On December 21st 2006 the Inspectorate was notified by te Customs Office at Rotterdam Maasvlakte that they had a radiation alarm of their portal detector. Using handheld survey equipment an enhanced radiation level at the surface of a 20 ft container of 1.5 microSieverts per hour could be determined. The container identification number is FCIU 260145-9. The container was unloaded by the VROM-Inspectorate South-West Unit. The container was completely filled with several types of bags, most of them ladies handbags. An enchanced radiation level at the surface of 44 of these handbags of at most 35 microsieverts per hour was measured, due to the presence of cobalt-60. Several handbags were further examined by a specialised firm. The cobalt-60 was incorporated in the buckle of the shoulder strap of the handbags. The activity was calculated to be at least 38 kBq per handbag. The total activity of the cobalt-60 was calculated to be at least 1.6 MBq. The handbags were manufactured in India. The buckles with the cobalt-60 contamination were supplied by K.S. International, Kolkata, India, in a total amount of 141 pieces. The 44 buckles with cobalt-60 will be transported to COVRA, the radioactive waste facility in the Netherlands.
The Pacific News Bulletin (since September 1986) and its predecessor Pacific Bulletin was published for the Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific (NFIP) Movement by the Pacific Concerns Resource Centre (PCRC), first based in Petersham (Australia) and later at Suva on the Fiji Islands. The NFIP movement grew out of the first regional Nuclear Free Pacific […]
On 29 June 2026, the Urenco Group issued a statement announcing that the UK Government formally requested the company to support its effort "to re-establish a nuclear fuel cycle for reactor fuel for defence purposes." The UK Government announced its intent to re-establish this program in November 2024. This announcement is part of a broader […]
The Netherlands has agreed to allow Urenco to be used for the British military nuclear program. This clears the way for uranium enriched by Urenco to be used in nuclear weapons. With his decision, Foreign Minister Berendsen (CDA Christen Democrats) is departing from the principle that civilian and military nuclear applications must remain strictly separate. […]
Behnam Raeesian is an internationally recognized visual artist and poster designer from Iran, known for bold political and cultural works. Through exhibitions, workshops, jury roles, and collaborations with cultural institutions worldwide, he has built a strong voice in contemporary political graphic design. His projects confront complex issues such as nuclear risk and technological impact, transforming […]
Everywhere you look, the nuclear industry’s hype machine is in overdrive. Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, and the UK government all tout small modular reactors as the silver bullet for climate change and energy security. Tech billionaires are hiring nuclear veterans. Wall Street is whispering about “round-the-clock power” for artificial intelligence data centers. For those old enough […]
