September 2011

Nuclear power

<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" kca="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XLJdf8bvQAI/ToTWP4oY7HI/AAAAAAAAAtI/kExl4mjpACs/s1600/Main_image_nuclear_Spotlight_flickr_PaulO.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Fukushima accident raised questions that must be addressed by developing countries considering nuclear energy.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The accident at Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant in March sent a shock wave through the nuclear energy renaissance that has been gaining strength in the past few years. This had been spurred partly by the escalating price of oil, partly by safer reactor design, and partly by global warming compelling countries to seek alternatives to fossil fuels.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The shockwave was strongest in the developed world. Several countries responded to the Japanese accident — a direct result of the tsunami that flooded large stretches of the country's north-west coast — by abandoning plans to restart nuclear programmes that had been on hold since the accident in Chernobyl, Ukraine, more than 25 years ago.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Reaction in the developing world has been more mixed. A few countries, such as Malaysia and Thailand, dropped their nuclear plans, but most are still pursuing the nuclear option. Although some countries have announced that their plans are being reassessed, they have given little indication that they intend to change course.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Nevertheless, the Fukushima accident has raised fresh doubts, and some important lessons have emerged that need to be taken on board by all those still considering going down the nuclear route, particularly developing countries that are just embarking on such a commitment.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The lessons range from the need to ensure that natural hazards have been fully taken into account to the importance of building public trust in the competence of the organisations (and individuals) responsible for nuclear safety.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In addition, the Fukushima accident has spurred enthusiasm for renewable sources of energy. Each of these lessons needs careful assessment by policymakers in developing countries still considering whether to commit to the nuclear option.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Shifts in attitude</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This week, SciDev.Net is publishing a series of articles looking at the impact of the Fukushima accident on plans for nuclear power in developing countries, and assessing the shifting calculus of the viability of these plans.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Two articles set the scene. The first offers a snapshot of the current state of play of nuclear programmes across the developing world, summarising some of the shifts in attitude that have taken place since the accident, as well as the many dimensions of the debate that include, inevitably, the attractions — and dangers — of using a civilian nuclear programme as a stepping-stone to a military one.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The second article is a collection of reports from SciDev.Net contributors in several key developing countries — namely Egypt, Jordan, Kenya, Nigeria, the Philippines, South Africa and Vietnam — describing on-the-ground responses to the Fukushima accident.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">One message emerging from these articles is that in most cases there has not been a significant change in direction. But it is clear that there is a new and heightened sensitivity to the dangers that nuclear power can present (remember that much of today's population was not born at the time of the Chernobyl accident) as well as an awareness that providing adequate planning for these dangers is a major challenge.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The challenge ahead</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The two features are complemented by three opinion articles from experts who have been deeply involved in the nuclear debate for many years, each highlighting one aspect of the challenge ahead.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">José Goldemberg, a physicist from Brazil and former science minister in that country, looks at the high level of investment required to get a nuclear programme off the ground, and revises risk estimates for a major accident in light of Fukushima. He suggests that national prestige is a main motivation for developing nuclear technology, and that renewable sources of energy may, in many cases, be a more affordable (and less risky) option.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Michael J. Mangala, a lecturer at the Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, shows how developing countries can benefit from developing nuclear energy programmes. But he cautions that for such programmes to be effective and safe, countries must put in place a comprehensive training strategy to produce the required technical staff at all levels.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Finally, Pervez Hoodbhoy, a physicist from Pakistan, raises questions about the capacity of developing countries to manage and pay for nuclear power. He also focuses on the military dangers of expanding the use of nuclear technology, suggesting that many countries may choose to move in this direction for reasons other than because it makes social, economic or environmental sense.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Informed debate</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Fukushima accident, like its predecessors at Three Mile Island in the United States and Chernobyl, is not in itself sufficient reason to abandon the nuclear option.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And the potential of nuclear power to meet the energy needs of developing countries without contributing significantly to global warming remains a strong attraction.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">But as these articles suggest, there are compelling reasons for developing countries to take a hard look before they leap into an energy future that includes nuclear power.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Fukushima accident is a reminder that obstacles to the safe operation of nuclear power stations can come from unexpected directions, even in a country as safety conscious — and with as much reason to be wary of nuclear energy — as Japan.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It has also emphasised the need for open and informed public debate on the pros and cons of nuclear power, as well as those of alternative 'clean' sources of energy — a debate too important to be confined to technical experts, or to be determined by the outcome of commercial or political interests.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hopefully this collection of articles will contribute to achieving this objective.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">David Dickson</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Editor, SciDev.Net</div>

Nuclear power

The Fukushima accident raised questions that must be addressed by developing countries considering nuclear energy. The accident at Japan'...

23:35

Maadhimisho ya siku ya HAKI YA KUJUWA Zanzibar 28.09.2011

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8z0TwfrK3is/ToTPZMNsaRI/AAAAAAAAAtE/wugCZRM3UdQ/s1600/chande.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8z0TwfrK3is/ToTPZMNsaRI/AAAAAAAAAtE/wugCZRM3UdQ/s320/chande.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">kwa mara ya kwanza nchini Tanzania wameweza kuadhimisha siku ya haki ya kujuwa nchini kote.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Maadhimisho hayo ambayo ni ya kwanza tangu kuasisiwa kwake katika mji wa SOFIA nchini BULGARIA, kwa hapa Zanzibar shughuli hizo ziliendeshwa chini ya usimamizi wa Baraza la Habari Tanzania</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Akifungua kongamano la maadhimisho hayo, Makamo wa Rais wa Baraza la Habari Tanzania, Nd.Chande Omar Chande, lengo kubwa la maadhimisho hayo ni kumuwezesha mwanachi kuweza kupata habari (kujuwa taarifa) na matoke mbali mbali yanayotokea ndani ya jamii yake</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Makamo wa Rais alifahamisha kwamba kwa ujumla yapo mambo yasiyopungua manane ambayo ni ya lazima kwa kila binadamu kuweza kuyajuwa ambayo ni :-</div><ul><li><div style="text-align: justify;">Kupata habari ni haki ya kila mtu</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">Haki ya habari iwe kwa mujibu wa sheria</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">Haki ya habari ni ya kila mtu katika jamii</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">Kuomba kupata habari kusiwe na vikwazo</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">Watendaji wa serikali wawasaidie wanaotaka habari</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">kushindwa kutoa habari kuwajibishe muhusika</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">Taasisi za ummah ni lazima zitoe habari muhimu kwa jamii</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">Haki ya kupta habari ni lazima ilindwe na chombo huru</div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;">Tangu kuasisiwa kwa uhuru wa kupata habari dunia hapa Zanzibar na Tanzania kwa ujumla ni mara ya kwanza kwa kufanyika kwa maadhimisho hayo </div>

Maadhimisho ya siku ya HAKI YA KUJUWA Zanzibar 28.09.2011

kwa mara ya kwanza nchini Tanzania wameweza kuadhimisha siku ya haki ya kujuwa nchini kote. Maadhimisho hayo ambayo ni ya kwanza tangu kuasi...

23:19

Utegaji nyuki kwa njia ya mashimo

<div style="text-align: justify;">                                               TAARIFA KWA VYOMBO VYA HABARI <br />
Uchimbaji wa mashimo kwa ajili ya utegaji wa samaki { Maarufu Mabombwe } ndani ya Kitongoji cha kwa Mgogo Sipwese katika Kijiji cha Kengeja umepelekea Maji ya Bahari kuvamia na kuhatarisha eneo kubwa la ardhi ambalo hutumiwa kwa shughuli za Maendeleo. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Tabia hiyo mbaya inayofanywa na baadhi ya Watu imechangia uharibifu mkubwa wa mazingira licha ya juhudi zinachochukuliwa na Wananchi wa Kijiji hicho kujenga Tuta kwa ajili ya kuzuia Maji hayo. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Kasi ya maji imekuwa ikipanda hadi katika makaazi ya Wananchi hali ambayo Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar Balozi Seif Ali Iddi ameishuhudia wakati alipofanya ziara ya ghafla kukagua eneo la mikoko lipatalo ekari tatu ambalo limetiwa moto na watu wanaodhaniwa kuwa ni wategaji wa Nyuki. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mizinga ipatayo 38 ya nyuki kati ya 50 pamoja na Mikoko iliyokuwemo ndani ya shamba hilo la Mkulima Omar Foum Omar inayokadiriwa kuwa na thamani ya zaidi ya shilingi milioni 6,000,000/- imeteketea kwa moto huo. Akizungumza kwa masikitiko Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar Balozi Seif Ali Iddi amesema hali hiyo inatisha na ni hatari. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hivyo jitihada za makusudi zinahitajika ili kujaribu kusaidia udhibiti wa uchafuzi wa mazingira.  Balozi Seif mesema uharibifu wa mazingira uliokithiri umechangia kuwakosesha watoto kupata maeneo ya michezo wakati wakulima wanakosa maeneo ya kilimo.  Hata hivyo Balozi Seif amezipongeza jitihada za Idara ya Maingira kwa kuendelea kutoa elimu kwa jamii ambayo kwa kiasi fuilani imesaidia kupunguza uchafuzi wa mazingira. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mapema Afisa Mkuu wa Idara ya Mazingira Pemba Ndugu Mwalim Khamis Mwalim amemueleza Balozi Seif kwamba athari hiyo imechangiwa zaidi ya ukataji onyo wa miti pamoja na uchimbaji holela wa mchanga. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ndugu Mwalimu amewashauri Wananchi wa Kijiji cha Kengeja kuanzisha Kamati za Mazingira pamoja na Polisi Jamii kwa lengo la kusaidia kupambana na vitendo vyote viovu. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Othman Khamis Ame </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ofisi ya Mkamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar </div>

Utegaji nyuki kwa njia ya mashimo

TAARIFA KWA VYOMBO VYA HABARI Uchimbaji wa mashimo kwa ajili ya utegaji wa samaki { Maarufu ...