More Nuclear Irony

No to Nuclear - The Ecologist - 11 Oct 07

"50 years to the day after the Calder Hall fire at Sellafield (then called Windscale), we find ourselves back at square one. 10 October 1957 was day the world’s first nuclear reactor generating commercial electricity caught fire. Fuel melted, the fuel cans burst, uranium ignited and fission products were released into cooling ducts and ejected out of the cooling chimneys. The plutonium-producing reactor sent clouds of radioactivity into the atmosphere.

Fast forward to half a century later; last week there was another explosion. This time it was deliberate. The four 88 meter high cooling towers at Windscale were blown up as part of Sellafield’s decommissioning. In total, 50 years of nuclear capacity in the UK brings with it an additional £90 billion price tag to decommission.

And so the Windscale legacy lives on. Scientists are still trying to work out how to safely dismantle the chimney-top filter that trapped much of the radioactive smoke 50 years ago. In an ironic twist of fate, 10th October 2007 heralds the closing date of the government’s consultation on their proposed reintroduction of nuclear to the UK."

More Nuclear Irony

No to Nuclear - The Ecologist - 11 Oct 07

"50 years to the day after the Calder Hall fire at Sellafield (then called Windscale), we find ourselves back at square one. 10 October 1957 was day the world’s first nuclear reactor generating commercial electricity caught fire. Fuel melted, the fuel cans burst, uranium ignited and fission products were released into cooling ducts and ejected out of the cooling chimneys. The plutonium-producing reactor sent clouds of radioactivity into the atmosphere.

Fast forward to half a century later; last week there was another explosion. This time it was deliberate. The four 88 meter high cooling towers at Windscale were blown up as part of Sellafield’s decommissioning. In total, 50 years of nuclear capacity in the UK brings with it an additional £90 billion price tag to decommission.

And so the Windscale legacy lives on. Scientists are still trying to work out how to safely dismantle the chimney-top filter that trapped much of the radioactive smoke 50 years ago. In an ironic twist of fate, 10th October 2007 heralds the closing date of the government’s consultation on their proposed reintroduction of nuclear to the UK."

YouTube for Wonks

Fora TV - The World is Thinking

YouTube for Wonks

Fora TV - The World is Thinking

Husker Doo

Just when you think it can't get worse for the home football team. A 45-14 loss at the hands of a so-so opponent. The worst loss at home in 49 years.

Ouch.

Just hoping that the football lunatics out there don't go into over-reaction mode and start threating folks with personal harm. That happened down in Oklahoma during the Gary Gibb era.

( News reports including some classic black humor tidbits... )

Husker Doo

Just when you think it can't get worse for the home football team. A 45-14 loss at the hands of a so-so opponent. The worst loss at home in 49 years.

Ouch.

Just hoping that the football lunatics out there don't go into over-reaction mode and start threating folks with personal harm. That happened down in Oklahoma during the Gary Gibb era.

( News reports including some classic black humor tidbits... )