No. 127 July 09


The reactor bankruptcy - THTR 300 The THTR Circular
Studies on THTR and much more. The THTR breakdown list
The HTR research The THTR incident in the 'Spiegel'

The THTR Circulars from 2009

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THTR Circular No. 127, July 2009


Content:

The Werhahn growls

THTR confinement: Sure, a lot of money

In the year 2025: But still “Bonsei-THTR” in South Africa?

Media under the hammer (without sickle)

September 5, 2009: Anti-nuclear drumbeat before the election!


The Werhahn growls

The Wehrhan"Granules of sand - small shell grains", surrounded by a "diamond-hard shell"! - "These granules - like raisins in a bun - come in a hand-sized graphite ball", durable "at least a billion years" (1)!

Those who praise THTR technology like sour bread with these words are none other than Hermann Josef Werhahn, patriarch of the Werhan clan. One of the richest entrepreneurial families in Germany since 1871. He is not only the owner of countless flour mills for the production of diamond flour, but also a specialist in everything there is to make money. Mechanical engineering, retail chains, lignite mining and power plants, coal trading and since 1967 the largest private shareholder of RWE with 10%, supervisory board and executive board positions there included (2).

Hermann Josef Werhahn is also the son-in-law of Adenauer (3), which brings us to a very special cornerstone of the much-cited “Rhenish capitalism”. However, not only corporate profits are sacred to them, they are all themselves! Wikipedia provides the following information about this: “Dr. Joseph Cardinal Frings, Archbishop of Cologne and friends with the post-war chancellor, was related to the grandmother of Wilhelm Werhahn's cousin. The cardinal's brother, Alfons Frings, was the mayor of Neuss. Prelate and Cologne Canon Franz Werhahn was Wilhelm Werhahn's uncle ”(1880 - 1964).

The latter achieved a record number of 23 holy supervisory board mandates, was referred to as the "uncrowned King of Neuss" according to Wikipedia and was best friends with the Cologne private banking family Sal. Oppenheim, with whom he was also connected through various corporate investments.

Back to his son Hermann Josef and his not entirely unselfish admiration for the high-temperature reactor. The certificate news wrote in their newsletter 1/2009: "Hermann Josef Werhahn (Adenauer's son-in-law) has been a consultant on reactor technology with the spherical fuel elements from the start". It was already evident last year that the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) in South Africa was not making good progress and that the problems were increasing. So it is high time to let the business-friendly media support troops off the leash in order to have the key words for his hymns of praise given in an interview in “Die Welt” on November 14, 11:
"Welt Online: How long will the world supplies of thorium last compared to uranium?
Werhahn: Thorium is found in monazite deposits. The reserves would be sufficient to operate all nuclear power plants in the world for several hundred years.
Welt Online: The uranium deposits should not last that long.
Werhahn: That's right ....... "

Hermann Josef knows all this very well because he has to know. He was friends with the holy creator of the THTR, Professor Rudolf Schulten (RWTH Aachen University and Director of the Institute for Nuclear Technology at Forschungszentrum Jülich), who died in 1996, and obviously wants to complete his life's work after the setbacks in Hamm-Uentrop and Jülich: The resurrection of the high temperature reactor! - Of course, this does not happen out of charity, but out of the entrepreneurial drive to pursue (ab) creation of value. Just as aggressive and daring as the musketeers of the clan's own earlier beer brand: "Men like us - Wicküler beer!"

The economist Kurt Pritkoleit compared a real Werhahn with that “man who goes along with the heap of gold diggers - not to dig nuggets or swing the sieve, but to give pioneers a pick and shovel, wood for building their huts or just for that Selling fire in the tent, flour, beans, salt and schnapps and thus doing a more profitable, definitely a completely safe business in the long run. ”(4) Unfortunately, unfortunately nothing is safe at THTR. Hermann Josef Werhahn also had to experience this when he founded the company "Siamant GmbH" based on the language of his diamond flour brand. This company tried to apply a silicon carbide layer to the THTR fuel element balls in order to make them incombustible. But it didn't work.

Hermann Josef Werhahn was not discouraged by this setback and instead lets his good connections with politics play out. You see and meet each other all the time anyway. For example, at the “Gnadentaler Entrepreneur's Table (GUT)” he sits on the podium with NRW Economics Minister Thoben, where both of them pass the balls to each other. Thoben criticized the nuclear phase-out and then: “There was applause for it - including from Hermann-Josef Werhahn, deputy chairman of the CDU SME Association. He thanked Thoben for bringing the technology of the high-temperature reactor developed in NRW and thus the use of a 'demilitarized hydrogen industry' back into discussion. "(5)

Then Thoben clearly accommodates the early Christian charity entrepreneur with one of his other social concerns: “'Anything that is ineffective and more obstructive than useful must go,' says Christa Thoben - and by that means, for example, the collective bargaining law. 'A bureaucratic monster' ”.

In his function as chamber president of the IHK Mittlerer Niederrhein, Wilhelm Werhahn, another family member, provides protection assistance and in an interview with the Westdeutsche Zeitung speaks out in favor of "extending the life of nuclear power plants" (6).

Wherever he can, Hermann Josef Werhahn tries to get THTR talking. The management consultant Jochen Michels (Konrad-Adenauer-Ring, Neuss) thanked his "inspirer" in his homework booklet on the subject of "fuel from core heat and biomass" for a variety of suggestions and information, certainly not without reason. In his text, a hymn of praise to the conservative over-father and Werhahn relative Adenauer, the dear friend of the peace movement, was particularly emphasized: “This is an essential prerequisite for maintaining the atomic neutrality of our fatherland, which Konrad Adenauer had in the 50s was initiated ".

For this he certainly gets a one in obedience and loyalty from the clan; In a serious history lesson, he would certainly get a six: The FRG, under Adenauer, fiercely opposed the signing of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (7). In his remarks about the allegedly low level of radioactivity in THTR nuclear waste, he cheekily and untruthfully claims: "The best evidence is that both Jülich and Uentrop will have restored the" green field "by 2025." On the other hand, it is correct that the The state government of North Rhine-Westphalia published a study last year which considered (!) To reduce the THTR by 2044.

The following of his statements are also incorrect: “The ball bed systems now under construction and in operation in South Africa, China, Japan and other countries show that we are not alone.” There is no reactor at all in South Africa. He prefers to remain silent about it because it does not fit into his fictitious success story. The construction of the Chinese HTR has not yet started and the mini-THTR with a ridiculous 10 MW is almost only started up when a delegation of admirers who believe in miracles or too impressive state guests are on the march. As is well known, the Chinese government does not like to raise its own problems. The HTTR (!) In Japan is not a ball bed reactor at all. And which other countries are still building or even operating the THTR, Mr. Michels should explain to us in more detail - he obviously knows more about this than the rest of the world. Or do these reactors only exist in his imagination that ran away with him?

In the meantime, Herrmann Josef Werhahn's memorable Welt-Interview has been translated into French (8). Because lucrative business is not only to be done in the Rhineland and Ruhr area, but also a few hundred kilometers further in nuclear-friendly France. - However, if the CDU and FDP form a joint federal government not only in North Rhine-Westphalia, but also after the next federal election, then the right decision-makers will be invited to the Lord's Supper. Over sparkling wine, we will chat together about how the old visions of the high-temperature reactor can be resurrected in Germany very soon. There are still enough designated potential power plant locations from the past ...

Notes:
1. Die Welt, November 14, 11
2. See also Bernd Engelmann “How we became what we are. From unconditional surrender to unconditional rearmament ”, Goldmann 1982, pages 134 to 139
3. See also Badstübner, Thomas: “Origin and development of the FRG. Restoration and division 1945-1955 ”, Pahl-Rugenstein 1975, page 389
4. Wikipedia under "Peter Werhahn“, 2009
5. Neuss-Grevenboicher Zeitung January 12, 1
6. Westdeutsche Zeitung, March 11, 3
7. See THTR Circular No. 95
8. See: http://terresacree.org/hautetemperature.html

THTR confinement: Sure, a lot of money

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More than four years ago, the NRW Ministry of Finance wrote to us that it wanted to “get in touch” with the THTR shareholders in good time to renegotiate the takeover of the THTR shutdown costs of 5,6 million euros annually. The ministerial officials themselves underlined "in good time" in bold. A good five months before the deadline, however, we are still not smarter, despite new inquiries. Is that how you behave? - We are curious to see whether the ministry can put enough pressure on at the very last minute that the corporate owners can give the taxpayers a few more gracious groschen.

In the year 2025:
But still “Bonsei-THTR” in South Africa?

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After the failed funding of the PBMR in South Africa, the nuclear industry is trying to save what can be saved. Because in March 2010 the South African budget year with the subsidies for the PBMR development will end.

In order to dust off a few more taxpayer billions, the PR department produces a lot of hot air. Times the reactor should be talked to the oil country Kuwait of all things. Another time, partnerships with China are exaggerated as a milestone in the further development of the PBMR. The aim of the “Memorandum of Understanding” with China is merely to avoid duplication of research. The "New Germany" fell for this "success" message uncritically and, despite further inquiries, did not even print a letter to the editor! The mini-THTR in Beijing with a ridiculous 10 MW is almost only started up when journalists or foreign scientists are on the march. It was a whole 2008 days in 10!

After the election in South Africa, the PBMR company tried a new concept including thermal use and baked very small rolls in view of the economic crisis. No longer the modest 165 MW output as previously planned, but a meager 80 MW of electricity should be provided by the little one. This would not even begin to cover the country's electricity needs, but only experiment a little, as in Jülich. And because a new concept has to be created, it would take 9 years to complete from now on (plus the lying and bragging factor certainly even longer).

This makes a slow end to this significantly slimmed-down PBMR concept more likely. The new government in South Africa has yet to familiarize itself with the matter. She has burned her fingers on the PBMR before. Finding external donors can take time. As a precaution, the South African power company announced an electricity price increase of 31,8 percent immediately after the announcement of the new possible intentions. We stay on the ball.

Media under the hammer (without sickle)

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“Listen, Nuri, the Vornholt from the Westfälischer Anzeiger has been walking up and down in front of our office the whole time. Do you have an appointment with him? ”-“ No, no idea why he's sneaking around here so inconspicuously. Perhaps we should ask him in for a glass of Turkish tea? ”-“ Then we could ask him why he didn't print anything from our last press release, ”replies Alisan. - "But look, there are people with a Styrofoam wall right in front of our shop window - it says 'Freedom instead of neocommunism'!"

The left has a wall in their head, says Laurenz MeyerNuri and Alisan, who came to West Germany from Turkey as children and had just grown up when the GDR wall came down, are amazed that as members of the Left Party they are now straight away from the strange Ant-ex association (named after a brain laxative of the same name) for the political Conditions in the GDR are held responsible. "Do they still have all the cups in the cupboard, are they even ..... fascists ?!"

First hear it and watch the absurd scene with an ecstatic paparazzi look. - What a captivating story is offered here! - The world spirit of the day before yesterday is finally breathing in Hamm - and the ruminants of the dusty propaganda rubbish from the time of the Cold War are fed again. WA owner Ippen can tap against the Left Party. That's not new.

Unilateral interference in election campaign

The Hessische / Niedersächsische Allgemeine (HNA), which Ippen bought a few years ago, intervened massively and unilaterally in the Hessian state election campaign as a monopoly newspaper. The Junge Welt (JW) of January 9th, 2009 wrote:

“There is a local association in Baunatal near Kassel that - as is not unusual for leftists - deals more with itself than with real politics. Signal words are used: »Stasi methods«, »spying«, »elitist cadre formation«. For any serious journalist, this might be worth reporting under "Miscellaneous". Not so for the editors of the HNA. The paper started its "chief reporter" - its former title - and has now reproduced this process, which culminated at a state party congress at the end of November 2008, for the fifth time. Two weeks before the new state elections, the »story« even made it onto the front page: »The members of the Left Party are running away«. Only the attentive reader may have remembered that the HNA had to announce a few days beforehand as a small marginal message that Die Linke in Hessen had grown by over 2008 members in 730.
(...) So-called reader forums were set up as a rubric for local political issues. Those who considered this to be more citizen participation soon found themselves mistaken. The aim was to create improved room for maneuver for the local CDU, whose organizational set-up is catastrophic. The newspaper became the most active lobbyist for the expansion of the Kassel / Calden airport - a favorite project of the Koch government. Forums »specialist« for questions of »democracy and law« became Jürgen Gehb, member of the Bundestag and there legal policy spokesman for the CDU parliamentary group, an outspoken hardliner. State politics became the topic of the CDU top candidate Eva Kühne-Hörmann in the HNA. Of course, after the state elections in February 2008, representatives of other parties were also allowed to have their say in interviews. But before their first word was printed, the readers of the HNA learned, for example, that Willi van Ooyen, the newly elected parliamentary group leader of the Left Party in the state parliament, had been "the GDR's agent of influence."

"Background noise" in danger

This year, the 230.000 edition HNA made a name for itself again. The idiosyncratic Ippen ordered his editorial team to refrain from DPA reports on a trial basis. The TAZ headline was “Background Noise in Danger” (April 12, 4). With the help of a well-developed network of correspondents, the German Press Agency supplies newspaper editors with well-researched reports from all parts of Germany for a fee. Obviously, a somewhat reliable media institution that still adheres to minimum journalistic standards is a thorn in the side of a man like Ippen. Obviously, he would rather use his own people as news carriers and rulers of “forums”.

Only superficially does media politics sometimes strike grotesque capers. Ines Pohl, correspondent for the Ippen media group in Berlin and previously head of the political department of the HNA, is now the editor-in-chief of the TAZ (TAZ from June 26th, 6)! The liberal TAZ, which has recently appeared in a wonderful layout, is basically disinterested or even dismissive of anything social. In this specific case, it was only necessary to overcome the cultural barrier from the staid right-wing conservatism to the lively, ecologically-influenced cultural chiceria.

Disinformation daily newspaper

The owners of the means of production determine what is done with them. One shouldn't be surprised that the media are what they are. When about one hundred thousand people demonstrated against the social robbery on May 16, 2009 in Berlin, the Westfälische Anzeiger did not report a single word about it. However, there are also gaps and peculiarities in the daily newspaper disinformation system. It is particularly spicy, for example, that for many years the two very different newspapers “Neues Deutschland” and Ippens WA not only reported the most frequently nationwide about the THTR or PBMR, but also the content was almost always the same. Hopefully Mr Ippen will not have a heart attack if he notices that ...

Only once was everything different. The ND did not want to print the report that the construction of the 165 MW PBMR in South Africa had failed. In the WA, however, it appeared - in the Hammer local section under "Leo Hammer". This is a special section that tells, for example, how mostly elderly people have miraculously recovered a lost bunch of keys. An editor had put the BI press release into a nice story and the message reached its readers on page one in the local section. Perhaps it was read more there than elsewhere.

As long as there are two or three different newspapers with well-staffed local editorial offices, there are still ways to accommodate a message. Because journalists sometimes have a different opinion or a different journalistic professional understanding than the publisher.

Local editorial offices are, however, threatened with extinction in NRW. The WAZ group with its SPD member and managing director Bodo Hombach wants to cut around 300 jobs in North Rhine-Westphalia (TAZ of February 19, 2). Local editorial offices will be merged with the Westfalenpost or Westfälische Rundschau. 2009 million euros are to be saved and profits increased. It would be the biggest encroachment on the local media diversity in NRW. When looking for an open-minded editor, you will find yourself in front of a closed door more and more often in the future. The attempts by the Süddeutsche Zeitung and the TAZ to establish their own NRW editions have failed in recent years. Now that the NRW press has really got the hang of it, the CDU politician Rüttgers in NRW can calmly give all ninth grades in the schools a daily newspaper for one year (TAZ of June 32, 23) and be sure that they usually only yell out the voice of their master.

Willy Brandt: "Social Democrats cannot make a newspaper."

Are there alternatives in this valley of tears? - Is it perhaps the “new hammer time” that the Hammer SPD distributed to all households almost across the board before the European elections? I can hardly believe my eyes when I read: "Fighting poverty - ensuring everyone's participation". The whole newspaper is overflowing with demands to help the socially disadvantaged. The SPD is responsible for the Hartz laws and is the main cause of what it is now hypocritically complaining about. Anyone who falls for this as a victim has to be pretty stupid - or a masochist. In this case I suggest adding three lashes of the whip to this newspaper, so that the howls and whines of those who are crawling to the polls may sound sweet in the ears of the entrepreneurs; they invest more heavily in anticipation of further submission gestures and the euros are jingling loudly again in their coffers. That would be real social democratic house music for reading the newspaper!

The alternative to commerce and dumbing down from above are moving newspapers from below. Such as the libertarian-pacifist monthly newspaper “Graswurzelrevolution”, which is recognized every year in the constitution protection report. Your internet presence, which promotes conscientious objection and non-violent conflict resolution, has been classified and blocked by the internet school filter, on which countless school computers are installed, under the category "politically extreme / hate / discrimination"! This is what the media landscape looks like in the FRG. It took some effort to unlock. In the meantime, the “Grassroots Revolution” is accompanied by the independent youth newspaper “Utopia”. The circulation is an impressive 25.000 copies and the agile young editors not only whiz around in countless demos and campaigns, but also write diligently articles about the THTR in all kinds of other daily newspapers. So alternatives are possible. www.graswurzel.net; www.jugendzeitung.net

September 5, 2009: Anti-nuclear drumbeat before the election!

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When the farmers from Gorleben prepare for a trek again 30 years after the legendary trek to Hanover in the election year 2009, then it has nothing to do with nostalgia, but a bitter necessity. This time it's all about it. For Gorleben and in terms of nuclear energy. ASSE or exit, term extensions or renewable energies.
“It will depend crucially on us how the parties will react to nuclear energy after the federal election,” says the call for the trek and a nationwide demonstration on September 5th in Berlin. Several hundred tractors and many thousands of demonstrators are expected.

switch off-now

On August 29, the tractors will be bid farewell to the Gorleben nuclear power plant and will then travel to Berlin. On September 5th, at 13 p.m. in front of the main train station, there will be the opening rally and then the demonstration at the Brandenburg Gate. A bus leaves Münster on September 5th at 9 a.m. (tickets: 6 euros).

Info: www.sofa-ms.de

On Sunday, July 26th, the Gorleben bus stops on its mobilization tour with exhibition and cultural program in Hamm !!

Info: www.anti-atom-treck.de (no longer active)

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