This is not an attempt at discussing some sort of scientific subject, nor an opportunity for describing in detail the hydraulic and hydrological problems caused by this unfortunate accident, this is merely a way of drawing attention towards the consequences of inadequate behaviors that people display in their interactions with the environment. Dâmbovița River, with its unique hydro-technical works and its concrete-enclosed riverbed between Lacul Morii and Glina, should set an example on the way in which a city’s public institutions (such as SGA Bucharest, the City’s Mayor, etc.), working together with the citizens (through their actions), manage to maintain a clean riverbed that carries a  water-flow which meets adequate standards of quality. Unfortunately, the reality that is to be found at the bottom of Dâmbovița River proves us once again that we are wrong and that, instead of silt and decomposing organic matter, the riverbed is riddled with tons of plastic bottles, aluminum cans  and various other types of rubbish.

As far as I know, there is no question about what the authorities should do first, before letting the water flow again between Izvor and Unirii – clean up all the rubbish from the riverbed…

Nevertheless, since I know how things work around here, always superficially even when it comes to urgent matters, I expect that overnight, when the river sector will be filled up again with water after the repairs are carried out, the plastic bottles will be forgotten and left where they are for many years to come – replacing the alluvial bed of Dâmbovița River…

Article written by Gabriela Morosanu and translated by Mihail Mitoseriu!

The phenomenon of global dimming was first noticed by Gerald Stanhill, a British scientist working in Israel.

Measurements carried out by various independent organizations and universities from the US have confirmed Stanhill’s theory. These studies have discovered a dimming of the Earth by up to 8 percents. In order to make things a bit clearer, we are not talking about an actual darkening of the Earth (not yet at least) but merely about a decrease in the amount of solar energy that reaches our planet.

I am saying “not yet” because this dimming varies significantly. Whereas in Australia and Africa it reaches around 2%, in the US it can be as high as 10% and in the former Soviet Union (including Russia) the dimming is substantial, of about 35%. In England, the London smog has caused a reduction of 20 to 25% in the amount of solar energy reaching the city.

After the first article published by Stanhill in 2001, he was met with skepticism and even negative reactions from fellow researchers. Only several years later did they acknowledge the existence of a real problem concerning global dimming, after the Australian National University of Canberra published a number of studies presenting the same issue as identified by Stanhill, but the Australians used different methods.

The main factor driving global dimming is, of course, human activity, and NOT the changes that occur naturally in the Sun’s luminosity, which over the recent years have been too small to play any role. Aerosols produced by human pollution are a predominant factor, together with greenhouse gases. They absorb solar rays and reflect them back into space. In addition, incomplete burning of diesel fuel releases even more carbon into the atmosphere, which further prevents the Sun’s light from reaching our planet’s surface. Soot is also an important element in the equation, according to some scientists, because, it can not only absorb solar radiation, but it can also transport it to other areas, such as the Himalaya Mountains, thus causing the glaciers situated there to melt.

Experiments undertaken in the Maldives at the beginning of the nineties, with the help of macroscopic pollutants, have caused a dimming of around 10% in the southern parts of India (by using only pollutants available at that time). The predictions made before the experiment estimated the dimming to be no higher than 1%.

Global dimming has affected the Earth’s hydrological cycle, lowering evaporation levels in some areas and directly reducing the amount of rainfall. Furthermore, this dimming masks the issue of global warming in certain regions, because it leads to a decrease in temperatures in the area whereas greenhouse gases cause an increase in temperatures.

It is worth mentioning that a 10 degree increase in temperatures at the North Pole because of global warming would release a massive amount of methane gas into the atmosphere. Methane is eight times more powerful than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas.

The question would be: Are you putting out what you want to get back? Because we are running out of time!!

Written by Ionuţ Radu and translated by Mihail-Andreas Mitoşeriu.

The principle behind its operation is as simple as it gets. The device works like a press, squashing the bottle from above. There is also an electrical heating component, which helps melt the PET. Thus, the bottle is heat-squashed, just like an accordion. Its output is quite good, as it can crush a bottle in 20 seconds, and it consumes 1000 Watts per hour. This little compactor can crush 10 bottles one after the other, after which it needs a little rest, in order to cool down. No harmful chemicals are released during the compacting process.

It is important to remove the label and the cap before crushing a plastic bottle, as these elements are recycled separately. After compacting, bottles can be sold to a collecting centre, where they will be recycled by using a process which involves washing and grinding. The result is known as plastic flakes, and is the raw material for manufacturing new plastic items, packaging, etc.

Compacting plastic before collecting is very useful, because it significantly decreases the volume that it takes up, thus allowing for more plastic waste to be collected and transported. Additionally, transport time and costs are reduced, which helps collecting firms and saves fuel.

The product can be bought on-line or from larger supermarkets at a price of around 200 lei (50 Euros).

Below we can click to see the full process of waste compacting using this device.

Compactare PET-uri

Photo source: Foto1, Foto2, Foto3

Source info

Article written by Bogdan Olariu and translated by Mihail Mitoșeriu.

L’organisation internationale WWF (World Wildlife Fund), est un des meilleurs amis de l’environnement, et, depuis 1961, elle a organisé un grand nombre d’actions au niveau mondial, pour soutenir la préservation de la nature, dans plus de 100 pays sur 5 continents.

En Roumanie, des nombreux projets ont touché leur but, réalisant ainsi un lien entre les individus intéressés par le bénévolat pour la protection de certains éléments de la nature, les spécialistes de WWF et les communautés locales. Dans notre pays,  WWF a commencé son activité en 2006, ayant comme objectifs la protection des habitats sauvages des Carpates et du Danube. Les projets développés jusqu’à ce moment se sont concentrés sur la préservation des forets, des ours bruns, du Delta du Danube et des esturgeons. En plus, WWF a stimulé la transition vers une ,,économie verte’’ et le développement d’un programme d’éducation sur l’environnement pour les jeunes.  

Dans la période suivante, WWF Roumanie promeut une belle campagne pour la protection des systèmes hydrographiques de la région carpatique et nous invite pour la soutenir. Les prémisses de l’action sont basées sur la compréhension des effets négatifs générés  sur la biodiversité et les communautés locales par la construction chaotique des micro-hydrocentrales (qui sont placées sur des rivières avec une grande valeur écologique, en négligeant la biodiversité, les risques et l’impact cumulatif de la construction sans une planification adéquate)

La campagne ,,Les rivières de montagne – la dernière chance’’ concentre ses efforts sur le changement de la législation, qui implique l’information et l’éducation de la population.

Cette action nous offre aussi des informations importantes: les micro-hydrocentrales, même si elles sont utiles et non-polluantes, sont édifiées fréquemment sur des rivières de la région montagneuse de notre pays, bien que la Roumanie ait accompli déjà son objectif de produire 24% de l’énergie en utilisant des sources renouvelables. Malgré une apparence inoffensive pour l’environnement, un nombre toujours plus grand de micro-hydrocentrales (300 d’eux ont été déjà approuvées sans une planification préalable au niveau des bassins des rivières ou au niveau régional) sont construites près des zones protégées ou même a l’intérieur de ces zones, en altérant, par le changement du régime hydrologique produit dans leur proximité, un grand nombre de caractéristiques de la biodiversité des zones protégées. Cette action nous informe sur le fait que les micro-hydrocentrales peuvent détruire d’une manière irréversible les habitats de certaines espèces, par l’effet de fragmentation, et l’investissement dans ces structures n’est pas justifié du point de vue écologique.

En affectant les lits des rivières et les versants par leur simple existence et aussi à cause de leur réseau de conduits utilisées pour transporter l’eau, les micro-hydrocentrales détruisent l’équilibre des rivières en affectant leur débit.

Selon le modèle de la campagne ,,Sauvez les forets vierges’’ (2011), on envisage la création d’une pression de la part du public sur les autorités, en vue de changer la législation et d’augmenter les exigences relatives à l’autorisation nécessaire pour des futurs projets de micro-hydrocentrales, en ajoutant au cadre actuel des provisions comme:

·    La définition des zones de type ,,no-go’’ (zones où la construction est interdite)

·    L’établissement d’un set de critères de planification pour la construction des micro-hydrocentrales au niveau national.

Cette action aura lieu entre Novembre et Décembre 2013, et va impliquer un nombre de partenaires: des ONG environnementales, des partenaires média, les ambassadeurs WWF, les associations des pêcheurs les institutions d’éducation, et des associations ou clubs d’alpinisme et tourisme montagnard.

Tout le monde peut s’impliquer dans la campagne par la diffusion des newsletters, affiches enligne (banners)  ou en organisant des discussions sur ce sujet dans les réseaux de social média. Pour plus d’information, le site du campagne www.raurileromaniei.ro, le lien vers le communiqué de presse annonçant le début de l’action http://romania.panda.org/?212356/Rauri-de-munte-sau-microhidrocentrale-inutile et la publication électronique sur ce sujet http://romania.panda.org/resurse/publicatii/7_mituri_despre_hidroenergie/ vous aideront pour comprendre les nécessites et buts de la campagne et aussi vous permettront de poser des questions et de recevoir des réponses.

Greenly Magazine soutient la campagne ,,Les rivières de montagne – la dernière chance’’. Rejoignez-nous!

Source de la photographie:

http://www.raurileromaniei.ro/salveaza-raurile/

Article écrit par Gabriela Adina Moroșanu et traduit par Mihail Andreas Mitoșeriu !

WWF (World Wildlife Fund) is one of nature’s most trusted friends, and since 1961, it has been undertaking countless worldwide campaigns aimed at preserving the environment, in over one hundred countries on five continents.

In Romania, many of these projects have been met with success, bringing together ordinary people, eager to volunteer in order to preserve elements of nature, WWF specialists and local communities. WWF began its activity in Romania in 2006, and its objective here is to preserve the wilderness of the Carpathian Mountains and the Danube. Its projects focus on preserving woodlands, protecting brown bears, the Danube Delta and the sturgeons. In addition, it aims to encourage the transition towards a “green economy” and to develop an environmental education programme for young people.

From now on, WWF Romania will promote a remarkable campaign which seeks to protect the hydrographical systems of the Carpathian region and invites us to support it. This campaign is built around the idea of raising awareness about the negative effects on biodiversity and local communities caused by the chaotic construction of micro-hydroelectric power stations (building micro-hydroelectric power stations on rivers with a significant ecological value leads to a neglect of biodiversity by ignoring the risks and the cumulative impact brought by constructing these installations without a thorough planning).

The “Mountain rivers: the last chance” campaign focuses its efforts on changing the legislation, by means of public pressure, which requires informing and educating the population.

This campaign tells us that, although useful and non-polluting, these micro-hydroelectric power stations are more and more frequently being built on rivers in the mountainous area of Romania, even though our country has already fulfilled its commitment towards the European Union to produce 24% of its energy from renewable sources. Even though they seem harmless for the environment, an increasing number of micro-hydroelectric stations are built close to protected areas or even inside them (300 have been approved for construction without a prior planning at the river basin level or at a regional level), thus modifying, through the mere change of the hydrological regime in their proximity, an important part of the biodiversity found in these protected areas. We are also informed that micro-hydro electrical power stations can cause irreversible damage to the habitat of certain species, by fragmenting the habitat, and that the investments made in building such projects are not environmentally sound. By affecting the valleys and the slopes through their existence, and also because of the extensive network of pipes used to transport water, these stations destroy the environmental balance of rivers by affecting their natural flow.

Modelled after the “Save the virgin forests” campaign of 2011, the goal of this campaign is to create public pressure on the authorities, in order to amend the legislation and to enforce a more thorough process of authorization for future projects, which should include the following aspects:   

- Defining no-go areas (areas were construction is prohibited);

- Establishing a nation-wide set of criteria for planning the construction.

The campaign will last between November and December 2013 and shall involve a number of partners: environmental NGOs, media partners, WWF ambassadors, fishermen’s associations, educational institutions and mountaineering and tourism clubs.   

Anyone can become involved, by spreading electronic newsletters, on-line banners or by organising networks on social media sites discussing this campaign. For more information, the campaign website (www.raurileromaniei.ro), the link to the press release announcing the start of the campaign (http://romania.panda.org/?212356/Rauri-de-munte-sau-microhidrocentrale-inutile ) and the on-line article “7 Myths about hydro-electric power” (http://romania.panda.org/resurse/publicatii/7_mituri_despre_hidroenergie/) will help you better understand the requirements and the objectives of this campaign and will give you the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers on this topic.

Greenly Magazine supports the campaign “Mountain rivers: the last chance”…Join us!

Photo source:

http://www.raurileromaniei.ro/salveaza-raurile/

http://greenly.ro/apa/campania-nationala-wwf-romania-raurile-de-munte-o-ultima-sansa

Article written by Gabriela Moroșanu and translated by Mihail Mitoșeriu

Nuclear power plants have been around for over half a century, the first one that began to generate electricity for commercial use was built by Russia in 1954. The first plant that used enriched uranium in its reactor and pressurized water as a cooling agent was inaugurated in Shippingport, Pennsylvania, on December 2^nd 1957, and had an output of 60W.

On January 1^st 1988, there were 417 operational nuclear reactors in 26 countries, with a total installed capacity of 29700 Mwe, and another 120 reactors were under construction. In 1990, the power generated by nuclear plants amounted to 20% of the world energy production.

Photo 1. Cernavodă nuclear power plant

Photo 2. Fukushima nuclear power plant

How does it work?

A nuclear power plant generates electricity by using the fission of uranium atoms, which produces high temperatures that heat water which then turns to steam, and this steam is used to turn the blades of turbines that power electricity generators.

Atomic fission is the process through which the nucleus of a uranium atom is split in two (a krypton atom and a barium atom), releasing a huge amount of energy in the form of heat.

Uranium is the heaviest element found in nature. More that 99% of all uranium is U-238 (238 meaning it has 92 protons and 146 neutrons), and 0.7% is U-235.

One gram of U-235 uranium has 2.562.553.191.489.360.000.000 atoms. Therefore, the fission reaction must be controlled in order generate just the amount of heat desired. The control is achieved with the help of heavy water, which slows down the neutrons. Additionally, rods of barium or cadmium are inserted into the reactor container to absorb neutrons and to control their concentration, keeping the power produced by the reactor at a constant level over time. If the neutrons released during the fission reaction are slowed down, the probability of an atomic collision that generates heat increases. In this way, it is possible to maintain a fission chain reaction that multiplies the energy produced.

Opinions are divided over the issue of nuclear power stations. Some people claim that they are unreliable and affect the health of people, while others have opposing views. It is true that a nuclear power plant can generate more electricity than a hydroelectric facility, a thermal power station or a petrol-burning power generating plant (a single ton of uranium produces more energy than 12 million barrels of oil). But in the event of a malfunction (a fissure or an explosion at a reactor), the damage caused to the environment and to human health can be immense.

Examples of such accidents are the explosions at Cernobil (in northern Ukraine) and Fukushima (situated in eastern Japan), which have polluted the environment on a radius of thousands of kilometres, or even more, depending on the speed and direction of the winds. The Cernobil explosion (which occurred in 1986) had consequences that can still be seen today. Many people have died or will die from cancer caused by this disaster. The level of radioactivity around Cernobil is still very high.

To a certain degree, nuclear energy is clean and does not pollute the atmosphere, but this cleanliness concerns only the process of generating electricity. As a residue of this process, we are left with nuclear waste, which has to be stored in concrete or titanium structures, often for centuries, until it will become harmless.

After the Fukushima accident, caused by a tsunami wave in 2011, the European Council decided that ,,the nuclear safety of all nuclear power plants in the EU must be revised, on the basis of a transparent and broad system of risk assessment – the Stress Tests”.

According to the NGO Terra Mileniul III, the stress tests were carried out superficially, without a clear methodology and the recommendations issued by the European Commission after one year of analysis are not legally binding. This situation also applies for the specific structures of Romania.

The effects of radiations   

The interaction between radiation and living or non-living matter is basically a transfer of energy.

The use of radiation in controlled conditions can have positive effects on humans. Radiation is used in medical treatments (for destroying cancer cells), in diagnostics (X-rays), in the food industry (to preserve foodstuff), in the pharmaceutical industry (for sterilising medical instruments) and more.

On the other hand, radiations can cause significant cell damage.

The biological effects of radiations can be classified in the following manner:

• Somatic effects, that appear at cell level and impact on the physiology of the individual subjected to radiations, causing damage that can lead to death or a decrease of the life expectancy.
• Genetic effects appear in the germ cells, thus causing mutations in the descendants.

One solution to these problems would be to use renewable sources of energy, which do not pose a hazard to the environment or to human health and require significantly lower investments than nuclear energy.

What do you think about nuclear power plants? Are you for or against?

Article written by Alexandra Dumitrescu, Greenly collaborator, and translated by Mitoşeriu Mihail-Andreas.

Sources:

http://www.scientia.ro/tehnologie/39-cum-functioneaza-lucrurile/745-cum-functioneaza-o-centrala-nucleara.html

http://www.ecomagazin.ro/centralele-nucleare-un-pericol-real/

http://www.ecomagazin.ro/reactoarele-de-la-cernavoda-controlate-de-mantuiala/

http://www.et.upt.ro/admin/tmpfile/fileH1330943017file4f549429e2463.pdf

http://www.nuclearelectrica.ro/user/content/12f011_radiatiile_si_centrale.pdf

Sources photo:

http://www.dcnews.ro/2011/03/wikileaks-centrala-nucleara-de-la-cernavoda-nu-este-foarte-sigura/

http://www.filtersfast.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Fukushima.jpg

As the rainfall in this area is scarce, the only fresh water source which supplies the sea is the Jordan River. Until the 1970s, the river was discharging a volume of 1.5 billion m3 of water each year. Due to the irrigation systems which were built in the area, we are now speaking of generally 80 million m3 of water annually. These data are important, as the concentration of salts and the environmental capacity of sustaining aquatic organisms depend on the amount of fresh water reaching the sea. Currently, the lake is populated only by some bacteria and, in the 80s, some red algae have been reported after a wetter season. Would the Jordan River have a larger and more constant water flow, the Dead Sea water would be more clearly stratified as far as the saline concentration is concerned, thus allowing the existence of certain fish or algae in surface waters. On the contrary, at a lower flow, as it is today, the amount of evaporated water is higher than the “inputs” of fresh water; the sea surface has been decreasing by approximately 1 meter annually, from 1970 until the present day and the sea level has lowered by 23 meters.

After having lost a third of its surface, the Dead Sea is threatened with extinction, an event expected to happen at the middle of the XXI century. The rescue project supported by the World Bank aims to build a canal between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea in order to replenish the latter. The plan is of gigantic proportions and stipulates the construction of a plant on the Red Sea, to pump water, followed by the construction of a 180 km long canal to the Dead Sea. In addition to its function of supplying the Dead Sea, the canal will also have a touristic value. The authorities involved in its construction will create artificial lakes which will allow setting up tourist bases in the desert.

The expert opinions on this project are very diverse and contradictory, with concerns about the mixture of the two seas’ waters, which would completely destroy the Dead Sea through the occurrence of hydrogen sulfide. Accurate forecasts cannot be yet made…

Until then, you can enjoy the full therapeutic properties of the Dead Sea water, and, if you have the opportunity, do not hesitate to visit these places full of history! More on the minerals, mud and salt found in this area and their therapeutic properties, here.

The article was written by Razvan Spiridon and translated by Magda Baidan.

You can read the Romanian version of this article here.

Info sources: http://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marea_Moart%C4%83, http://regiuni.famouswhy.ro/marea_moarta_sau_lacul_asflatit/, http://www.crestinortodox.ro/pelerinaje/marea-moarta-120931.html

Image sources: http://www.crestinortodox.ro/pelerinaje/marea-moarta-120931.html, http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20306921_2,00.html, http://www.bibleistrue.com/qna/pqna68.htm

Let’s begin with the easy part:

History of CNE (Centrala NuclearElectrică – Nuclear Power Station) Cernavodă  

-          1979 – Construction works begin

-          1996 – The first reactor becomes operational

-          2007 – The second reactor becomes operational

According to www.cne.ro, each reactor at Cernavodă nuclear power station provides 706, 5/Mwe to the National Energy System, thus covering about 18% of the present national energy requirement.

CNE Cernavoda. Sursă foto: www.nuclearelectrica.ro

How it works

The Cernavodă Power station uses Canadian technology, which is based on the CANDU (CANadian Deuterium Uranium). As the name suggests, such a reactor operates with natural uranium and heavy water (a chemical compound of deuterium) as a moderator and cooling agent.

Deuterium is a stable isotope of hydrogen, with a mass number of 2 and is represented by the chemical symbol D or ²H. Heavy water (D₂O or ²H₂O) differs from ordinary water by the fact that it has in its composition the isotope deuterium in a greater proportion.

Operating a nuclear power plant is based on initiating and maintaining a controlled nuclear fission chain reaction, a process which can be achieved in a nuclear reactor. The core of the reactor contains the fuel and has the shape of a cylindrical vessel called a Calandria vessel. The nuclear fuel used is made up of synthesized nuclear dioxide pellets, which are inserted into rods made of zircaloy. Thirty-seven such rods form a fuel bundle. The fuel bundles are, in turn, inserted into pressure channels (there are 380 channels with 12 bundles each). In total, the core of the reactor holds about 90 tons of nuclear fuel.

Combustibil nuclear. Sursă: raport de mediu 2010, nuclearelectrica.ro

In brief – the Calandria vessel is composed of 380 pressure channels, each one holding 12 fuel bundles, and each fuel bundle being made of 37 fuel rods of synthesized uranium dioxide pellets, which totals 90 tons of nuclear fuel.

The fission reaction taking place inside the pressure channels generates heat, which is absorbed by the heavy water running through the fuel channels. The heavy water then transfers the heat to the steam generators, which, as their name suggests, create water vapors (from ordinary water) that expand and drive the turbine and create electricity.

When it exits the turbine, the steam is condensed inside the condenser which is cooled with water from the Danube – Black SeaCanal. The water used to cool the condenser is then evacuated back into the Danube.

Safety  

In case there is a technical malfunction, the reactor can be quickly shut down by means of two safety stopping mechanisms which operate independently (using different functioning principles). Additionally, the parts of the reactor where the fission reaction and the generation of radioactive materials occur are situated inside a sealed structure made of prestressed concrete called the containment building.

Another safety feature is the fact that every control element of the power station has a backup system which can take over its function in case of a breakdown.

Environmental protection 

The main effects on the environment are created by the evacuation of the water used for cooling (which has a high temperature that can harm the ecosystem of the Danube) and the radioactive waste. The radiological impact (measured in terms of dosage received by the population) proved to be negligible (a supplementary dose of 10 μSv/year – five times less than the dose received after a taking an X-ray exam, according to the 2011 Environmental Report).

Sursă: raport de mediu 2011, www.cne.ro

It is important to mention that the Environmental Management System of the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant has received the ISO 14001 Certification in 2004, and was recertified in 2010, after the addition of Reactor number 2. This means that the measures used for protecting the environment are well prepared.

a) The cooling water

The use of cooling water is the main difference between a CANDU – type uranium based reactor and a thorium – based nuclear reactor (which is, in many aspects, much more efficient). But the differences between the two types will be discussed another day. Here, you can read more about thorium – based reactors.

Cernavodă is authorized to use for cooling the waters of the Danube, collected through the Danube – Black SeaCanal, and released back into the river after having cooled down the reactors. The volume of water taken from the river and the temperature of the hot water dumped back into the Danube are the two main factors that can impact the aquatic environment. This is why these two parameters must be closely monitored and the conditions required for this activity are laid down in the ,,Agreement regarding the methodology employed for monitoring the usage of the water resources and the returning of the used waters into the water resources” concluded between the Water Administration Agency – Dobrogea-Litoral Constanta and CNE Cernavodă (which is an integral part of the water management authorization). According to the 2010 Environmental report, there were no violations of the conditions imposed by the environmental authorization.

b) Chemical and radioactive emissions in the water

Concerning these aspects, the evacuation of water into the river can be stopped by a special mechanism, in case certain parameters are exceeded, thus avoiding to surpass the maximum limits allowed for radioactive and chemical emissions. In addition, 1400 water samples are analyzed each year by the Dosimetry Laboratory in order to determine the amount of radioactivity evacuated. The 2010 Environmental Report states that the maximum limits for emissions have never been exceeded during the entire period the power plant has been active. Also, neither the emissions of non-radioactive substances have ever risen above the maximum allowed concentrations.

c) Radioactive waste  

These waste materials are the result of the daily operation of the plant, such as maintenance or repair works or interruptions. Such substances are dangerous and require special handling. They present themselves as solids (filters, plastics, and glass), organic liquids (oils, solvents) or liquid-solid flammable mixtures. Liquid waste is solidified to reduce the risk of a fire and some solids are compacted so that they take up less space. All waste materials are sorted following certain criteria, stored in stainless steel containers and then shipped to an intermediary storage facility. Often, less radioactive materials are transported (in exchange for a fee) to countries that possess technologies to treat the waste (such as Sweden – for cremation – but this process only reduces the volume of the waste materials, and the remains are then sent back for final storage). In the final storage phase, the waste is placed in compact molds that guarantee safe storage for 300 years. An important institution involved in the final storage phase (but also with important attributions in the field of nuclear energy) is Agenţia Nucleară şi pentru Deşeuri Radioactive – ANDRAD (The Nuclear and Nuclear Waste Agency – www.andrad.ro).

Another interesting problem is the intermediary storage of the spent fuel. This is done for a period of at least 50 years in a special deposit (Depozitul Intermediar pentru Combustibil Ars – DICA – The Intermediary Deposit for Spent Fuel). Here, several physical processes occur which help keep the bundles of nuclear fuel in safety (that is without any gaseous or liquid leaks).

DICA- Depozit Intermediar pentru Combustibil Ars. Sursă: nuclearelectrica.ro

d) Atmospheric protection

For all nuclear power plants, there are no CO₂ emissions. Replacing the amount of energy produced at Cernavodă with energy obtained from fossil fuels would increase the annual national CO₂ output by 10 million tons (according to www.cne.ro)

Emergency situations                

Canadian – designed nuclear power stations are known for their safety, and have the technology necessary to reduce the risk of accidents. Still, periodic drills are conducted in order to prepare the workers, and also the population, for an emergency situation.

Conclusion  

Judging from the data presented by NuclearElectrica on official websites and in the pages of environmental reports, one can affirm that Cernavodă is an important energy source that at the moment does not present any cause for concern. We can only hope that mother–nature will be kind to us, sparing the region of earthquakes and other unpredictable events which could pose a nuclear threat for the life of the population.

Bibliography  

www.cne.ro

www.nuclearelectrica.ro

www.andrad.ro

Environmental reports http://www.cne.ro/m/aspx?id=86&it=2    

Article written by the editor Ioana Stoicescu and translated by the associated editor of Greenly Magazine, Mihail Andreas Mitoseriu

We would like to express our gratitude and thanks to Cristina Ioana Stăicuţ, General Manager UPM Romania, Cristina Maria Torică şi Ramona Bica – specialists in Customer Service, Daniel Siegel, Senior Manager Technical Sales for Central Europe, UPM-Kymmene Austria GmbH and Peter Resch, Technical Sales Manager, UPM AG Zürich, Switzerland, for giving us such attention and time, for the precious information and valuable discussions, for the friendship and professionalism!

1.         Why UPM has, as logo, the Griffin sign?

a.         The Griffin sign is a historical logo. The Finnish designer, Hugo Simberg designed it in 1899. For more details, check the history of company logo: http://www.upm.com/EN/ABOUT-UPM/Our-Company/History/Pages/default.aspx

2.         As UPM site shows our entire preoccupation, in all activities and actions, of nature, environment, personnel & economy, how are the employees guided to act in order to achieve all these?

a.         UPM’s corporate responsibility principles include the environmental, financial and social aspects. How the company behaves in these areas is also related to how employees behave, for instance, regarding honesty and transparency in business operations. One of our corporate values is “trust and be trusted”.

b.         In addition, there is a Code of Conduct which all employees must follow. The UPM Code of Conduct sets out the standards of responsible behaviour for each individual employee.

c.         Check more about the Code of Conduct in: http://www.upm.com/EN/ABOUT-UPM/Our-Company/Code-of-Conduct/Pages/default.aspx

d.         Almost all of UPM’s production sites, as well as wood-sourcing and forestry operations, have a verified environmental management (ISO 14001) system in place. Also the forest certification and chain of custody systems require extensive and continuous training and knowledge sharing of best practices within the UPM mills.

e.         More about the principles in here: http://www.upm.com/EN/RESPONSIBILITY/Principles-and-Performance/Pages/default.aspx  

3.         Are individual employees initiative encouraged in this respect and how?

a.         Individual responsibility is expected from each employee since all employees are aware of UPM’s values and Code of Conduct and what it entails. Initiatives regarding corporate responsibility (environment, social and financial) are encouraged in daily work. There is also an internal tool called “idea factory” where employees can communicate their ideas regarding UPM’s processes and other areas of opportunity.

b.         A good case example of an employee initiative are the water bottles – ref. the blog: http://www.upm.com/EN/MEDIA/upm-blog/Pages/UPM-removes-plastic-water-bottles-from-head-office.aspx

4.         How is this transmitted to the customers in order for the customers to appreciate UPM efforts and to act in similar manner?

a.         The customers are aware of UPM’s values and that is why we consider ourselves a reliable company.

b.         For us at UPM responsible business conduct means focusing not only on our own operations but on the whole publication value chain and finding sustainable business solutions in active dialogue with our customers, suppliers and partners. The customers and end-users of paper products are today very interested in environmental issues. At UPM we have developed a range of environmental services to ensure that our customers have all the information and understanding they need in order to support their environmental ambitions. Please visit http://www.upmpaper.com/en/services/environmental-services/Pages/default.aspx

c.         Also, certified quality and environmental management systems, environmental reporting, Paper Profile declarations, eco-labels, and certified chain of custody systems for responsible fibre sourcing are among the tools that UPM is using to promote sustainable business practices and products.

5.         Apart of UPM Certifications are there any other means of promoting both the quality of the products and all environment actions to the customers (media campaigns, events, labelling, etc.)?

a.         The quality of our product should speak for itself, but of course marketing communications are aimed at explaining the virtues of our products.

b.         Labelling is a good way of communicating sustainability; however, it is not the only one. There are other ways that our customers can get familiar with UPM’s sustainability; trainings, environmental consultancy, customer service, guidance.

c.         Transparent and timely reporting is and important way of communicating. UPM follows the GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) framework in responsibility reporting. 

d.         Joint projects with partners, suppliers and other stakeholders are also important. A good example is the Oder River case (please see the blog: http://www.upm.com/EN/MEDIA/upm-blog/Pages/sustainability-journey-in-poland.aspx

6.         Has UPM always had this eco-responsibility behaviour?

a.         UPM, the Biofore Company is proud of its evolution. The company is the result of a long evolution in paper production. For example, the Docelles paper mill exists since the XV century. The way paper is produced now is definitely different, as is the approach to the environment. Nowadays, UPM permanently seeks to improve paper making either through new innovations (bio-fibrils is one example) or through process improvement.

b.         The forest-based industries occupy a significant role in promoting sustainable development. Commitment to continuous improvement in economic, environmental and social performance is an essential part of the business strategy. 

c.         Since 2003, UPM has been a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact initiative, a global network of businesses and other stakeholders from around the world committed to sustainability and responsible business practices. The core values of the Global Compact are presented as ten principles, which cover human rights, labour standards, the environment and anti-corruption.

7.         Were there any accidents during production processes (and not only) that could have harmed the environment, nature and / or persons?

a.         Occupational Health and Safety is a top priority. At the moment UPM is running a corporate-wide initiative “Step change in safety 2012-2014”. In 2011 there were no fatal work-related accidents at UPM (see also Annual Report 2011, page 61).

b.         UPM’s target is to reduce the environmental footprint of its operations and products throughout the lifecycle; from raw material sourcing, production, delivery and product use, to the recycling and reuse of the products. Environmental performance is continuously monitored. Any deviation from permit conditions is immediately reported to the relevant authorities, and corrective and preventive measures taken.

c.         Environmental performance is reported in here: http://www.upm.com/EN/RESPONSIBILITY/Principles-and-Performance/environmental-performance/Pages/default.aspx

8.         How can we visit UPM Production sites and / or forest area?

a.         The local UPM representative/office could organize a visit together with the UPM mills closest by and the forest department.

9.         Are there any summer trainee programs available for Romanian citizens in order to observe company’s activity (mainly pulp and paper) that affects the environment (in an eco-friendly company)?

a.         All summer jobs can be applied through http://www.upm.com/EN/CAREERS/Pages/default.aspx

10.        Which are main aspects and elements under consideration & that are fully respected in every production cycle?

a.         Biomass sourcing (pulp from certified forests) is a key sustainability aspect that must always be respected.

b.         Energy and material efficiency, modern technologies and responsible sourcing play a key role in reducing our impact on the environment. Environmental impact assessments are carried out at each site. An overview of the key environmental aspects, environmental impact and UPM’s measures can be seen in the table on the web: http://www.upm.com/EN/RESPONSIBILITY/Principles-and-Performance/environmental-performance/environmental-impact/Pages/default.aspx

11.        Would UPM allow us to write about company activity and implication in all environment aspects?

a.         Sure

Kiitos, UPM!

Photo sources:

http://www.uusisuomi.fi/kotimaa/110920-paperialan-lakko-alkaa-huomenna

http://www.uusisuomi.fi/raha/118610-valtiolle-1594-milj-%E2%82%ACn-tappio-kolmikko-sopi-hinnoista