Who Needs Radioactive Waste?
By Grigory Pasko, journalist
In Angarsk
Early this year, I spent some time in Angarsk, a small Siberian town just west of Lake Baikal, about 60 kilometers down the Angara River from Irkutsk. I was interested in the Angarsk Electrolysis Chemical Complex (АЭХК), on the territory of which the leadership of the country and Rosatom had decided to build an International Uranium Enrichment Center. Inasmuch as 3% of the territory of Russia is contaminated with radiation (that’s an area equivalent to France in size), I was interested in the question: how is АЭХК planning to store the radioactive waste that remains after the uranium has been enriched? And a second question: in what state is that waste which is already being stored on site at АЭХК?
In order to visit the facility, I contacted the Rosatom press service. The long negotiations ended with low-level Rosatom officials assuring me that I just had to go there, and I would be met and shown the facility.
When I arrived in Angarsk, I was told that the enterprise’s management was not in, and that the question of my visit could not be resolved in their absence. Obviously I knew that they had been lying to me from the very beginning, as they do quite often at Rosatom.
In Angarsk, accompanied by journalist colleagues from Irkutsk, I took a drive to АЭХК. About a kilometer before we got there, we saw an international no-entry road sign with the words “Except departmental transport”. “Departmental transport” frequently drove past us – mostly buses with people. We could see a barrier gate and armed security guards further down the road. Without permission, there was no point in driving any further than this sign.
Photo of no-entry sign on the road to АЭХК by Grigory Pasko.
Back in the town, we had a chance to chat with some of the local inhabitants. Elena, a mother of two children, said that she doesn’t want to live in a radioactive town and intends to move someplace else. Representatives of АЭХК, whom we met at an amateur choir rehearsal at the local palace of culture, were strongly in favor of the creation of a uranium enrichment center at their enterprise. Then, the explained, they would definitely have work and get paid. Radiation doesn’t scare them. They somehow don’t seem to give much thought to the danger of radiation contamination of a huge territory, including the pristine waters of Lake Baikal, in the event of an accident.
At the same time, local ecologists spoke quite a bit about precisely this threat to Baikal at a rally that took place the day before in Irkutsk. (I recalled the words of one girl from Rosatom about how “those environmentalists” were, to put it mildly, “not all there”. Or, to put it more bluntly, they were idiots, the only proper place for whom was a psychiatric hospital.) There were a lot of police at this rally, and then a bus filled with АЭХК employees arrived on the scene. They carried posters saying that the environmentalists were working off money they’d received from the west. I tried to talk to these new arrivals, but they refused to answer any questions. But one young man did hand me a leaflet, in which the safe functioning of the center in Angarsk was promised in the words of the head of Rosatom, Sergey Kiriyenko.
In Germany
In the opinion of the leading independent European expert on the uranium industry, Peter Diehl, if earlier the company Urenco had sent its radioactive waste to Russia with the aim of re-enrichment, getting back uranium, then now the this practice, from all appearances, has stopped. At the present time, the quantity of uranium in the waste of the company Urenco is so low that re-enrichment no longer makes any sense. And this signifies that the European atomic workers are sending radioactive waste to Russia exclusively with the aim of storage.
“We demand a stop to subjecting the population in zones of transit of nucular wastes to mortal danger. And storage of waste produced in Germany on the territory of Russia is nucular colonialism, which it is necessary to stop” – thus declared Matthias Eickhoff of the Aktionsbündnis Münsterland gegen Atomanlagen (Münster) during the time of a recent manifestation of ecologists during the time of the movement of a train with uranic materials from Gronau to Rotterdam.
According to the information of the group «Ekozashchita!» [Ecoprotection!], the plant in Gronau (the German unit of the corporation URENCO) has been sending waste from the uranium enrichment process (so-called depleted uranium hexafluoride or “uranium tails”) to Russia. Since 1996. Up to 90% of the waste brought in remains at Russian enterprises for long-term storage, which is carried out for free for European companies. The overall quantity of radioactive waste that has entered into Russia over the past decade is close to 100 thsd. tons.
On 26 April, the anniversary of the Chernobyl accident, I spent some time with German environmentalists near URENCO enterprises at Almelo in The Netherlands and Gronau in Germany.
In Almelo, it didn’t take more than five minutes for the security guards of the enterprise to come running out to us. Having learned that the assembly had been sanctioned and that there were journalists among those gathered, the security guards ran back. As became clear later, they called the police on the telephone. The police showed up five minutes later. Having checked our documents, they smiled and left, having shaken hands with everyone in parting.
“We” consisted of the German ecologists Udo Buchholz and Georg Bütefur, as well as a scientist from the Netherlands, Jacob Visser.
We spent more than an hour by the URENCO complex in Almelo. In this time, we were able to discern that repairs (or a reconstruction) were in full swing at the enterprise.
Then we came to Gronau. Inasmuch as the action of picketing the enterprise was sanctioned, the police were already in place. I chatted with the commander of the police unit. He said that the environmental activists can do anything they want, as long as it was within the law. It turned out that he was already acquainted with Udo Buchholz. And in general, it seemed to me that the senior policeman was positively inclined in relation to the environmental activists. I asked him: how, in his opinion, good is URENCO doing by sending radioactive waste to Russia? The policeman said that being an official person, he would not answer this question. So I suggested he imagine that he and I are sitting someplace having a beer and talking about life in general. And that I’m asking the same question of him as an ordinary civilian, not an official. The policeman thought a moment and said: “The fact that I don’t want to answer your question directly probably is my answer.”
Photo of demonstrators outside URENCO gates in Gronau, Germany by Grigory Pasko
There is a multitude of such people as this policeman embedded in the system of international atomic relations. Some blindly carry out their duty; others, like the teacher Georg Bütefur, protest against nuclear colonialism and the moving out of waste in their free time from work. In this time, the atomic world mafia is doing its dirty (in the direct sense of this word, considering the level of radiation contamination of different territories) little radioactive deeds, pushing through decisions and laws through unprincipled politicians.
I saw how the people live in Angarsk – they live bad. And I think that the people live just as bad in other cities of Russia where waste is going to be shipped: in Novouralsk of Sverdlovsk Oblast, Seversk of Tomsk Oblast, Zelenogorsk in Krasnoyarsk Kray… And I doubt they’re going to start living better just because someone else’s radioactive waste is going to start accumulating somewhere right nearby them.
In Angarsk
The political decision about the creation of the International Uranium Enrichment Center in Angarsk has been adopted. That’s exactly what the leaflet I was given by АЭХК employees spoke about. Like Rosatom press secretary Sergey Novikov said, “Russia in such a manner is making a huge contribution towards strengthening the non-proliferation regime”. At the same time, it is known that the center in Angarsk is being created at the initiative of president Putin.
Ecologists are speaking out against the construction of the center, asserting that the interested countries will get nuclear fuel, while Russia will get the waste from the uranium enrichment process.
“The International Uranium Enrichment Center in Angarsk will become a direct environmental threat for our region”, considers the head of the «Baikal ecological wave» movement, Marina Rikhvanova. She likewise noted that representatives of Rosatom had promised that if the population and the local administration will be against, the center will not be created.
I recall how Rosatom head Sergey Kiriyenko had given an analogous promise in the summer of 2006 concerning the construction of new atomic power stations. However, this promise didn’t stop the government of Russia from approving a federal program for the construction of 40 (forty) new nuclear reactors throughout the whole country.
Photo of the city of Angarsk, still watched over by Lenin, by Grigory Pasko
It is known that since 1996, from 130 to 290 tons of depleted uranium hexafluoride has been shipped annually to АЭХК for enrichment under contracts with the Dutch/German/British company Urenco and the French company Eurodif SA. Ecologists assert that “enrichment of uranium tails” is just a covert method for bringing nuclear waste into Russia: after enrichment, only 10% of the nuclear material is returned to Europe, while 90% remains essentially stored for free in Russia.
Around 500 thousand tons of depleted uranium hexafluoride is currently being stored on the territory of АЭХК. The waste is situated in warehouses and on open-air pads and represents a great danger. In the opinion of «Ekozashchita!» activists, if a hermetically sealed container of uranium hexafluoride were to break, this would result in a lethal outcome for any living thing within a radius of 32 kilometers [20 miles], and if such an accident were to occur in windy weather, the radioactive cloud would get to Irkutsk (with a population of over half a million) in 1.5–2 hours.
While the people are protesting in Russia and Germany against the plans of the politicians and the atomic kingpins, the waste continues to take its dangerous journey from one country to the other.
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IT'S ALL ABOUT IRAN
A DRAMATIC NEW APPROACH TO IRAN
We need to deal with Iran now otherwise the US could be left at one minute to midnight with no other option but to attack Iran. The longer the US waits to impose a meaningful sanction regime against Iran, the greater the necessity of military action will become - with all the potential disastrous political and economic consequences for both parties.
THE REALITY IS THE US DOES NOT NEED CHINA OR RUSSIA TO INPOSE SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN. THE US CAN IMPOSE DEVASTATING RECIPROCAL SANCTIONS
Least we all forget one of the main reasons for the Iraq war was that China, Germany, Russia and France had been bought off by Saddem through the UN Oil for Food program. It is hard to believe that these countries by their present actions are again moving us in the direction of war with Iran. By their greed, they are totally blind to the very real danger Iran poses to the entire Middle East. There is an impending political and military catastrophe facing America, Europe, China and the World in the Middle East. This catastrophe will lead to a disastrous disruption of oil supplies that will force oil prices to $10.00/$20.00/gallon and throw the world economy into a massive recession affecting all world economies epically the developing economies of China and India. This could cause political instability on a world wide scale. The reality of the situation is that you can talk with the Iranian leadership until you are blue in the face - AND NOTHING WILL BE ACHIEVED. Iran is marching forward to obtaining a nuclear weapon and will not be stopped with endless talk. TIME IS NOT ON OUR SIDE.
The United States is engaged in a Life and Death Struggle for its national survival. Islamic Fundamentalists, Iran and want to inflict a mortal wound. The United States faces the greatest strategic defeat in its national history.
As described in this article - if the US is forced out of Iraq the following disaster will ensue.
1. The Iraqi government immediately collapses.
All Iraqis who supported the Government and US flee the country by the hundreds of thousands.
2. Iran immediately steps into the power vacuum supporting the seizure of Baghdad by their radical Shiite militia allies.
3. A radical Shiite Islamic government is imposed on Iraq.
4. A podium against the Sunnis begins with millions killed. The survivors are driven out of the country.
5. One million Hezbollah style fighters are enlisted into the radical Shiite Militias. (If Hezbollah can muster an army of fifty thousand fighters from a Lebanese population of 1.5 million Shiites - then in Iraq a Hezbollah style government would create an army of one million Shiite fanatics.)
6. This force in alliance with the Iranian army captures Riyadh within weeks and seizes the Gulf States.
7. They then march into Jordon creating a Shiite Crescent stretching from Iran to the Suez Canal and from the Mediterranean Sea to the Russian Cossacks.
8. As previously mentioned - with 80% of the world's oil, under Iran's control the price will soar to $10.00/20.00 per gallon.
9. Israel is attacked with rockets on all sides effectively shutting down the Israeli economy and destroying the Jewish state.
10. After obtaining nuclear weapons, Iran unleashes terrorist forces worldwide attacking Europe and the US.
11. These terrorists smuggle nuclear weapons into London, Paris, Washington, New York and kill millions.
This nightmare does not have to happen.
TOUGH LOVE AND IRAN
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the Supreme ruling Alloyatolls see the 21st century not as the century of the rise of China or India but as the century of the Great Shiite Revival - the Rise of the Shiites. After 1400 years of Sunni domination and oppression, they see Sunni dominance not only in the Middle East but over Islam itself coming to an end.
Ahamadinejad wants to establish a Great Shiite Persian Empire stretching from Tehran to the Red Sea and from the Mediterranean Sea to the Caucasus regions of Russia, to the very borders of China - incorporating all the Gulf States, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, Syria, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Chechnya, Ingushetia, Dagestan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan, under the direct control or controlled as vassal states by Iran. This empire would directly control 80% of the entire world oil supply. Iran is a mortal threat not only to Israel but to all the Sunni Arab States. Only the might of the United States stands in the way of this Great Imperial Dream.
There is the saying "When times get tough - the tough get going." Unfortunately at this moment - with the total lack of any kind of Western Leadership, this saying has been replaced by "When times get tough - the tough get talking and talking and talking." In the West talking has become a form of appeasement - a way to show that action is being taken - that the tough Western dudes are beating up on Ahmadinejad, when in reality we're getting our clocks cleaned. Ahmadinejad is going for the Great World Political Poker Championship jackpot with a pair of deuces. Everyone sitting at the game knows that all he has to play is a pair of twos and nobody is calling his hand. Its time to stop playing pocket polo. Its time to call his bluff with our 8 pairs of aces.
Just as the CIA, MI5, French Secret Service, the KGB, all the world's secret services, even Iraqi generals thought that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction when we now know he had none - grossly overestimated Iraq's nuclear capabilities to say the least, so too with regard to Iran - all these agencies could be grossly underestimating the Iranian Nuclear Program. The United States does not want to be placed in a position of Iran being months away from going nuclear and forced to face the very harsh reality of attacking Iran. Where force is the only option left. A Tough Love Sanctions Regime must be immediately imposed on Iran. Time for talking at the UN is over. IT'S TIME FOR TOUGH LOVE IRANIAN STYLE.
TOUGH LOVE IRANIAN SANCTIONS
The United States with or without EU support immediately imposes economic and political sanctions against Iran. The sanction regime is divided into 4 parts - Defcom 1 to Defcom 4 with each phase commencing every 30 days and staying in effect until the crisis is resolved. Within the space of 4 months Iran will be under total world wide devastating economic sanctions. ANY INDIVIDUAL, CORPORATION, COUNTRY THAT DISOBEYS ANY PART OF THE SANCTION REGIME - THEN THE TOTALITY OF THE ENTIRE SANCTION REGIME IMMEDIATELY APPLIES TO THEM.
DEFCON 1 SANCTIONS
Under Defcon 1 sanctions Iran is immediately hit with the following measures:
1. The cutting off of all military and nuclear technology, materials, training, building including the Bushehr nuclear power plant being built by the Russians.
2. The suspension of all flights - both private and commercial aircraft in or out of Iran.
3. The worldwide banning of all Iranian passports.
4. Severing all banking relationships between all Iranian Government agencies/officials/organizations, banks, companies, front companies with the entire world banking community.
5. The freezing of all Iranian assets throughout the world including all assets of Iranian Government, Iranian companies, front companies, government officials/organizations.
DEFCON 2
In 30 days, if Iran refuses to stop all uranium enrichment and sit down at the table in good faith then the imposition of the following Defcon 2 Sanctions:
1. The immediate stoppage of all forms of transportation coming in or out of Iran including, buses, automobiles, boats. Only oil tankers would be exempt.
2. Cutting off of all satellite signals, phone lines, internet connections, electricity etc.
3. The complete closure of all border crossings to Iran.
4. The complete shutting down of all economic activity/trade with the outside world except for the importation of gasoline into Iran and the export of oil and gas out of Iran.
DEFCON 3
Thirty days after the imposition of Defcon 2 sanctions, the start of Defcon 3:
1. The importation of gasoline into Iran to be ceased by all countries, companies and individuals.
DEFCON 4
120 days after the start of the first sanction regime - Defcon 4 - the stoppage of all payments for Iranian oil and gas exports - NOT THE STOPPAGE OF THE EXPORT OF IRANIAN OIL AND GAS. JUST THE PAYMENTS FOR THESE PRODUCTS.
Iran can export oil and gas to China etc but the Chinese and other countries can not send money or any other financial instruments to Iran. In short - the oil/gas flows out but no money flows in. If Iran decides to stop the export of oil to certain countries but not to others like China, then under this sanction regime all countries including China must help the affected country or countries. In short, share the pain of oil shortages. If any country refuses to cooperate then the totality of these sanctions will be imposed immediately on them
DEFCON 5
The bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities.
DEFCON 6
The invasion of Iran.
Any force against Iran must be as a last resort. This includes any naval blockade. These are measures to be used only if and when Iran is on the verge of getting a bomb.
Again, if any country, company, or individual chooses to disobey these sanctions then THE TOTALITY OF THE SANCTIONS IMMEDIATELY APPLIES TO THEM. For example, if China decides to continue trading with Iran then all trade between China and ALL countries, companies, individuals immediately ceases. All Chinese container ships on their way to the US or any other country must be turned back. All international flights in or out of China cease. All Chinese passports to be null and void etc. If any country decides to continue to trade with China then the totality of the sanctions immediately applies to them. And so on.
This sanction regime is absolutely devastating. Having these sanctions apply to any country who decides to ignore them will totally devastate that countries economy. THIS LINKAGE GIVES THESE SANCTIONS TOUGH LOVE FURIOUS TEETH.
The smile/smirk on Ahmadinejad's face will be wiped clean. Most important - the flow of oil does not stop unless Iran chooses to stop it. Only the money flow stops. By not cutting off the oil/gas flow Iran is faced with a dilemma. If it decides to stop the export of these commodities then Iran will definitely lose the support of its two closest allies - Russia/China. These reciprocal sanctions give cover to the EU, Russia and China who can claim to Iran that this situation is not their fault - they have no choice - it is the big, bad USA. The oil gets shipped and the buyer countries send the payments for Iran to a UN trust account until an agreement has been reached. If however Iran resorts to acts of force/ terrorism etc or actually builds a nuclear device then all accumulated monies are immediately forfeited.
Before these sanctions are imposed as a last ditch effort Condoleezza Rice travels to Tehran to speak directly to the Iranian people in a nation wide TV address. This address would be a direct response to the letter Ahmadinejad sent to President Bush months ago. In this speech, she lays it all on the table. The fact that the US does not oppose a peaceful nuclear program. That Ahmadinejad and the Alloyatolls desperately want nuclear weapons. They dream of a Persian Empire. That the acquiring of these weapons will lead to economic chaos for Iran, the destabilization of the entire Middle East, a devastating Sunni/Shiite war and a nuclear war in the Middle East with the complete destruction of Iran. Their cities destroyed. Their families killed. The end of all Iranian history forever. Ms Rice will offer them a different vision of their future. A Security alliance with guarantees backed by their Arab neighbors (and the United States.) The termination of all sanctions. Investments for economic development. A vision of the peaceful rise of Iran as a true partner of the Middle East nations (and the West.) The creation with Iran as the most prominent member of a NAFTA style Middle East Free Trade Zone stretching from Tehran to Algeria leading to an economic renaissance of the entire Middle East. A 21st century version of the rise of China and India. Eventually joining this free trade zone to the EU and NAFTA - a 3 billion market. Such a rise will give back to Middle Easterners their historical pride. And finally bring peace to their troubled countries.
Written By,
Larry Houle
E-mail: intermedusa@yahoo.com
www.iran democracy.net
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June 9, 2007 8:21 AM
Posted on June 9, 2007 08:21