Scottish government approves windfarm opposed by Donald Trump

Taken From: The Guardian

Date Published: March 26th, 2013

United States businessman Donald Trump and his
golf resort.

Summary: Scottish ministers have just recently given the go-ahead to start building an experimental offshore wind-farm site near Aberdeen. They are building the wind-farm ignoring billionaire Donald Trump's angry threats of legal action against the building of the wind-farms. Mr. Trump says the huge wind generators will block the view from his golf course. Mr. Trump claims it effects the financial viability of his resort. Scotland says the wind-farms will be capable of generating up to 100MW of power, enough for almost half of all the homes in Aberdeen. The wind turbines will all the different as they are still experimental. Some will be taller than other and some will have different designs than others. The main purpose for this is to find a new "break through" technology to provide Scotland with power. Despite Mr. Trump stating he would do anything in his legal power to stop the project, it is still going to happen. 

"Well done to the Scottish government for standing up to Donald Trump's threats and 

bluster"

Opinion: I think that it was good of the Scottish government for standing up. It will help for the future of Scotland. The wind turbines may affect Mr. Trumps resort, but they are being built on land that is not his. So I believe he has no power to do anything. The wind turbines may affect Scotland's tourism industry, which is the biggest. As people enjoy views of the cliffs and coastline, and not big industrial machines. In the end I believe it was good to build the turbines and it is thinking for the future, which is more important.

North Korea 'defeats' US troops in new propaganda video

Taken From: The Telegraph

Date Published: March 24th, 2013

Summary: A four minute video was just recently released by the North Koreans on their official website: "Uriminzokkiri". It is a website that distributes news and propaganda from the state media. The video has a male narrator describing as what North Korea calls "A Short, Three-Day War". The video describes the different stages of the invasion that the North Korean army had been through. Which includes the destruction of forces under the US Pacific Command with "powerful weapons of mass destruction". The narrator also claims the North Korean army is currently in Seoul, South Korea with 150,000 United States prisoners of war.

Opinion: I think this shows how badly the North Korean government wants the keep their citizens from the real world. I video has a really low quality, and I'm sure its not the first, but it may make the North Korean citizens wonder to themselves if that is actually real. It may make them question themselves and their government. The North Koreans know there is a war going on, and the government responded with this.

China Wants Nuclear Reactors, and Lots of Them

Taken from: Business Week

Date Published: February 21, 2013

Construction of a reactor at the Chanjiang Nuclear Power
Plant, in September 2012.

Summary: After the nuclear meltdown that occurred in Japan on March of 2011, Japan has announced they will take down their nuclear power plants and leave them off. Germany has also announced they are decommissioning their nuclear power plants. To follow Switzerland and Italy have rejected proposals to build more reactors. But on the other hand China has not ceased to build their nuclear power plants. Last November the government approved four more projects. This adds up to 29 nuclear power plants. More than any country in the world. China will now own 40% of the world's nuclear power plants. China has already adopted a new type of technology, which increases the power of the reactor, which can now produce 1400 megawatts from 1000 megawatts. This new reactor also has an 8 million pound water tank on top of the plant, in the case of a power outage. This will create a three day window of time, which is the estimated time to prevent a meltdown. The nuclear operator does not have to do anything, the machine will do it automatically. In the case of a power outage the power plant will be cooled by the water which is run by gravity. China is testing all kinds of new technologies to create the most efficient and highest energy producing power plant, while still looking at safety. They have begun testing with the radioactive chemical thorium, which is said to be safer than uranium as nuclear fuel. 

“China is now one of the most important countries, if not the most important country, in the global nuclear industry,” 

Opinion: I think that it is great that China is moving forward to provide more energy for the world and for itself. I think nuclear power plants are a good source of energy, but building too many is bad. It poses a safety risk and it is bad for the environment. I think building 29, is going over the top. As long as they can keep the public safe and create a new technology that has less of an impact on the environment, it is a good step forward. I am glad that China is test new ways and new innovations to create a safe and reliable source of power for themselves and the rest of the world to use.