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24.09.2010: Increasing forest fires at Amazonian nature conservation areas [1]
According to Rafi Agop, meteorologist of the Brazilian National Institute of Space Research (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais INPE), new spots of forest clearing by fire were detected
at the south of Tocantins and north of of Goiás. New forest clearings were also detected at the south of Goiás and in the state of Pará.

Agop stresses that affected areas are also the National Park of Araguaia and the Serra Geral do Tocantins, both are nature conservation areas. The number of deforestation activities are increasing. In Tocantins, for example, about 4.200 fires were registered in this year, compared with 900 last year. In 2010 about 40% of fires occur near or inside of nature conservation areas.
According to INPE fires start in May. August and September are the worst months for the Centre-East region and the south of the Amazonia, boosted by drought and low water levels. From October to January rain starts in these regions. Fires move then to the North-East, Roraima and the north of the Amazonia. See Picture

[1] Inpe aponta novas áreas de queimadas no Brasil. Globo.com 14.08.2010.
http://g1.globo.com/brasil/noticia/2010/08/inpe-aponta-novas-areas-de-queimadas-no-brasil.html 


23.07.2010: Nuclear power stations are killing Moslem Tuaregs in Niger [1]
According to Green Peace, nuclear energy giant AREVA has activities in over 100 countries throughout the world and aggressively pushes nuclear energy in new markets. Its public relations teams have been working overtime to convince governments, investors and the general public that nuclear energy is now a safe, clean, and “green” technology.

Impact on Tuareg population
Radioactivity measured by Greenpeace researchers in the streets of Akokan was 500 times higher than the normal levels. A person spending less than one hour per day in those places would be exposed to more than the maximum allowable annual radiation dose for the public recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection.

Uranium mining corporation's mismanagement of the extraction process can cause radioactive substances to be released into the air, seep into the groundwater and contaminate the soil around the mining towns of Arlit and Akokan, all of which permanently damages the environmental ecosystem and can create a multitude of health problems for the local population.

Exposure to radioactivity can cause respiratory problems, birth defects, leukaemia and cancer, to name just a few health impacts. In fact, disease and poor health abound in this region, and death rates linked to respiratory problems are twice that of the rest of the country.

Water resources
In 40 years of operation of AREVA , a total of 270 billion litres of water have been used, contaminating the water and draining the aquifer which will take millions of years to be replaced. [1]

IPS reports that Alain Joseph found that the pasture economy is about to disappear in north-eastern Niger because of the dozens of mine projects installed there which over-exploit the scarce water resources of the area. Further projects are being started by companies from Australia, Canada and China which are draining water from Agadez, the region's only water source destroying the economic foundations of Tuareg, Fula, Kounta and other pastoral, nomadic people. [2]

Uranium from Niger is the dirty side of nuclear energy. Uranium from Niger is the energy source for Europe for over 40 years. For several million years this region was an enormous river delta where sediments of uranium settled and were covered later on by hundred metres of soil. In 1968, eight years after the end of the colonization, the French government needed uranium in the highest phase of the nuclear armament. The mines of the region leave 85% of the radioactivity behind, which had been safely buried underground. Now the radionuclides are being left as trash on the surface. The dust of the Sahel zone bears now the deadly freight of Arevas leftovers.  Arlit Mine in Niger: Disturbing the stratifiedc layers of geological formations. This liberates poisonous minerals and radionuclides.                                        Picture: Wikipedia: Arlit Mine

Uranium from Niger is the dirty side of nuclear energy. Uranium from Niger is the energy source for Europe for over 40 years. For several million years this region was an enormous river delta where sediments of uranium settled and were covered later on by hundred metres of soil. In 1968, eight years after the end of the colonization, the French government needed uranium in the highest phase of the nuclear armament. The mines of the region leave 85% of the radioactivity behind, which had been safely buried underground. Now the radionuclides are being left as trash on the surface. The dust of the Sahel zone bears now the deadly freight of Arevas leftovers.
See more at:
Collaboration scientifique Greenpeace international / CRIIRAD (06/05/2010)
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/publications/reports/Left-in-the-dust/

Suing scientists, governments and corporations for crime against humanity
Mining for uranium is comparable to the environmental damage of BP with the explosion of he deepwater Horizon rig in the Gulf of Mexico. However, its consequences will last for million of years.

Scientist, governments and big corporations must be sued for crimes against humanity allowing that deadly uranium economy to poison the environment for generations to come under the label of “green”energy guided by avarice of quick profits. The French government under President Nicolas Sarcozi must be sued for crimes against the population of Niger committed by AREVA.

Alternative
There is an alternative to oil, coal, natural gas and uranium economy. Hydrogen from solar energy and wind turbines from the deserts are the answer to the actual unsustainable way of handling the energy question. [3]

2007 Uranium Production  versus Requirements Balance  [Metric tonnes of Uranium] OECD, WNA 2008 [1]

Net Production	Net Requirement	Net Requirement	Net Requirement
Canada       75,576	USA          21,171	Taiwan        830	India         175
Australia      8,611	France         8,996	China         788	Brazil       151
Kazastan      6,637	Japan           8,790	Bulgaria      506	Romania   123
Niger           3,152	Germany     3,449	Slovakia      475	Argentina  120
Nanibia       2,879	Korea          3,200	Finland        470	Armenia      90
Uzbekistan  2,320	UK              1,900	Czech Rep   434	Lithuania     90
South Africa  249	Ukraine       1,634	Switzerland  275	Netherlands 70
	Sweden       1,600	Hungary      380	Pakistan       20
	Spain           1,310	Slovenia      250	Iran                5
	Belgium       1,065	Mexico       200

[1] Green Peace: Left in the dust: AREVA's radioactive legacy in the desert town of dust. May 4, 2010.
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/Global/international/publications/nuclear/2010/AREVA_Niger_report.pdf

[2] French State-Owned Company "Poisoning" Poor. IPSN 12 April 2010.
http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=50999

[3] The Global Energy Initiative
http://www.ourfood-news.com/Global_Energy_Initiative.html
 
             US Coal-firing power plants are high air-polluters for decades
31.01.2010: US coal-firing power plants have to reduce two million tons of SO2 and Nox/year, says EPA [1]
The total combined sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emission reductions secured from settlements will be about 2 million tons each year once all the required pollution controls have been installed and implemented. Coal-fired power plants are big contributors to air pollution.

Here are some examples:
Westar agrees to install a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system on one of the three Jeffrey Energy Center coal units by the end of 2014 to reduce harmful emission of nitrogen oxide into the air. To reduce SO2 a continuously flue gas desulfurization (FGD) for the control of SO2 has to be installed to meet the most aggressive SO2 rates

Depending on the results Westar will decide if they want to update another Jeffrey coal unit by the end of 2016, if needed to meet nitrogen oxide reduction targets. Already scheduled projects to install new low-nitrogen oxide burners and electrostatic precipitators will go forward as planned. Electrostatic precipitators remove emissions of fine particles, mostly of ash, created from burning coal. [2]

Westar Energy owns and operates eight coal-fired units in Kansas at the following locations:
Jeffrey Energy Center, St. Marys. On grid since 1978
Lawrence Energy Center, Lawrence. On grid since 1980
Tecumseh Energy Center, Tecumseh. On grid since 1983

EPA News [3]
EPA says that investment of Weststar could be $ 500 millions to reduce 75,000 tons of harmful air pollution from a power plant if the projects will ever become reality.

Sulfur dioxides and nitrogen oxides can be converted to fine particulate matter once in the air. Fine particulates can be breathed in and lodged deep in the lungs, causing a variety of health impacts, including premature death. Other health and environmental impacts from the pollutants addressed in this settlement include the following:

Sulfur Dioxide - High concentrations of SO2 affect breathing and may aggravate existing respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Sensitive populations include asthmatics, individuals with bronchitis or emphysema, children and the elderly. Sulfur dioxide is also a primary contributor to acid deposition, or acid rain.
Particulate Matter - Short term exposure to particulate matter can aggravate lung disease, cause asthma attacks and acute bronchitis, may increase susceptibility to respiratory infections and has been linked to heart attacks and premature mortality.
Nitrogen Oxides - Nitrogen oxides can cause ground-level ozone, acid rain, particulate matter, global warming, water quality deterioration, and visual impairment. Nitrogen oxides play a major role, with volatile organic chemicals, in the atmospheric reactions that produce ozone. Children, people with lung diseases such as asthma, and people who work or exercise outside are susceptible to adverse effects such as damage to lung tissue and reduction in lung function.
Mercury emission at coal-fired plants - EPA also tries to implement and explore innovative ways to reduce mercury at coal-fired plants


The United States has reached similar settlements with coal-firing power plants which are told to reduce 2 million tons of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxises each year. Coal-fired power plants are big contributors to air pollution [3]:

[1] Westar Energy to invest in environmental upgrades, proposed as settlement of litigation. Westar Energy. Jan. 25, 2010.
http://www.westarenergy.com/corp_com/contentmgt.nsf/resources/2010-1-25/$File/2010-1-25.pdf?openelement

[2] Westar Energy, Inc. Settlement Information Sheet
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/civil/caa/westarenergy-infosht.html

[3] Coal-Fired Power Plant Enforcement Initiative. EPA.
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/civil/caa/coal/index.html

06.12.2009: Brazil increased its emission on greenhouse gases by 65% between 1990 and 2005 [1]
Triggered by deforestation activities in the Amazon and the Cerrado region, Brazil increased its emission of glasshouse gases by 62% during 15 years between 1990 and 2005. This is more than twice that of the average global CO2 emission during this period, says the Brazilian minister of science and technology Sergio Rezende. This is much below the emission of India and of China which has more than doubled their emission, but is still the double as high as the average increase of global CO2 emission during this period.

In 2005 Brazil emitted 2,2 billion tons of CO2 and is the fifth biggest polluter of the globe after
China (7,5 billion tons), United States (6 billion tons), EU (4,6 billion tons) and Indonesia (2,3 billion tons).

Deforestation caused half of the emission in 2005. From 1990 to 2005 the CO2 emission from land use increased by 70%. Fossil fuels used to generate energy, for transportation and for the use in industry increased emission by 68%. The official aim is to cut between 36,1% and 38,9% of the 2,7 billions tons of carbon dioxide which Brazil will emit if no actions are undertaken.

Attitude related to climate warming [2]
A survey in 25 countries asked citizens about their attitude related to climate warming, found Brazilians to be most worried about the issue, and 90% rated it as very serious. Argentinians, French and South-Koreans 69%, 68% e 68%, respectively. Chinese e Americans, the leading emitters, have the lowest ranking in climate awareness.

Judges punish deforestators and ignore the postponement of coming into force of the decrete of payment of fine [3]
Presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva postpone coming into force of the decree which demands a fine of 500 Reais per day of farmers which do not replant the deforested area when the native forest drops below 80% of the area covered at the time the land was first registered. The ruling of the Supreme Justice Tribunal ignited an initiative against the national Forest Code of 1996 which established these rules.

Eucalyptus to replant deforested areas of the Amazon forest [4]
The government of the Brazilian state of Pará, which is leading in deforestation, changed its program of reforestation including exotic plants, like eucalyptus to achieve its goal of “1 billion trees for Amazonia”. The initial program foresaw planting only native trees, now more than 65% of reforestation will be made using eucalyptus, a plant of Australian origin.

Genetic modified eucalyptus varieties with rapid growth of 6 years will be highly accepted by the paper industry and vegetable coal industry. The government of the state of Pará gives financial and technical support to engaged companies to help to fulfil the 80% quote demanded by the Forest Code. The liberation on 222 million eucalyptus plants was announced during the visit of president Lulla to Belém. Great corporations announced to buy lands in the state to meet their environment standards.

According to Paulo Barreto, of Imazon (Instituto do Homem e Meio Ambiente da Amazônia). Exotic trees such as the eucalyptus are unable to rebuild the biodiversity, modifies negatively the soil conditions, tend to generate concentration of land increasing the pressure on small farms, disputes and violence.

The SEMA ( State Secretary of Environment) says there is a great demand of energetic plants by the steel industry which used vegetable coal from illegal logging. Eucalyptus plantations will satisfy this demand of the steel industry and the paper industry. The program is, therefore not only focused on reforestation, but is also a strategy with social impact, says Valmir Ortega of SEMA.

[1] Emissão do Brasil sobe 62% em 15 anos, mais que dobro da média mundial. 26.11.2009. Folha Online. 26.11.2009.
http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/ambiente/ult10007u657807.shtml

[2] Por ambiente, 4 em cada 5 brasileiros aprovam reduzir crescimento, diz pesquisa. MSN 3.12.2009.
http://noticias.br.msn.com/mundo/artigo-bbc.aspx?cp-documentid=22784938

[3] Justiça ignora Lula e pune desmatadores. 30.11.2009
http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/ambiente/ult10007u659447.shtml

[4] Pará repõe floresta nativa com eucaliptos. Folha Online. 28.11.2009
http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/ambiente/ult10007u658942.shtml