- by break.com

Several other European nations, from Finland to Switzerland, have turned more skeptical about nuclear energy after Friday's earthquake and tsunami crippled the Fukushima plant in the world's worst nuclear accident since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

In Berlin, Merkel dismissed allegations that she may have closed seven atomic plants illegally and told parliament that nuclear technology remained a transitional source of affordable power while renewable energy sources were developed further.

Earlier this week, she backtracked on an unpopular decision to extend the life of aging nuclear power stations, drawing scorn from the opposition which said she was only trying to avoid a major electoral setback in regional polls this month.

Under a "moratorium" announced on Tuesday, the government ordered the closure for safety checks of all seven of Germany's nuclear plants which began operating before 1980 for at least three months.

"We will use the moratorium period, which we deliberately set to be short and ambitious, to drive the change in energy policy and accelerate it wherever possible, as we want to reach the age of renewable energy as quickly as possible," she said.

Merkel backtracked on her government's decision taken only last autumn to prolong the life of Germany's total of 17 nuclear power plants beyond their original closure dates.

In Italy, the government called for time to reflect, apparently softening plans ahead of a planned June referendum on reintroducing nuclear power.

ITALIAN PAUSE

"From the information we have, the problem in Japan will not be easy to resolve," Industry Minister Paolo Romani told reporters. "We should take a pause to reflect and above all, we cannot make choices which are not shared by everyone."

"I think there is now less than 0.01 percent chance for nuclear in Italy," said Luigi De Paoli, energy economy professor at the Bocconi University in Milan.

Italy's worst earthquake since 1980 struck central Italy around the city of L'Aquila in April 2009, killing more than 300 people and flattening whole towns.

A poll published earlier this week showed 53 percent of Italians were now against nuclear plans with only 35 percent in favor and 12 percent undecided. Polls previously showed the 'No' and 'Yes' camps each attracted roughly 45 percent.

Many European Union nations have been looking to nuclear power to meet ambitious goals for fighting global warming. Nuclear and renewable energies are responsible for a fraction of the emissions of fossil fuels.

In Jerusalem, Israeli officials said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was reconsidering plans to build a nuclear power plant in Israel in the wake of the crisis in Japan.

-by digg.com

TOBRUK, Libya (AP) — The U.N. Security Council on Thursday authorized "all necessary measures" to stop Moammar Gadhafi in Libya— including strikes by sea and air — hours after he vowed in harrowing terms to launch a final assault and crush the weeks-old rebellion against him.

The resolution, approved with the backing of the United States, France and Britain, imposed a no-fly zone over Libya and authorized force short of a ground offensive to protect its people from Gadhafi's forces.

The U.N. action bans all flights in Libyan airspace in order to protect civilians. While it was unclear how the West might proceed, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said earlier in the day that a no-fly zone would require bombing targets inside Libya, including some of its defense systems.

It was also unclear when any Western action would come. A British lawmaker said British forces could be mobilized as early as Thursday night. U.S. officials, speaking after a closed-door briefing in Congress, said they expected an attempt to ground Gadhafi's air force could begin by Sunday or Monday and would probably involve jet fighters, bombers and surveillance aircraft.

After deliberating for weeks over what to do about Gadhafi, the West acted with sudden speed as it became clear Gadhafi would attempt to finally put an end to the rebellion.

Gadhafi, calling in to Libyan television on Thursday, said his forces would "rescue" the people of Benghazi, the Mediterranean port city that has become the capital and staging ground for the opposition. For those who resist, Gadhafi said, there would be "no mercy or compassion."

"This is your happy day, we will destroy your enemies," he said, warning the people of Benghazi not to stand alongside the opposition. "Prepare for this moment to get rid of the traitors. Tomorrow we will show the world, to see if the city is one of traitors or heroes."

"Don't betray me, my beloved Benghazi," he said.

His ground forces were still about 80 miles south of the city on Thursday evening Libya time, so it was unclear whether they would move on the city as quickly as he suggested.

Speaking moments before in an interview with Portuguese television broadcast just before the vote at the U.N., Gadhafi pledged to respond harshly to U.N.-sponsored attacks. "If the world is crazy," he said, "we will be crazy, too."

At the U.N. headquarters in New York, the vote was 10-0. The United States, France and Britain had all pushed for speedy approval. "We had said all along that Gadhafi must go," said British Foreign Secretary William Hague. "It is necessary to take these measures to avoid greater bloodshed."

Five nations abstained, including Russia and China, which hold veto power on the council.

In Washington, officials said the Obama administration was readying plans to enforce the no-fly zone. The French prime minister said before the measure was passed that his nation would support military action within hours. Several Arab nations were expected to provide backup.

"Today the Security Council has responded to the Libyan people's cry for help," said Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. "Colonel Gadhafi and those who still stand by him continue to grossly and systematically abuse the most fundamental of the human rights of his people."

The United States already has warships positioned near Libya. After eight hours of closed-door talks on Wednesday, Rice said a no-fly zone now was not enough, saying it has "inherent limitations in terms of protection of civilians at immediate risk."

In Britain, a lawmaker with knowledge of defense matters confirmed that British forces were on standby for air strikes and could be mobilized as soon as Thursday night. The lawmaker declined to be named because the Defense Ministry has not issued official confirmation.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy's office issued a one-sentence statement at about 2 a.m. Friday Paris time saying he and Obama had spoken by phone about the resolution. Reached by the Associated Press, Sarkozy's office declined further comment.

Western countries have significant military assets nearby, including carriers in the Mediterranean, a large U.S. air base in Italy and a large British air presence on the island of Cyprus. In addition, allied Arab countries such as Jordan and Oman have planes and pilots often trained by the U.S., and American officials have made clear they want active involvement by Arab countries if any action is taken.

The U.N. resolution specifically bans a ground offensive against Libya.

A large crowd in Benghazi was watching the vote on an outdoor TV projection and burst into cheers, with green and red fireworks exploding overhead. In Tobruk, east of Benghazi, happy Libyans fired weapons in the air to celebrate the vote.

Speaking to reporters in Tripoli after the vote, Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Khalid Kaim struck a more conciliatory tone, offering to negotiate a cease-fire with the rebels. He welcomed the Security Council's concern for the people of Libya but called on the world not to allow them to receive weapons. "If any countries do that, they will be inviting Libyans to kill each other," he said.

The shift toward international action reflected dramatic change on the ground in Libya in the past week. The rebels, once confident, found themselves in danger of being crushed by an overpowering pro-Gadhafi force using rockets, artillery, tanks, warplanes. That force has advanced along the Mediterranean coast aiming to recapture the rebel-held eastern half of Libya.

Gadhafi troops encircled the city of Ajdabiya, the first in the path of their march, but also had some troops positioned beyond it toward Benghazi.

Several witnesses said rebels in Benghazi succeeded in shooting down at least two of the attacking aircraft. Mohammed Abdel-Rahman, a 42-year-old merchant who lives nearby, said he saw one of the warplanes shot down after striking Benina, the airport.

Another witness, medical official Qassem al-Shibli, told the Associated Press that he saw three planes attack the airport and nearby rebel military camps before two were shot down. A third witness saw fire trucks fighting a blaze at the airport, and black smoke billowing from the area. Another witness reported that a rebel warplane crashed north of Benghazi, apparently after running out of fuel.

At the same time, the rebels were sending their own warplanes in an attempt to break the regime's assault on Ajdabiya, a city about 100 miles southwest of Benghazi that has been under a punishing siege by Gadhafi's forces the past two days. But by Thursday afternoon, Gadhafi's army were holding the southern, eastern and western outskirts of Ajdabiya.

The unrest in Libya began Feb. 15 in the eastern city of Benghazi and spread east to Tripoli, the capital. Like others in the Mideast, the protest started with popular demonstrations against Gadhafi, rejecting his four decades of despotic and often brutal rule. The tone quickly changed after Gadhafi's security in Tripoli forcefully put down the gatherings there.

Soon rebel forces began arming themselves, quickly taking control of the country's east centered on Benghazi, the second largest Libyan city, with a population of about 700,000. Some Libyan army units joined the rebels, providing them with some firepower, but much less than Gadhafi's remaining forces, and crucially, no air power.

There are no official death tolls. Rebels say more than 1,000 people have been killed in a month of fighting, while Gadhafi claims the toll is only 150.

-by digg.com

Evacuees are screened for radiation contamination at a testing center in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture 

Photo:AP By Steven Swinford, and Christopher Hope 9:30PM GMT 15 Mar 2011  

An official from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in December 2008 that safety rules were out of date and strong earthquakes would pose a "serious problem" for nuclear power stations.

The Japanese government pledged to upgrade safety at all of its nuclear plants, but will now face inevitable questions over whether it did enough.

While it responded to the warnings by building an emergency response centre at the Fukushima plant, it was only designed to withstand magnitude 7.0 tremors. Friday's devastating earthquake was a magnitude 9.0 shock.

The news is likely to put further pressure on Japan's Prime Minister, Naoto Kan, who has been criticised for "dithering" over the country's response to the ongoing crisis at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Panic started to spread throughout Japan yesterday following the news that a third explosion at the plant might have damaged the protective casing around the reactor core, increasing the threat of radioactive leaks.

The government was considering using helicopters to spray water over the Fukushima site to limit the spread of radioactive particles as part of its increasingly desperate attempts to keep the situation under control.

Meanwhile the FTSE-100 share index fell by 1.4 per cent as stock markets around the world slumped in response to a 10.6 per cent drop in Japan's Nikkei index.

Warnings about the safety of nuclear power plants in Japan, one of the most seismologically active countries in the world, were raised during a meeting of the G8's Nuclear Safety and Security Group in Tokyo in 2008.

A US embassy cable obtained by the WikiLeaks website and seen by The Daily Telegraph quoted an unnamed expert who expressed concern that guidance on how to protect nuclear power stations from earthquakes had only been updated three times in the past 35 years.

The document states: "He [the IAEA official] explained that safety guides for seismic safety have only been revised three times in the last 35 years and that the IAEA is now re-examining them.

"Also, the presenter noted recent earthquakes in some cases have exceeded the design basis for some nuclear plants, and that this is a serious problem that is now driving seismic safety work."

The cables also disclose how the Japanese government opposed a court order to shut down another nuclear power plant in western Japan because of concerns it could not withstand powerful earthquakes.

The court ruled that there was a possibility local people might be exposed to radiation if there was an accident at the plant, which was built to out of date specifications and only to withstand a "6.5 magnitude" earthquake. Last Friday's earthquake, 81 miles off the shore of Japan, was a magnitude 9.0 tremor.

However, a cable from March 2006 reported that the court's concerns were not shared by the country's nuclear safety agency.

It says: "Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency believes the reactor is safe and that all safety analyses were appropriately conducted."

The Government successfully overturned the ruling in 2009.

Another cable reported to Washington local concerns that a new generation of Japanese power stations that recycle nuclear fuel were jeopardising safety.

The cable, quoting a local newspaper, reports: "There is something precarious about the way all electric power companies are falling in step with each other under the banner of the national policy. We have seen too many cases of cost reduction competition through heightened efficiency jeopardizing safety."

The cables also disclose how Taro Kono, a high-profile member of Japan's lower house, told US diplomats in October 2008 that the government was "covering up" nuclear accidents.

He alleged that the government was ignoring alternative forms of energy, such as wind power.

The cable states: "He also accused METI [the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry] of covering up nuclear accidents, and obscuring the true costs and problems associated with the nuclear industry." He added that the Japan's "extensive seismic" activity raised safety concerns about storing nuclear material.

Mr Kan was not in office at the time the nuclear warnings were made. He became science and technology minister in 2009 and prime minister in June 2010.

A luxury cruise is one of life’s pure joys.  Today’s modern cruise liners are engineering marvels; floating 5-star hotels that offer the best service, accommodation, cuisine, and activities.  They visit exotic locales, with non-stop relaxation or stimulation, depending on your pleasure.

Over the past few years, cruise companies have spared no expense and literally invested billions in jaw-dropping super ships.  Even if you’ve cruised before, you probably have not experienced anything like these new marvels.

But, the best news is that due to the slowdown in travel caused by the recession and significant overcapacity in the industry, savvy travelers can now book once-in-a-lifetime cruises at insanely low prices.

How does 75 percent off the brochure price sound?  Believe it or not, it's possible through a company called Vacations To Go, one of America's Largest Cruise Agencies.

Founded more than 25 years ago, Vacations To Go realized that taking a cruise vacation was a new experience for many.  They set out to build an online service to help people learn everything they need to know to find the best possible cruise vacation, at the best possible price.

Vacations To Go is now home to an extensive selection of top-brand cruise vacations, and in-depth information about every cruise line and cruise ship.  Customers can browse the latest in new promotions and offers, shop by category, and compare prices at a glance.

But, what about the discounts?

Because of the huge costs involved in building and operating today’s luxury ships, cruise lines want their ships to sail with as few empty cabins as possible.

So, they turn to trusted partners like Vacations To Go to sell this “excess” inventory at deep discounts, allowing the cruise companies to still get full fare on the travel packages that they sell directly.

The discounts they authorize Vacations To Go to offer can be as much as 75 percent off the full price fare.  What it means for you: Simply put, it is the opportunity to take a once-in-a-lifetime luxury cruise for a price that makes it affordable on any budget.

Vacations To Go has also developed a Best Price & Service Guarantee that guarantees they will meet any other authorized price--so, if getting the best deal is important, look no further.

If you are not ready to book your cruise immediately, signing up for Vacations To Go’s free newsletter can help you stay informed of all the spectacular discounts that become available, as cruise lines seek to fill their remaining empty cabins before their cruises depart.  

This year, it seems like everyone is cruising--and, for good reason.  After several years of austerity, people are realizing that a cruise vacation is now one of the great values in travel.

DreamWorks Animation Reveals Release Slate Through 2014 - DreamWorks Animation has decided to let us in on their theatrical plans for the next three years. The studio has announced their release schedule that's booked all the way up to 2014, and features several anticipated tentpoles. Some of the notable films on the list include the Shrek spin-off Puss in Boots, How to Train Our Dragon 2, and the Robert Downey Jr. voiced Mr. Peabody & Sherman. Check out the roster…

Here’s the schedule:

May 26, 2011: Kung Fu Panda 2

Nov. 4, 2011: Puss In Boots (Chris Miller director; Joe Aguilar and Latifa Ouaou, producers)

June 8, 2012: Madagascar 3 (Eric Darnell, director; Mireille Soria and Mark Swift, producers)

Nov. 21, 2012: Rise of the Guardians (Peter Ramsey, director, William Joyce, co-director; Christina Steinberg and Nancy Bernstein, producers)

March 1, 2013: The Croods (Chris Sanders and Kirk DeMicco, directors; Kristine Belson and Jane Hartwell, producers)

June 7, 2013: Turbo (David Soren, director; Lisa Stewart, producer)

Nov. 8, 2013: Me and My Shadow (Mark Dindal, director; Melissa Cobb and Teresa Cheng, producer)

March 21, 2014: Mr. Peabody & Sherman (Rob Minkoff, director; Jason Clark and Denise Nolan Cascino, producers)

June 20, 2014:How to Train Your Dragon 2 (Dean DeBlois, director; Bonnie Arnold, producer)

We forgot all about Madagascar 3! Granted we love the franchise, but the fact that a third one was on the horizon completely slipped our minds. In terms of the non-sequel projects, we’re interested in seeing Mr. Peabody & Sherman. Anything with Robert Downey Jr. deserves a little bit of attention.

As for everything else, meh. What do you think?

After four decades in the music industry, starting with influential English prog-rock band Genesis and continuing with his own long solo career, Phil Collins is now done with music. "I don't really belong to that world," he told British lad's mag FHM in announcing his decision, "and I don't think anyone's going to miss me." Which is both the saddest and truest statement about Phil Collins.

 Collins has nerve damage in his hands, which is what happens after playing drums in professional rock bands for 40 years. He also has a dislocated vertebra and hearing problems, making performing simple tasks difficult if not impossible. "I'm not worried about not being able to play the drums again," he said in the interview, "I'm more worried about being able to cut a loaf of bread safely or building things for my kids."

 Collins, who is now 60, lives alone in Switzerland and joked about going "on a mysterious biking holiday and never return[ing]." At least, I hope it was a joke. Otherwise it's really depressing.

He's already announced retirement at least once before, in 2008, before releasing Going Back last year to little notice. Maybe all the existential isolation will make it real this time, though.