Neither Left nor Right

Or as Chomsky would say, "It can't be happening, therefore, it isn't."  Perhaps this is a significant reason that the Greens have made a move in displacing the New Democrats, in some parts of Canada, as the second place party.

Green Party Support a Natural: Expert - 24 Hours Vancouver - 19 Mar 08

"This week's strong showing for the Green party in the Vancouver Quadra byelection didn't come as a surprise to one academic.

SFU professor Cara Camcastle has studied the makeup of Green party membership and says the budding federal party is often mischaracterized.  Her research found one-third of members left other federal parties for the Greens. Of these, 39 per cent were from the left-of-centre NDP. But 20 per cent were ex-Liberals, 33 per cent were former Tories and eight per cent came from the old Reform party.

'I was amazed,' Camcastle said of her research results. 'They're attracting members from the left and the right. I think the Greens are commonly misunderstood as being from the left.'"

Related stories:

Dump Anti-Green Strategy, Buoyant [Green Leader] May Tells New Democrats - Toronto Star - 19 Mar 08
Green Vote Moves Party Shade Closer to Becoming Major Player - Toronto Star - 18 Mar 08

And from across the pond:

Greens and Livingston Join Forces Against Johnson - London (UK) - Guardian (UK) - 19 Mar 08
London Green Party Says Johnson Would Be `Disaster' as Mayor Bloomberg - 19 Mar 08
Today in Politics: Could Greens save our Ken? - Independent (UK) - 19 Mar 08
Mayor Tries to Build Coalition in Attempt to Defeat Johnson - Guardian (UK) - 20 Mar 08

Neither Left nor Right

Or as Chomsky would say, "It can't be happening, therefore, it isn't."  Perhaps this is a significant reason that the Greens have made a move in displacing the New Democrats, in some parts of Canada, as the second place party.

Green Party Support a Natural: Expert - 24 Hours Vancouver - 19 Mar 08

"This week's strong showing for the Green party in the Vancouver Quadra byelection didn't come as a surprise to one academic.

SFU professor Cara Camcastle has studied the makeup of Green party membership and says the budding federal party is often mischaracterized.  Her research found one-third of members left other federal parties for the Greens. Of these, 39 per cent were from the left-of-centre NDP. But 20 per cent were ex-Liberals, 33 per cent were former Tories and eight per cent came from the old Reform party.

'I was amazed,' Camcastle said of her research results. 'They're attracting members from the left and the right. I think the Greens are commonly misunderstood as being from the left.'"

Related stories:

Dump Anti-Green Strategy, Buoyant [Green Leader] May Tells New Democrats - Toronto Star - 19 Mar 08
Green Vote Moves Party Shade Closer to Becoming Major Player - Toronto Star - 18 Mar 08

And from across the pond:

Greens and Livingston Join Forces Against Johnson - London (UK) - Guardian (UK) - 19 Mar 08
London Green Party Says Johnson Would Be `Disaster' as Mayor Bloomberg - 19 Mar 08
Today in Politics: Could Greens save our Ken? - Independent (UK) - 19 Mar 08
Mayor Tries to Build Coalition in Attempt to Defeat Johnson - Guardian (UK) - 20 Mar 08

Yet Another Nuclear Bottleneck

Let's see.  Do today's young engineering students go for the nukes or for the renewables as a career path?  Interesting question.

France Must Act Fast to Train Nuclear Energy Staff - IHT - 13 Mar 08

"Even though utilities have responded by planning massive recruitment, some academics said the aging work force issue was likely to hold back the rebirth of nuclear power.  'I think it could be a slowdown factor for the French nuclear program,' said Jean-Marie Chevalier, head of the geopolitical energy center at Paris Dauphine University. '  For example, instead of construction taking eight years, it could take between 10 and 12 years.'.

Others differed, saying there was still time to prepare on the technical, authorization, equipment and recruitment levels.

Areva said it was feeling the pinch, even if the situation was not yet 'dramatic' and the firm was still able to supply its clients.  'With growing demand for nuclear and a dwindling number of workers, this means that we have to recruit twice as much to alleviate the impact,' Herve-Bazin said. 'And it's true that we feel a crunch, which is not going to improve with time,' he added."

Yet Another Nuclear Bottleneck

Let's see.  Do today's young engineering students go for the nukes or for the renewables as a career path?  Interesting question.

France Must Act Fast to Train Nuclear Energy Staff - IHT - 13 Mar 08

"Even though utilities have responded by planning massive recruitment, some academics said the aging work force issue was likely to hold back the rebirth of nuclear power.  'I think it could be a slowdown factor for the French nuclear program,' said Jean-Marie Chevalier, head of the geopolitical energy center at Paris Dauphine University. '  For example, instead of construction taking eight years, it could take between 10 and 12 years.'.

Others differed, saying there was still time to prepare on the technical, authorization, equipment and recruitment levels.

Areva said it was feeling the pinch, even if the situation was not yet 'dramatic' and the firm was still able to supply its clients.  'With growing demand for nuclear and a dwindling number of workers, this means that we have to recruit twice as much to alleviate the impact,' Herve-Bazin said. 'And it's true that we feel a crunch, which is not going to improve with time,' he added."

Pay Now, Pay Later - Florida Nuke Deal Proposed

I'm sure all the blue haired ladies and their men folk will think this a dandy idea.  Start paying for the new nuclear plants eight to nine years before they're supposed to be operational.  This with a plant plan that has never been built, or even demonstrated, before and who's representatives have said it would be a minimum of ten years to construct starting with the first shovel of dirt..

Progress Energy Nuclear Plant Proposal - Channel 8 News - Tampa, FL - 19 Mar 08 [Video]

"Progress Energy has taken its first official step towards building two new nuclear plants in the state of Florida."

Pay Now, Pay Later - Florida Nuke Deal Proposed

I'm sure all the blue haired ladies and their men folk will think this a dandy idea.  Start paying for the new nuclear plants eight to nine years before they're supposed to be operational.  This with a plant plan that has never been built, or even demonstrated, before and who's representatives have said it would be a minimum of ten years to construct starting with the first shovel of dirt..

Progress Energy Nuclear Plant Proposal - Channel 8 News - Tampa, FL - 19 Mar 08 [Video]

"Progress Energy has taken its first official step towards building two new nuclear plants in the state of Florida."