Green Nuclear Insurance Woes

Those pesky Greens at work in the Czech Republic. Paying what all the other industries have to pay? Shocking.

Power Plants Face Insurance Hike - Prague Post Online - 23 Apr 08

"In March, the government issued a statement instructing the Industry and Trade Ministry to work with the Environment Ministry to implement the increase by preparing a ratification of the protocol to the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage. 'We will cancel the limited liability of the operators of nuclear reactors for damage so that they pay market insurance, as other industrial sectors are required to do,' said Tomáš Bartovský, spokesman for the Industry and Trade Ministry, which conducted the analysis on which the government statement was based."

Green Nuclear Insurance Woes

Those pesky Greens at work in the Czech Republic. Paying what all the other industries have to pay? Shocking.

Power Plants Face Insurance Hike - Prague Post Online - 23 Apr 08

"In March, the government issued a statement instructing the Industry and Trade Ministry to work with the Environment Ministry to implement the increase by preparing a ratification of the protocol to the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage. 'We will cancel the limited liability of the operators of nuclear reactors for damage so that they pay market insurance, as other industrial sectors are required to do,' said Tomáš Bartovský, spokesman for the Industry and Trade Ministry, which conducted the analysis on which the government statement was based."

Like A Batmobile Only Different

Trim a few pounds off the e-bike and rider. Especially the rider. In Switzerland. And you get...

It uses the same kind of gearmotor drive that my bike uses. No, don't freak out. The blue tube things with the backpack are batteries. More at bike-elektro-antrieb.ch's website. [In German.] Nice photos.

Like A Batmobile Only Different

Trim a few pounds off the e-bike and rider. Especially the rider. In Switzerland. And you get...

It uses the same kind of gearmotor drive that my bike uses. No, don't freak out. The blue tube things with the backpack are batteries. More at bike-elektro-antrieb.ch's website. [In German.] Nice photos.

"Fair and Balanced" Canadian Style

More nuclear dog and pony in El Norte Norte.

Alberta - Nuke Panel Needs Balance: Grit Leader - Edmonton Sun - 25 Apr 08

"The provincial government won't heed an Opposition request to add "balance" to its nuclear review panel, after a panelist's admission that he supports nuclear power. Dr. John Luxat, a professor at McMaster University, has admitted in interviews that he is pro nuclear, said Liberal Leader Kevin Taft. Energy Minister Mel Knight 'should just acknowledge that this is yet more evidence that this government has the fix in for nuclear power in Alberta,' Taft said, just two days after the Liberals noted a top Alberta Tory, Randy Dawson, has been hired by nuclear developers Bruce Power."

"Fair and Balanced" Canadian Style

More nuclear dog and pony in El Norte Norte.

Alberta - Nuke Panel Needs Balance: Grit Leader - Edmonton Sun - 25 Apr 08

"The provincial government won't heed an Opposition request to add "balance" to its nuclear review panel, after a panelist's admission that he supports nuclear power. Dr. John Luxat, a professor at McMaster University, has admitted in interviews that he is pro nuclear, said Liberal Leader Kevin Taft. Energy Minister Mel Knight 'should just acknowledge that this is yet more evidence that this government has the fix in for nuclear power in Alberta,' Taft said, just two days after the Liberals noted a top Alberta Tory, Randy Dawson, has been hired by nuclear developers Bruce Power."

Green v. Green

Much media chatter in the aftermath of the failed huge wind farm proposal in Scotland. This is a good one.

Mark Lynas on How Environmentalists Are Battling One Another - Guardian (UK) - 24 Apr 08

"All this suggests that environmental concerns of a generation ago - which were conservation-based, principally - are increasingly being trumped by the climate-change concerns of today. Indeed, if climate change does come top of the list, given its potential to devastate both biodiversity and the British landscape, then it certainly needs to be given more weight in planning decisions. As Sir Martin Doughty, chairman of Natural England, said in response to the SDC's Severn Barrage proposals: 'We have some difficult choices to make if we are going to get serious about reducing the impact of climate change on the natural environment.' And making these difficult choices means knowing what we value most, and how to protect it."

Green v. Green

Much media chatter in the aftermath of the failed huge wind farm proposal in Scotland. This is a good one.

Mark Lynas on How Environmentalists Are Battling One Another - Guardian (UK) - 24 Apr 08

"All this suggests that environmental concerns of a generation ago - which were conservation-based, principally - are increasingly being trumped by the climate-change concerns of today. Indeed, if climate change does come top of the list, given its potential to devastate both biodiversity and the British landscape, then it certainly needs to be given more weight in planning decisions. As Sir Martin Doughty, chairman of Natural England, said in response to the SDC's Severn Barrage proposals: 'We have some difficult choices to make if we are going to get serious about reducing the impact of climate change on the natural environment.' And making these difficult choices means knowing what we value most, and how to protect it."