to national awareness when Nuru gave an interview on national television a few years ago."

Utopia Found? In Ethiopia?

Yet another adventure in utopia.  I wonder how it would stack up against the classic utopian models as documented by Rosabeth Moss Kantor in her book, Commitment and Community: Communes and Utopias in Sociological Perspective (Harvard University Press, 1972).  It has been awhile since I read that one.

In Ethiopia, One Man's Model for a Just Society - Christian Science Monitor - 21-Aug-07

"In the 1980s, Nuru finally launched the egalitarian society he dreamed of with 19 other people who adopted his vision.  Today Awra Amba has some 400 members and is lauded as a model to alleviate poverty and promote gender equality in a country where women generally hold a subservient status to men.  The experimental community first came to national awareness when Nuru gave an interview on national television a few years ago."

Public Toll for Nuclear "Renaissance"

As the old saying goes, "A billion here and a billion there.  Pretty soon it adds up to real money."

Nuclear Power: Follow the Money - The Free Press

"According to Public Citizen’s website (2-5-07), the Bush administration 2008 budget proposes:

$4 billion in loan guarantees for nuclear and coal plants,
$802 million for nuclear power research and development,
$114 million for the Nuclear Power 2010 program, which pays the nuclear industry for half the cost of applying for new reactors and licensing designs (more than $251 million has been appropriated for this program since FY 2001),

$36.1 million for developing designs for the “next generation” of nuclear reactors (more than $200 million has been spent on this program since FY 2001),
$405 million for the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership to promote reprocessing of spent fuel rods, and
$494.5 million for the proposed high-level waste repository at Yucca Mountain. "

Public Toll for Nuclear "Renaissance"

As the old saying goes, "A billion here and a billion there.  Pretty soon it adds up to real money."

Nuclear Power: Follow the Money - The Free Press

"According to Public Citizen’s website (2-5-07), the Bush administration 2008 budget proposes:

$4 billion in loan guarantees for nuclear and coal plants,
$802 million for nuclear power research and development,
$114 million for the Nuclear Power 2010 program, which pays the nuclear industry for half the cost of applying for new reactors and licensing designs (more than $251 million has been appropriated for this program since FY 2001),

$36.1 million for developing designs for the “next generation” of nuclear reactors (more than $200 million has been spent on this program since FY 2001),
$405 million for the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership to promote reprocessing of spent fuel rods, and
$494.5 million for the proposed high-level waste repository at Yucca Mountain. "

On the USA-India Nuke Deal

Excellent commentary.

Is India a Prisoner of the Nuclear Dream? - Desicritics.org

"In his brilliant critique 'False Assumption of Nuclear Deal', Prof Reddy challenged the basic assumptions driving the need for nuclear power and nuclear weapons that underlie India's enthusiasm to seek US cooperation in this field. (False Assumptions of Nuclear Deal- Amulya K N Reddy- EPW- August 27, 2005)

Firstly, there is an erroneous assumption that Nuclear Power is important to India's electricity sector. As Prof Reddy points out, 'this bias is strange because Nuclear Power accounts today a trivial 3% of India's power, i.e., 3,310MW, out of 110000 MW.' 'In fact,' argues Prof Reddy, ' Nuclear Power does not even contribute as much as the 3,595 MW of wind power.'

More ominously Prof Reddy concludes, 'the reason why renewable energy technologies (solar, wind, small hydro and biomass) and efficiency improvements are not part of the agreement is probably because they are not backed by lobbies as powerful as the nuclear establishment.' 'It is also possible,' continues Prof Reddy, 'that the real reason for the discrimination in favour of Nuclear Power is its weapons implications.'"

On the USA-India Nuke Deal

Excellent commentary.

Is India a Prisoner of the Nuclear Dream? - Desicritics.org

"In his brilliant critique 'False Assumption of Nuclear Deal', Prof Reddy challenged the basic assumptions driving the need for nuclear power and nuclear weapons that underlie India's enthusiasm to seek US cooperation in this field. (False Assumptions of Nuclear Deal- Amulya K N Reddy- EPW- August 27, 2005)

Firstly, there is an erroneous assumption that Nuclear Power is important to India's electricity sector. As Prof Reddy points out, 'this bias is strange because Nuclear Power accounts today a trivial 3% of India's power, i.e., 3,310MW, out of 110000 MW.' 'In fact,' argues Prof Reddy, ' Nuclear Power does not even contribute as much as the 3,595 MW of wind power.'

More ominously Prof Reddy concludes, 'the reason why renewable energy technologies (solar, wind, small hydro and biomass) and efficiency improvements are not part of the agreement is probably because they are not backed by lobbies as powerful as the nuclear establishment.' 'It is also possible,' continues Prof Reddy, 'that the real reason for the discrimination in favour of Nuclear Power is its weapons implications.'"

More Nuclear Coverups

The more things change, the more they remain the same.  How many strikes before you don't get the taxpayers to fund your "renaissance"?  Re-animation is a better term.

Tennessee Nuclear Fuel Problems Kept Secret - Forbes

"A three-year veil of secrecy in the name of national security was used to keep the public in the dark about the handling of highly enriched uranium at a nuclear fuel processing plant - including a leak that could have caused a deadly, uncontrolled nuclear reaction.

The leak turned out to be one of nine violations or test failures since 2005 at privately owned Nuclear Fuel Services Inc., a longtime supplier of fuel to the U.S. Navy's nuclear fleet.  The public was never told about the problems when they happened. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission revealed them for the first time last month when it released an order demanding improvements at the company, but no fine.

In 2004, the government became so concerned about releasing nuclear secrets that the commission removed more than 1,740 documents from its public archive - even some that apparently involved basic safety violations at the company, which operates a 65-acre gated complex in tiny Erwin, about 120 miles north of Knoxville."

More Nuclear Coverups

The more things change, the more they remain the same.  How many strikes before you don't get the taxpayers to fund your "renaissance"?  Re-animation is a better term.

Tennessee Nuclear Fuel Problems Kept Secret - Forbes

"A three-year veil of secrecy in the name of national security was used to keep the public in the dark about the handling of highly enriched uranium at a nuclear fuel processing plant - including a leak that could have caused a deadly, uncontrolled nuclear reaction.

The leak turned out to be one of nine violations or test failures since 2005 at privately owned Nuclear Fuel Services Inc., a longtime supplier of fuel to the U.S. Navy's nuclear fleet.  The public was never told about the problems when they happened. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission revealed them for the first time last month when it released an order demanding improvements at the company, but no fine.

In 2004, the government became so concerned about releasing nuclear secrets that the commission removed more than 1,740 documents from its public archive - even some that apparently involved basic safety violations at the company, which operates a 65-acre gated complex in tiny Erwin, about 120 miles north of Knoxville."