Climate Change
Nuclear power is counterproductive to efforts to address climate change effectively and in time. Funding diverted to new nuclear power plants deprives real climate change solutions like solar, wind and geothermal energy of essential resources.
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"Every single other country in the world is moving forward together to tackle the climate crisis, while Donald Trump has isolated the United States on the world stage in an embarrassing and dangerous position." As reported by CommonDreams.
Host Harvey Wasserman had Beyond Nuclear's Paul Gunter and Kevin Kamps, as well as "Nuclear Hotseat" podcast host Libbe HaLevy, on his radio program, "Solartopia Green Power and Wellness Hour." They discussed NUKE POWER & NATURAL DISASTERS, which has become intensely important in the wake of HURRICANES HARVEY & IRMA. The terrifying realities of the hurricanes that swept through Texas and Florida have made it clear there is no way to evacuate from massive radiation releases during a meltdown in the midst of a major storm. We faced this problem during Hurricane Andrew in the early 1990s and were in grave danger again during these last two giant hurricanes. And that's just the least of it...between earthquakes, flooding, tsunamis, tornadoes and more, our rickety, dying reactors are at greater risk than ever. If you are at all concerned with the fate of the Earth, don't miss this extremely crucial, uniquely-informed discussion with three truly extraordinary experts. Listen to the hour-long interview, here. Wasserman just wrote an article based on the interview, published by The Progressive.
As reported by Democracy Now! in its morning news headlines:
Millions of people are without power in Puerto Rico, after Hurricane Maria made landfall Wednesday as a Category 4 storm. It was the most powerful hurricane to hit the island in nearly a century. Maria brought record rainfall and catastrophic flooding to Puerto Rico. The National Weather Service warned early this morning of flash flooding risks across the entire island. Puerto Rico’s Governor Ricardo Roselló says at least one person has died on Puerto Rico and that the death toll may rise when communication with the southeastern part of the island is re-established. Meanwhile, the death toll on the island nation of Dominica has risen to 14 people. Maria caused widespread devastation there when it made landfall as a Category 5 storm. The storm also destroyed parts of the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and killed two people on the French island of Guadeloupe. Early this morning, Maria passed just north of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, lashing the island with winds up to 115 miles an hour. It’s now gathering strength as it barrels toward Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas.
DN! also mentioned at the very top of the hour that the U.S. military's live fire testing range of Vieques, Puerto Rico had suffered a direct hit from the hurricane, begging the question about environmental contamination, as from large quantities of depleted uranium (DU) test fired there over many years.
In addition, a research reactor is located in extreme western Puerto Rico, in Rincon, on a small peninsula of land jutting out into the ocean. It is called BONUS, short for Boiling Nuclear Superheater Reactor Facility. See the Wikipedia entry for BONUS, here.
If communications with parts of the island have not yet been re-established, it raises the concern about the status of that research reactor. Was there radioactive contamination on that site, that has now been washed "away" into the environment, to harm people downstream and downwind? Is there any high-level radioactive waste stored on-site, still in need of constant cooling, lest it heat up to dangerous temperatures, risking an out of control situation with severe radiological risks? Given the nuclear industry's norm for lack of transparency, these questions remain, and are important to ask and seek answers to.
DN! and other news outlets have pointed out that this hurricane is the worst to hit Puerto Rico in many decades, or even a century. That was before hazards like atomic reactors, and DU, even existed. Anti-nuke icon Helen Caldicott, Beyond Nuclear's founding president, has similarly pointed out that had atomic reactors dotted the map of Europe like they do now, at the time of World War II, the continent would now be uninhabitable. Much of Europe was rubblized in WWII.
Whether due to acts of war, natural disasters, or any other cause, a wrecked atomic reactor, or its on-site high-level radioactive waste storage facilities, would spell ecological catastrophe, due to large amounts of hazardous ionizing radioactivity escaping into the living environment.
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As reported by the L.A. Times, in an article entitled "Failing Dam Triggers Evacuations":
The National Weather Service said the Guajataca Dam was failing Friday afternoon.
“All Areas surrounding the Guajataca River should evacuate NOW,” the weather service said on social media. “Their lives are in DANGER! Please SHARE!”
As the map in the article shows, the failing dam is in the same quadrant of Puerto Rico as the research reactor.
(The Washington Post has also reported on this story.)
Learn more about the Guajataca Lake (with info. about the dam), and the Guajataca River downstream, at the links provided to Wikipedia entries.
This crisis brings to mind the Fukushima waiting to happen in South Carolina, as revealed by NRC whistle-blowers. The three reactor Oconee nuclear power plant is immediately downstream of a major dam. If the dam fails, those three reactors would be under more than 15 feet deep water, a similar depth that doomed Fukushima Daiichi, Japan when the tsunami struck.
Ironicially enough, Hurricane Maria is predicted to travel north, up the eastern seaboard of the U.S. It is too early to tell where it might score a direct hit -- but Oconee is an example of an already high-risk situation, that does not need a major hurricane added on top!
Similarly, the risk of dam breaks threatened "Port" Calhoun, Nebraska in the summer of 2011. The Fort Calhoun atomic reactor had already suffered historic flooding on the Missouri River, that came precariously close to plunging the reactor into a dangerous situation. But had one of several upstream dams failed (and one was under particular strain), it could have doomed Fort Calhoun to radioactive catastrophe downstream. The operators had the sense to shut the reactor in April of 2011, which gave the reactor some months of cold shutdown to stabilize. But nonetheless, the high-level radioactive waste storage pool, as well as irradiated nuclear fuel dry casks, remained at risk of such an "inland tsunami," as Fairewinds Energy Education's Chief Engineer, Arnie Gundersen, dubbed it at the time. However, the Cooper atomic reactor -- a Fukushima twin design -- a bit further downstream the Missouri than Fort Calhoun, took the unwise risk of continuing to operate throughout the historic floods, at 100% power levels.
Another dam/nuclear power plant combination of concern is at North Anna, VA. As with many dams across the U.S., its structural integrity gets low to failing grades. It holds back the water of North Anna, an artificial lake that serves as North Anna's twin reactors' "ultimate heat sink" for keeping the reactors cool. In addition to such threats as deluges, the earthern dam at North Anna is also at risk of earthquakes. In August 2011, a strong earthquake epicentered just 11 miles from North Anna tested the earthen dam. The North Anna site itself is crossed by earthquake faultlines, something not only the nuclear utility itself, but also the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission staff, knew during construction in the 1970s, but kept secret.
Most recently, during Hurricane Harvey in Texas, there was great concern about the structural integrity of South Texas Project nuclear power plant's ultimate heat sink as well -- a cooling lake, and the retaining wall holding it -- for fear of overtopping, or breach, due to the historic rainfall deluge.
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A Sept. 22nd Washington Post article reports:
News was particularly scarce from the southern and central parts of the island, as well the tiny island of Vieques to the east.
Join NIRS & Beyond Nuclear for the Nuclear-Free, Carbon-Free Contingent at the People's Climate March in Washington, D.C. this Saturday, April 29th, and at sister marches across the country!
Please read on re: (1.) FINAL planning call Tues., April 25 @ 8pm Eastern; (2.) Chernobyl +31: From Nuclear Disaster to Clean Energy Revolution, Wed., April 26 @ 8pm Eastern (alerts from Tim Judson, NIRS):
(1.) FINAL planning call, Tues., April 25 @ 8pm Eastern
NIRS and Beyond Nuclear are organizing for the People's Climate March on April 29 - and we hope you'll join us!
Our FINAL planning call is tomorrow night for Nuclear-Free, Carbon-Free mobilizations to the People's Climate March. We are just a few days away, and have a few key details to figure out. I hope you can make it.
Tuesday, April 25 @ 8pm Eastern
(7pm CDT, 6pm MDT, 5pm PDT/MST)
Call: 712-432-0390
Passcode: 1019692#
We have the details for April 29 in DC, but need to go over everything, figure out our plans for pre-March speakers, and check in with groups organizing for local marches throughout the country.
The march details for DC are posted on our PCM hub page (see just below), and our NFCF facebook page has links to the march route map and infographics you can share to promote the march and your mobilization efforts.
[PCM hub page: Here is a link to the Nuclear-Free, Carbon-Free Contingent website.]
[Here is the overall People's Climate March homepage.]
[See notes from a previous planning call.]
And please - if you are organizing a local/regional nuclear-free event/contingent for the People's Climate March, send me a link and/or contact info that we can share on the hub and facebook pages.
Talk to you tomorrow night!
Tim
Tim Judson, Executive Director
Nuclear Information & Resource Service
(2.) Chernobyl +31: From Nuclear Disaster to Clean Energy Revolution, national call-in telebriefing, Wednesday, April 26 @ 8pm Eastern
We are doing this national call-in tele-briefing as a pre-event, to promote the nuclear-free, carbon-free message at the Climate March:
Chernobyl +31: From Nuclear Disaster to Clean Energy Revolution
Wed., April 26 @ 8pm Eastern
(7pm Central, 6pm Mountain, 5pm Pacific)
Call in: 712-770-4160; Dial the Code: 723281#
We will hear from people with first-hand experience of Chernobyl's impact on Ukraine, and energy experts on the way Chernobyl led to revolutionary changes in energy.
Please like and share on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/709339242608153/?ti=icl
Please help spread the word about this national call-in tele-briefing! Thanks!
It's time to break out your marching shoes! On April 29th, NIRS and the Nuclear-Free, Carbon-Free Contingent will join the People’s Climate March in Washington, DC, to demand immediate action from the US government and all of the governments of the world. We are marching for a 100% renewable, nuclear-free, carbon-free world.
The solutions to the climate crisis are clear: A rapid, just transition to a nuclear-free, carbon-free, 100% renewable energy system. It is an energy system that doesn't rely on antiquated energy models of the 20th Century and their polluting nuclear power and fossil fuel technologies, but on the safe, clean, affordable, and sustainable renewable energy, energy efficiency, and smart technologies of the 21st Century.
Nuclear power in particular cannot solve the climate crisis, JOIN US as we let the US government know! Indeed, its continued use exacerbates global warming by preventing the deployment of clean energy systems.
Among a myriad of other problems, nuclear power is also rooted in environmental injustice and human rights violations. First Nations, people of color, and low-income communities are targeted for uranium mining and radioactive waste. Radiation harms women and girls at twice the rate as their male counterparts. And radioactive pollution indiscriminately harms future generations, poisoning the environment for hundreds to thousands of years.
Clean energy, including solar, wind, geothermal, increased energy efficiency, distributed generation, electricity storage and other advanced technologies can meet the world’s energy needs without carbon and methane emissions, radiation releases, and other pollutants.
Please join us in organizing for the People’s Climate March, and in marching for a vision of a clean, safe, just CARBON-FREE and NUCLEAR-FREE world.
Thanks for all you do!
Tim Judson
Executive Director
NIRS
JOIN THE MARCH! Sign up NOW!
admin
4/17 email from Diane D'Arrigo at NIRS:
Hi all – just a quick reminder of our planning call tomorrow night for Nuclear-Free, Carbon-Free mobilizations to the People’s Climate March. We are less than two weeks out, and still have a lot of exciting planning to do. I hope you can make it.
Tuesday, April 18 @ 8pm Eastern
(7pm CDT, 6pm MDT, 5pm PDT/MST)
Call: 712-432-0390
Passcode: 1019692#
One of the most important things is to finalize plans for a national event to promote the PCM and nuclear-free, carbon-free mobilizations. On last week’s call, we decided to hold a national webinar/briefing on Chernobyl Day – Wednesday, April 26.
And remember to keep checking our PCM hub page for updates and more materials, and use our NFCF facebook page to share info about local marches and your mobilization plans.
And please – if you are organizing a local/regional nuclear-free event/contingent for the People’s Climate March, send me a link and/or contact info that we can share on the hub and facebook pages.
Talk to you tomorrow night!
Tim [Judson, NIRS E.D.]
NOTES from April 11 Planning Call
Please note:
Next planning call, 8pm Eastern, Tuesday, April 18th, same call-in numbers: (712) 432-0390; passcode 1019692#.
Wed., April 26, evening (Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe’s 31st anniversary)—advance event to promote Carbon-Free, Nuclear-Free Contingents in DC and nationwide sister climate marches/vigils (see below)
Other opportunities to promote our contingents: at Scientists Marches on Earth Day (4/22).
Background: we’ve got some momentum, thanks to previous Carbon-Free, Nuclear-Free Contingents in previous Climate & related marches – Sept. 2014 UN/NYC; July 2016, Philly Democratic Nat’l Convention Anti-Fracking March; August 2016 World Social Forum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada; etc.
Questions that NIRS and Beyond Nuclear discussed before the call need to be addressed:
1. Who all is coming to DC? Who is taking part in sister marches, and where? (see above)
2. How many people are expected? We have reports from march organizers that more than 100,000 are expected in DC on 4/29 (as compared to 400,000 in NYC in 2014, and 10,000 in Philly last July – the Carbon-Free, Nuclear-Free Contingents numbered 2,000 to 3,000, and 200 to 300, respectively, at those previous marches).
3. What kind of resources do people need in order to mobilize?
4. Plan event ahead of time, the week leading up to the marches, in order to raise awareness, boost turn out, advance media work, etc. (Will we do a national virtual advance event? See below, re: Chernobyl 31st anniversary on Wed., 4/26, below)
5. Logistical—what is the march line-up? Will there be stages? (We don’t know the march line up yet. The march organizers will let us know ASAP, and we will let everyone know right away once we find out. If there are to be stages, we would have to make it happen on our end.) There have not been the same kind of weekly People’s Climate March planning calls as there were for New York City in 2014.
6. Who will our speakers be? What does our line-up look like? First Nations activists organizing against uranium mining plan to be in D.C. The People’s Climate March website has encouraged advancing the leadership of people of color, women. Also, see more below re: 4/24 advance event, ideas for potential speakers, etc.)
More notes from open discussion on call:
Baltimore-area activists will bring huge banner and its frame to DC, that others may have seen in action before. 2 people minimum, 3 better, are needed to carry it – and help is needed!
One person suggested that the mobilization be dedicated to former NIRS Exec. Director Michael Mariotte.
Idea to build bridges to Women’s March folks, Scientists March folks, etc. To movement build with solidarity between all these marches.
NIRS has an inventory of flags, signs, banners leftover from the Philly march in July 2016, the Women’s march in Jan. 2017. This includes “Nuclear Power? No Thanks!” and “Don’t Nuke the Climate” flags, “Nuclear-Free, Carbon-Free” signs, etc. Other NIRS banner(s) may also be available – “Carbon-Free, Nuclear-Free,” and also “No Nukes, No Coal, No Fracking Way!”
Nuclear Resister in Tucson, Arizona make the case that we need to put front and center, strongly, that “Nuclear Power Is NOT the Answer” (Helen Caldicott book title, by the way); Women’s March, March for Science on 4/22—ongoing movement building
Nuclear power gets in the way of renewables, a point made in New York City in 2014
Sister marches (and vigils) involving Carbon-Free, Nuclear-Free Contingents we know about as of now:
Boston—New England sister marches: Cape and Boston Downwinders; Entergy Nuclear’s Pilgrim atomic reactor (Plymouth, MA); Vermont Yankee; Western MA – nuclear NEEDS to be included! Diane Turco at Pilgrim, Deb Katz at VY (and Yankee Rowe) as potential speakers.
Camera-ready art, for signage, etc., posted at NIRS website? It was in the NIRS alert about this phone call.
Wed., April 26 is the 31st anniversary of the beginning of the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe—potentially a perfect date to do our advance event. Ideas for speakers:
· Arjun Makhijani, President, IEER (Institute for Energy and Environmental Research), who coined the phrase Carbon-Free, Nuclear-Free in the first place, in 2007 (http://ieer.org/projects/carbon-free-nuclear-free/)
(Who will firm up these plans? Who will contact potential speakers? Who will work on potential 4/26 advance event?
Also, please be clear that the 4/26 speakers, etc. are separate from, in addition to, potential speakers, etc. on day-of 4/29—re: DC on 4/29, we have to check with march organizers to see about stages, amplification, etc. Could we do a 4/29 pre-event somewhere on Capitol Hill? Right where we’re supposed to gather for our bloc spot in the march?)
Teach-in re: Mobile Chernobyl and parking lot dumps, Yucca dump, etc. Nationwide connected events.
Also: 4/22 (Earth Day) Native Community Action Council event in Las Vegas, NV (see for more info: http://www.beyondnuclear.org/yucca-mountain/2017/3/30/native-americans-speak-out-on-radioactive-dumping-in-their-c.html)
ZOOM as a way to connect virtual advance events far flung, from Chicago & Port Huron, to DC and SC, and everywhere in
The Chernobyl anniversary advance event should be in the evening, to maximize accessibility for those who work, Western time zones, etc.
NIRS will record the event, and post it
Use our PCM hub page: www.nuclearfreecarbonfree.peoplesclimate.org
There are posters, graphics, etc. posted there.
Don’t Nuke the Climate flags
How to get on the main stage in DC? Our best shot might be to talk to one of the indigenous groups who may already be invited to speak. Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN is on the steering committee for this event), and likely will have a role on the main stage at the Washington Monument.
Tim Judson
Executive Director
6930 Carroll Avenue, Suite 340
Takoma Park, MD 20912
O: 301-270-6477
F: 301-270-4291
W: www.nirs.org
