The News Review:
- Chrysler workers narrowly approve contract
- il and gas rich Gulf seeks alternative energy
- WEEK IN REVIEW
Chrysler workers narrowly approve contract
Workers World – Oct 27, 2007
27The United AutoWorkers announced today that the concessionary contract with Chrysler was approved byjust 56 percent of production workers and 51 percent of skilled trades workers. National representatives of the union had gone from plant to plant lobbyingworkers. Workers reportedly expressed fears of a strike of unknown length andretaliation for voting no. Still the percentage voting in favor represents atmost a few thousand members; for skilled trades workers upset about combinedjob classification it represents less than 200. Despite a last-minute hard sellby the UAW International the last plant to vote—an assembly plant inBelvidere Ill. —rejected the agreement… Not wasting any time and perhaps emboldened by the news that GM workers hadratified an agreement where they made concessions Chrysler announced ct. 10that it would cut 3500 salaried workers’ jobs almost double the 2000cuts announced last February. These cuts affect clerical and engineeringworkers as well as lower management. Next the automaker—now a part of the Wall Street private equity firmCerberus—said it was reducing projected vehicle production by at least80000 units. If these brazen arrogant acts against a union that had justcalled off a strike weren’t enough Chrysler Co-Vice President JimPress—lured from Toyota for a secret but no doubt huge amount ofmoney—stated his intentions to drop ahead of schedule at least fivecurrent vehicles from production. The final nail in the coffin of Chrysler’s and UAW President RonGettelfinger’s phony promises came with the specific details of theproposed four-year contract. They revealed unanticipated plant closings inMichigan and possibly St.
il and gas rich Gulf seeks alternative energy
ameinfo.com – Oct 27, 2007
‘But the region is struggling to find enough suitable gas to meet future power demands and the first signs are beginning to emerge of major investment in the region into alternatives’ he added. ‘It may seem surprising that with all the available hydrocarbon reserves alternatives are figuring increasingly in Gulf region power planning. However this is displaying the classic wisdom: ‘In victory plan for defeat. ‘ In other words when times are good build resources against future uncertainty… ‘This project is not connected to the GCC’s nuclear programme with the General Secretariat of the GCC budgeting $10bn for the design supply build and operation of a nuclear plant for power generation and water desalination in a country yet to be chosen. ”There is also considerable new activity beginning in the renewable energy field principally in the United Arab Emirates’ said Weaver who will also be chairing a panel discussion on the future of renewable energy in the Middle East at the Bahrain conference. ‘A design study is being carried out for a $500m solar power plant for the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company Masdar’ Weaver added. ‘The project is a large one with the scope calling for the design supply installation and operation of a 500 megawatts solar plant. ‘The project aims to decrease the use of oil and gas in power generation to preserve hydrocarbon reserves. The UAE’s solar radiation is measured at 2200 kilowatt hours per square metre per annum. ‘In co-operation with the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority and the Abu Dhabi National il Company Masdar is also studying the possibility of building a hydrogen fired power plant.
WEEK IN REVIEW
Columbia Daily Tribune – Oct 27, 2007
Department of Energy is looking to nuclear programs at the University of Missouri-Columbia and elsewhere to develop the next generation of more efficient safer and environmentally friendly nuclear technology. MU nuclear engineering Professor Sudarshan Loyalka will lead a three-university consortium that will train at least 15 doctoral students from MU. The students will research five projects related to developing Generation IV technology over the next three years funded by a $3 million energy department grant. "This is a technology that a lot of nations are interested in and a lot of private companies are interested in" Loyalka said of the goal to better understand the next-generation reactor which can reach 1000 degrees Celsius. Loyalka said the studies would seek to measure the flow of gases inside the nuclear reactor after fission or the splitting of uranium nuclei and subsequent release of neutrons and energy. The studies are to help scientists develop safe and efficient next-generation reactors… Walker said prospective investor meetings are planned for Columbia early next month. The 14-acre site near Highway 24 and Business 63 just north of the Dura manufacturing plant on Robertson Road includes room for the proposed plant to expand and make as much as 30 million gallons of biodiesel each year. The plant will annually produce about 65000 tons of feedstock as a byproduct. The plant is expected to provide 24 jobs and purchase more than 3 million bushels annually from area farmers. Pending regulatory approval for the project construction could start early next year and be completed in 12 to 18 months. Biodiesel produced at the plant will be sold to blenders and distributors which will combine the biodiesel with regular diesel fuel typically in blends of 2 percent or 20 percent biodiesel. Missouri biodiesel plants are operating in Mexico St.