Japan to make more plutonium despite big stockpile

TOKYO (AP) ? Last year's tsunami disaster in Japan clouded the nation's nuclear future, idled its reactors and rendered its huge stockpile of plutonium useless for now. So, the industry's plan to produce even more has raised a red flag.

Nuclear industry officials say they hope to start producing a half-ton of plutonium within months, in addition to the more than 35 tons Japan already has stored around the world. That's even though all the reactors that might use it are either inoperable or offline while the country rethinks its nuclear policy after the tsunami-generated Fukushima crisis.

"It's crazy," said Princeton University professor Frank von Hippel, a leading authority on nonproliferation issues and a former assistant director for national security in the White House Office of Science and Technology. "There is absolutely no reason to do that."

Japan's nuclear industry produces plutonium ? which is strictly regulated globally because it also is used for nuclear weapons ? by reprocessing spent, uranium-based fuel in a procedure aimed at decreasing radioactive waste that otherwise would require long-term storage.

The industry wants to reprocess more to build up reserves in anticipation of when it has a network of reactors that run on a next-generation fuel that includes plutonium and that can be reused in a self-contained cycle ? but that much-delayed day is still far off.

Japanese officials argue that, once those plans are in place, the reactors will draw down the stockpile and use up most of it by 2030.

"There is no excess plutonium in this country," said Koichi Imafuku, an official at the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy. "It's not just lying around without purpose."

In the meantime, the country's post-Fukushima review of nuclear policy is pitting a growing number of critics who want to turn away from plutonium altogether against an entrenched nuclear industry that wants to push forward with it.

Other countries, including the United States, have scaled back the separation of plutonium because it is a proliferation concern and is more expensive than other alternatives, including long-term storage of spent fuel.

Fuel reprocessing remains unreliable and it is questionable whether it is a viable way of reducing Japan's massive amounts of spent fuel rods, said Takeo Kikkawa, a Hitotsubashi University professor specializing in energy issues.

"Japan should abandon the program altogether," said Hideyuki Ban, co-director of a respected anti-nuclear Citizens' Nuclear Information Center. "Then we can also contribute to the global effort for nuclear non-proliferation."

Von Hippel stressed that only two other countries reprocess on a large scale: France and Britain, and Britain has decided to stop. Japan's civilian-use plutonium stockpile is already the fifth-largest in the world, and it has enough plutonium to make about 5,000 simple nuclear warheads, although it does not manufacture them.

Because of inherent dangers of plutonium stockpiles, government regulations require industry representatives to announce by March 31 how much plutonium they intend to produce in the year ahead and explain how they will use it.

But, for the second year in a row, the industry has failed to do so. They blame the government for failing to come up with a long-term policy after Fukushima, but say they nevertheless want to make more plutonium if they can get a reprocessing plant going by October.

Kimitake Yoshida, a spokesman for the Federation of Electric Power Companies, said the plutonium would be converted into MOX ? a mixture of plutonium and uranium ? which can be loaded back into reactors and reused in a cycle. But technical glitches, cost overruns and local opposition have kept Japan from actually putting the moving parts of that plan into action.

In the meantime, Japan's plutonium stockpile ? most of which is stored in France and Britain ? has swelled despite Tokyo's promise to international regulators not to produce a plutonium surplus.

Its plutonium holdings have increased fivefold from about 7 tons in 1993 to 37 tons at the end of 2010. Japan initially said the stockpile would shrink rapidly in early 2000s as its fuel cycle kicked in, but that hasn't happened.

Critics argue that since no additional spent fuel is being created, and there are questions about how the plutonium would be used, this is not a good time start producing more. They also say it makes no sense for Japan to minimize its plutonium glut by calling it a "stockpile" rather than a "surplus."

"It's a simple accounting trick," said Edwin Lyman, a physicist with the Union of Concerned Scientists. "It's laughable. And it sends the wrong signal all around the world."

Officials stress that, like other plutonium-holding nations, Japan files a yearly report detailing its stockpile with the International Atomic Energy Agency. But it has repeatedly failed to live up to its own schedules for how the plutonium will be used.

From 2006 until three years ago, the nuclear industry said the plutonium-consuming MOX fuel would be used in 16-18 conventional reactors "in or after" 2010. In fact, only two reactors used MOX that year. By the time of the earthquake and tsunami last year, the number was still just three ? including one at the Fukushima plant.

In response to the delays, the industry has simply revised its plans farther off into the future. It is now shooting for the end of fiscal 2015.

"There really is a credibility problem here," said Princeton's von Hippel, who also is a member of the independent International Panel on Fissile Materials. "They keep making up these schedules which are never realized. I think the ship is sinking beneath them."

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Do I Really Need a Licensed Electrician? - IdeaMarketers.com

When you are doing home repair projects, sometimes it can be tempting just to hire a handyman or even to try to do the work yourself. After all, there are always general purpose "helpers" out there who advertise on the Internet, who put up signs or who you might hear about through word of mouth. These handymen often offer to do work at relatively low prices and you may think that this is a great deal and a good idea. In reality, however, when it comes to home improvement work, you generally get what you pay for. This means that if you want electrical work done right and done safely, you will need to hire a licensed electrician.

Why Do You Need a Licensed Electrician in Houston?

There are a number of different reasons why you need a licensed electrician in Houston, some of which are obvious and others of which may not be immediately readily apparent but which are just as important. For example, some of the reasons why you need a licensed electrician Houston include the following:

  • Only a licensed electrician can be insured and bonded.

Insured mans that the electrician is insured against any potential injury he may experience on your property (i.e. he has worker's compensation insurance) and, in many cases, that the electrician is also insured against any damage that he may cause to your home through the electrical work performed. Bonded means that the electrician has a surety bond, which is a special kind of insurance policy that protects you if the electrician doesn't do his job.

Having a licensed, insured and bonded electrician protects you from potentially being sued by an unscrupulous individual who is doing work on your home, and protects you from financial loss that might be caused by such an individual. An unlicensed person doing electrical work will be neither insured nor bonded in most cases, since he is not in compliance with the laws on licensing.

  • A licensed electrician can ensure code compliance in Houston, TX.

For certain types of installation and work performed on your home, the code requirements stipulate that a licensed electrician should perform the installation. Even when code does not require that the electrical work be performed by a licensed electrician, there are still provisions of both national and local electrical codes that must be complied with. A licensed electrician will be in the best position to ensure that you comply with all of these legal requirements.

  • A licensed electriciancan help keep your family safe

Having electrical work done by an unlicensed professional is a sure recipe for disaster. Many things can go wrong with electrical wires, ranging from shorts or overloaded circuits to serious problems that can cause a fire in your home. You do not want to take any risks with the safety of your family or the security of your property. As such, contacting only a licensed electricianis the smartest decision you can make to ensure you are making the safe choice.

Keywords: Licensed Electrician, electrician in Houston TX, electrical contractors Houston

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How to get rid of acne in a week - Health and Fitness

It is made from honey, honey cappings, propolis and other good stuff. Acne is actually very common in newborns. Licorice root extract has been found to possess anti inflammatory properties and be able to clear up skin issues such as acne. It is quite easy to indicate whether you are eating healthy food or not by looking at your skin health. The oatmeal technique to consists of a combination of rose water and an oatmeal powder; jointly they will form a paste that you can apply over the affected areas. treatment You can allow the mixture to stay on your skin for about 10 minutes and then wash off using cool water. This is one of the best natural acne treatment. There are various issues that can contribute to people having additional acne. This will keep your pores clearer and allow the bacteria which passes through your pores to come out cleanly and without causing infection and acne. 2. Plus, over the counter medicines applied to the face are more readily absorbed than topical medicines applied to the body. It occurs get in different people for many different week reasons. This is something that will help to balance the inner workings of the body that can contribute to additional blemishes. Hormones. Adult acne is seen more often in woman rather than men, primarily ( but not always) due to hormones. Hormones can and do fluctuate from the use of birth control pills, menstruation, menopause, rid and even pregnancy. These effects are how partly caused by others and reviews partly caused from within due to the acne. Here, a roundup of innovative acne and blemish fighters that are easily found at local beauty and drug- store outlets, as well as online. As more and more oil enters the follicle from the skin, the pore eventually becomes inflamed and turns into a pimple. These acids and Vitamin A a will help circulate blood in your skin giving you a healthy glow and will also repair damaged tissues in the skin making blemishes less noticeable. For the blue light acne treatment reviews afflicted young man or woman ? acne scars are the big concern ? and rightfully so. You don? t have to eat oatmeal to benefit from it! Research have in exposed that stress not only worsens acne flare- up, it also worsens the overall skin condition. Another school blue of thought is that homemade natural techniques are effective and more soothing of to skin as it is natural, free from any chemical agent that might harm your skin. Most people with acne are aged between how to get rid of acne in a week 12 and 25, but acne some older and younger people are affected. It can be difficult to put on and take off, so you can mix honey in too, which will also help as a skin toner. Oral medication: Many antibiotics available can help controlling bacterial skin infection. Here are some tips that tell you what the best acne treatment for men is. Actually acne a pimple will last from one to four weeks and will go away on its own. Male, female, teenagers or grownup, spine acne will not have a distinct assortment of age nor gender and virtually can influence anybody. Hormones that cause acne trigger the oil glands in your skin to over produce. Author is an online medical researcher on acne treatment how to get rid of acne in a week and skin care. There are benefits light of knowledge ? per above. Knowing that there are limitations in using topical acne treatments, altering your skin care program, and abstaining from milk products can make Exposed Reliable acne treatment work better. Ultimately, you want to prepare a paste that is neither too thick nor too runny.

Related Post How to get rid of acne in a week

Instead of body the topical bactericidal compounds commonly used as skin care for adult acne, you should try a formula that includes the ingredients What you need to use on your skin in order to avoid all of the problems that benzoyl peroxide products can cause are all Add a drop of rosemary oil. 5) This medicine is recommended for external use only. Right Shade Tinted moisturizers do not need to be A healthy lifestyle should include a healthy diet plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits, high in fiber to cleanse the body, and Omega- 3 Sulfur and resorcinol works by preventing the accumulation of comedones and oil, so acne break- outs can be controlled. Studies have shown some growing

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Sports Games Online Horse Racing Games Online - Mobilearea.mobi

John Madden Football is great, but some people prefer watching the more awesome athlete called the thoroughbred horse. What?s the latest in horse racing games online?

The first racetrack in America was constructed on Long Island in 1665. The American Stud Book was started in 1868, launching organized horse racing in the United States. By 1890, there were 314 tracks operating in the U.S. In 1894, the American Jockey Club was formed. In the early 20th century the sport was set back by anti-gambling sentiment that led almost all states to ban bookmaking. Parimutuel betting was introduced in 1908, reviving the industry, and it flourished until World War II, and then fell in popularity until horses began to win the Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes).

Top U.S. racetracks include Saratoga (1863), Pimlico (1870), Churchill Downs (1875), Belmont Park (1905), Fairmont Park (1925), Hialeah Park (1925), Santa Anita Park (1934), Del Mar (1937), and Hollywood Park (1938). Belmont is the largest dirt thoroughbred race course in the world, and has the sport?s largest grandstand.

Even after the Space Age and the Personal Computer Age, the excitement and lure of horse racing is strong. With the growth of the new information economy, new recreation opportunities are being created, and horse racing games online are no exception. With the current crop of horse racing games online, players can be the jockey, better, and breeder too, managing the development of every aspect of the activity and interacting with a growing international community of horse racing lovers in virtually all countries.

What?s new? The use of 3-D virtual reality technology gives a powerful dimension that is the next best thing to being there ? even better than being there in some ways. The brain is satisfied with the entire experience, while the pocket book need never be touched, nor gambling laws consulted, since real money is not used.

Where does one obtain horse racing games online? It?s easy. Just use Google and see what offerings come up. Many if not most are free to download and use. What matters is that you find one you like and use over and over to build your skill along with a social network with other players.

What are the possibilities? How about racetrack operators, breeding farms, and horse racing syndication groups? Let?s cut to the chase: jockeying. How would you like to take control of a thousand-pound thoroughbred and ride him or her to victory for real prizes? That?s right, real prizes. Depending on the vendor, prizes can be anything from an iPod to a meeting with a real jockey. My hips don?t lie, baby.

Just in case you think this is for babes in the woods, did you know that horse racing games online are so realistic that top jockeys and trainers play regularly?

So drop your boring activities and engage with horse racing games online. You?ll be really glad you downloaded one today.

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iOS 6: Is it time for Apple to revamp the multitasking fast app switcher?

At Macworld 2007 Steve Jobs showed off mobile Safari's Page switching interface, but despite the operating system as a whole crying out for similar treatment, to this day Pages have been bound to Safari. At the iOS 4 event in the spring of 2010, the iPhone finally got 3rd party multitasking and a fast app switcher interface, but rather than an Expos?-esque grid interface, it stayed locked to the Dock. And as far as showing currently open apps, making those apps as visually distinguishable as possible, and making them as fast as possible to switch between, that's where iOS remained. Even on the iPad's far larger screen. Is it time for something more?

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President Obama Awards John Glenn with Medal of Freedom

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The Vatican Scandals: What Did the Pope's Butler Know?

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Farmhouses, Yellow Fields and Spargel | Family Tree Tours

German trip May 2012

Well I am home from Germany now and I always have good intentions of blogging every day when I am there, but that never happens. Never enough time, although I do take train or car time to jot down a few notes. ?So, I will try to write about things now as I look through the pictures.

We usually do a trip in May because Germany is such a pleasure to the eye in May. Yellow fields of rapeseed blooming in fields scattered over the hillsides looking like a patchwork quilt, tons of lilacs blooming and rhododendron and hydrangea. ?It was gorgeous.

I had a few days before we met our clients for a personal heritage tour and we decided to visit a local ?landlord?s? house called Schloss Hunnefeld, located near Bad Essen. In the olden days the landlord was the person who was in charge of collecting the rents and taxes from the small farmers. ?In the 13th century Schloss Hunnefeld ? was a moated ?water? castle. ?Today you come down a long lane into a large clearing and see the impressive residence. The building is a three-winged two story in the Renaissance style. ?There is a small island in the moat now and behind it a beautiful English garden. ?There also is French style dovecote from the 1700?s. ?I could picture the small farmer walking his way down the long lane with his hard earned money or livestock or whatever he had as payment.

In the building where the caf? is now was the counting house, or the place where taxes and rents were collected. ? I guess a little history of the ?farm system? in Germany is in order. ?Of course this is a generalization, different areas had different laws and different systems but the farm system had been around for centuries, its roots go back to the Germanic tribes, who were nomads and whose economy was based on summer military campaigns, in which the men earned the tribes living by plunder. ?When they settled down to more agricultural pursuits versus the nomadic lifestyle, they needed the protection against other marauding tribes so they pledged service and fealty to their warrior overlords. ?By the end of the Middle Ages, military protection by the overlords was not needed as much, so the overlords settled down too. ?Land and income from agricultural products replaced plunder as their primary source of income, and the relationship of overlord and peasant farmer became firmly established. ?At least this is what I have read and I am sure there are probably more complicated reasons but this serf and lord system was around for centuries and German villages and farms used to ?belong? to someone that they owed taxes and rents too. ?We have found records for some of these big farms that list all the small farms they owned and how much they collected etc. ?Sometimes (not sure how often as I have not personally seen that many) they might list the farmers names that were under their control. ?Of course in the Northwest of Germany the larger farms had the names and whoever lived there took that name. But that is a story for another day.

For more pictures of Schloss Huennefeld click here: ?https://picasaweb.google.com/115481397474939988366/Germany2012?authuser=0&...

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Bankia seeks US$24-billion bailout as debt worries mount

The Bankia group, a Spanish lender nationalized earlier this month, will seek 19-billion euros (US$23.8-billion) of government funds as it provisions against real estate and non-property loans.

The group will ask the state?s bank rescue fund to provide the money by buying shares in its parent company, Banco Financiero y de Ahorros, it said in a filing to regulators yesterday after a meeting of the board of Bankia SA, its listed arm. The group needs a further 4 billion euros to cover real estate on top of provisions already ordered by the government, and 5.5-billion euros for the rest of its loan book, it said.

?Bankia is the tip of an iceberg as we?ve been saying all along . . . It?s systemically important and it needs to be dealt with properly?

The unraveling of Bankia has deepened concern about the health of Spain?s banks and increased the government?s financing costs as it struggles with the debt crisis. The restructuring costs for BFA, which come on top of 4.5-billion euros from a first government bailout, compare with a May 11 estimate from Economy Minister Luis de Guindos that less than 15 billion euros of public funds would be needed to support the whole industry.

?Bankia is the tip of an iceberg as we?ve been saying all along,? said Tobias Blattner, an economist at Daiwa Capital Markets in London, in a phone interview yesterday. ?It?s a very large institution, it?s systemically important and it needs to be dealt with properly.?

Cut to Junk

The Bankia group, formed in 2010 from a merger of seven savings banks led by Caja Madrid and Valencia-based Bancaja, last year listed its banking business on the stock exchange after parking its worst real estate assets in the parent company.

Bankia was among three Spanish banks that had their credit ratings cut to junk by Standard & Poor?s yesterday, citing Spain?s weakening economy. S&P lowered Bankia to BB+ from BBB- and BFA to B+ from BB-, the ratings company said in a statement. Banco Popular Espanol SA and Bankinter SA were reduced to BB+ and Banca Civica SA was cut to BB.

Bankia announced yesterday a restated 2011 loss of 2.98-billion euros, ?without reservations from auditors.? The company plans to reduce its board to 10 members from 18, with only Chairman Jose Ignacio Goirigolzarri and Chief Executive Officer Francisco Verdu remaining, it said in a filing.

Goirigolzarri will brief reporters on the restructuring plan today at 10 a.m. in Madrid and the bank will hold a webcast for analysts and investors at 12.30 p.m.

Spain said May 9 it would nationalize Bankia?s parent, making the state the biggest shareholder in the listed unit, just days after Chairman Rodrigo Rato resigned and the lender released 2011 accounts that weren?t signed by its auditor.

More Provisions

De Guindos on May 11 ordered lenders to set aside 30 billion euros to cover still-performing real estate loans, adding to demands made in February for provisions and capital of 53.8-billion euros.

Spain?s 10-year bond yield has climbed to 6.31% from 5.73% on May 7, the day Rato announced his resignation. Bankia has declined 58% in Madrid trading, to 1.57 euros, since selling shares to the public in July. The stock was suspended on May 25.

The additional 4-billion euros that the bank is seeking to cover real estate takes its total provisions for those assets to 12.7-billion euros. In addition to 5.5-billion euros to cover non-real estate lending under an ?adverse? stress scenario, the group needs 6.7-billion euros to clean up stakes in companies and tax assets, the group said.

?Big Number?

The group expects the state rescue fund, known as the FROB, to take control of BFA through the capital increase in June. After that, the Bankia unit will be recapitalized by a 12-billion-euro rights issue guaranteed by BFA that will probably go ahead in October, the group said.

The Bankia group will have a so-called principal capital ratio, a measure of financial strength, of 9.8% and a ratio of provisions to real estate assets of 48.9% after the cleanup, it said.

De Guindos told parliament on May 23 that Spain would provide as much public money as necessary for the Bankia group as he said it was a ?specific case,? without any read-across for the rest of the industry.

?It?s a big number for the restructuring, much more than the government had previously required, and shows the importance of going in and having a good look at the assets,? said Daragh Quinn, an analyst at Nomura International in Madrid.

Bloomberg.com

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