On September 10, 2007 the VROM Inspectorate was notified by te Customs Office at Rotterdam Maasvlakte that they had a radiation alarm of their portal detector. By mistake the content of the container was already unloaded at a distribution center in Amsterdam. Using handheld survey equipment an enhanced radiation level at the surface on the unloaded boxes of 15 microSieverts per hour could be determined. The container identification number is PONU 73766-5. The container was completely filled with 824 ladies handbags. An enchanced radiation level at the surface of one handbag of 15 microsieverts per hour was measured, due to the presence of cobalt-60. The handbags were further examined by a specialised firm. The cobalt-60 was incorporated in the ring of the shoulder strap of the handbags. The activity was calculated to be at least 25 kBq per handbag. The total activity of the cobalt-60 was calculated to be at least 38 MBq. The handbags were manufactured in India. The rings with the cobalt-60 contamination were supplied by Maple Exports LTD, Kolkata, India, in a total amount of 1542 pieces. The 1542 rings with cobalt-60 have been 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 […]