Search
JOIN OUR NETWORK

     

     

 

 

ARTICLE ARCHIVE

Nuclear Weapons

Beyond Nuclear advocates for the elimination of all nuclear weapons and argues that removing them can only make us safer, not more vulnerable. The expansion of commercial nuclear power across the globe only increases the chance that more nuclear weapons will be built and is counterproductive to disarmament. We also cover nuclear weapons issues on our international site, Beyond Nuclear International.

.................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Entries by admin (581)

Wednesday
Aug122015

"The Iran Nuclear Deal 70 Years After Hiroshima and Nagasaki"

Margaret Harrington, host of "Nuclear-Free Future Conversation"Margaret Harrington, host of "Nuclear-Free Future Conversation" on Channel 17/Town Hall Meeting Televsion in Burlington, VT, interviewed Beyond Nuclear's Kevin Kamps on the Iran Nuclear Deal announced on July 14th, the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombing 70th anniversaries on Aug. 6th & 9th, and the Japanese Abe administration's restart of an atomic reactor at Sendai post-Fukushima, despite overwhelming popular opposition.

Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) has provided a quick and easy way for you to take action, to contact your Members of Congress to urge them to support the Iran Nuclear Deal.

Sunday
Aug092015

On 70th annual commemoration of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Pope Francis calls for worldwide ban on nuclear weapons

Sunday
Aug092015

Hiroshima/Nagasaki Events Calendar with Hibakusha Testimonies in the National Capital Area

Beyond Nuclear is privileged, honored, and humbled to support the Hiroshima/Nagasaki Peace Committee of the National Capital Area's 2015 commemorative events surrounding the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Japan.

What follows is a message from Hiroshima-Nagasaki Peace Committee of the National Capital Area cooridator John Steinbach, and a schedule of the planned events.

"Dear Friends,

For the past 34 years, the Hiroshima/Nagasaki Peace Committee of the National Capital Area has been organizing for the abolition of nuclear weapons and power, and in support of nuclear victims. We believe that if the world is to avoid repeating the horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we must strive to keep alive the memory of the bombings. This August we again plan a full schedule of events.

We welcome two Hibakusha from Hiroshima, Mr, Goro Matduyama (86) , and Ms. Yakako Chiba (73). In addition, we welcome the Heartful Chorus led by pianist, Ms. Yukie Ikebe. The pianist and the chorus group will perform at each commemoration event.

The entire public schedule is listed below. Please make every effort to attend one of the Commemoration activities, and please forward this letter as widely as possible.

For a Nuclear-Free World,

John Steinbach

Mr. Goro Matsuyama (86)
He was a 4th grader of Hiroshima 2nd Middle School (16 years old) at the time, and working as a mobilized student worker at a military factory at the edge of the city (two and half miles from the epicenter). He walked through the devastated city to his dormitory and then to his home, exposing himself to the radiation. After retiring from teaching in Hiroshima Prefecture, he has become very active in Hibakusha peace movements. He compiled and published a collection of Hibakusha testimonies, and is presently president of the Hiroshima/Nagasaki Hibakusha Association of Neyagawa City in Osaka Prefecture.

Ms. Takako Chiba (73)
She was 3 years old at the time and survived the bombing at one and half miles from the Hiroshima bomb epicenter.  She grew up watching her mother working for support activities of  Hibakusha. After retiring from teaching, she started earnestly working for anti-nuclear movements.  She came to NY City for the 2010 NPT Review Conference and gave her testimony. She is president of Ashiya City Hibakusha Association.  She is also active in the anti-nuclear power movement.

Ms. Yukie Ikebe
She is the leader/instructor of the sixteen person Heartful Chorus choral group, in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture.  She is an accomplished pianist, and has performed in France and East Asian countries.  She is a peace activist and has held peace concerts throughout Japan.

2015 Hiroshima/Nagasaki Events Calendar with Hibakusha Testimonies

Hiroshima Peace Commemoration
Wednesday, August 5, 7:00 pm
American University Katzen Arts Center, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Wash. DC
The Arts Center is featuring the world famous Maruki Panels depicting the horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. There will be a moment’s silence at 7:15pm to commemorate the Hiroshima catastrophe.

Baltimore Hiroshima/Nagasaki Commemoration with Hibakusha Testimonies
Thursday, August 6, 6:30pm
Bufano Sculpture Garden, 3400 N Charles St.  Baltimore, on Johns Hopkins Homewood campus    The program will be preceded by a vigil from 5:30pm at 33rd St. & North Charles St.  Baltimore.
Sponsored by Baltimore Hiroshima-Nagasaki Commemoration Committee.

US-Japan Friendship Concert for Peace
Friday August 7, 7:00 pm
Sam Abbott Citizens' Center Auditorium, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, MD
Featuring Ms. Yukie Ikebe with the Heartful Chorus, and the DC Labor Chorus
Sponsored by the Nuclear-Free Takoma Park Committee and the DC Labor Chorus

Nagasaki Candlelight Vigil
Saturday, August 8, 9:45 pm
White House (Lafayette Park)
Moment’s Silence at 10:02, sharing of thoughts for peace

Frederick Hiroshima/Nagasaki Commemoration with Hibakusha Testimonies
Sunday, August 9, 4:00 pm
Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ, 15 West Church St. Frederick, MD
Sponsored by Frederick Women in Black"

Thursday
Aug062015

HISTORIC 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF ATOMIC BOMBING OF HIROSHIMA, NAGASAKI: Major Protests at Warhead Facilities

Floating peace crane lanterns, with Atomic Bomb Dome in background, Hiroshima, Japan. Photo courtesy: Hiroshima Peace Media Center.Beyond Nuclear has joined with its Alliance for Nuclear Accountability coalition partners across the U.S. in a press release highlighting actions happening across the country, in commemoration of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings 70 years ago this August 6th and 9th, respectively. The commemorations and actions decry the trillion dollar plan for new U.S. nuclear weapons, and advocate disarmament.  

The press release begins:

A thousand or more peace advocates, Hibakusha (A-bomb survivors), religious leaders, scientists, economists, attorneys, doctors and nurses, nuclear analysts, former war planners and others across the country are coming together to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki this August 6 through 9 at key sites in the U.S. nuclear weapons complex and beyond.

Major commemorations, rallies, protests and/or nonviolent direct actions will place at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in CA, the Los Alamos National Laboratory in NM, the Kansas City Plant in MO, the Y-12 Plant in TN, the Rocky Flats Plant in CO, the Pantex Plant in TX, and in GA near the Savannah River Site. These events are united by their reflection on the past, and, uniquely, their focus on the present and future with a resolute determination to change U.S. nuclear weapons policy at the very locations that are linchpins in producing the new trillion dollar stockpile of nuclear weapons and their delivery vehicles.

Kevin Kamps of Beyond Nuclear said: "We are humbled to listen to the sobering stories of two Hibakusha, Mr. Goro Matsuyama and Ms. Takako Chiba, both survivors of the Hiroshima atomic bombing, at Hiroshima/Nagasaki Peace Committee of the National Capital Area events in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. We are also pleased to take part in the 'For People & the Planet' peace activist conference in Columbus, Ohio, to address the inextricable links between nuclear power and nuclear weapons, and what we can do about it."

United for Peace & Justice has posted a calendar of nation-wide Hiroshima and Nagasaki commemorations and actions at: http://www.nuclearfreefuture.org/events/

Wednesday
Aug052015

Dr. Gordon Edwards on "Brazil Nuclear Leader's Arrest May Stymie Atomic Ambitions"

Dr. Gordon Edwards, President, CCNRDr. Gordon Edwards, President of Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility (photo, left), has prepared the following backgrounder in response to the Reuters article, reprinted at Voice of America, about the the arrest of the longtime head of Brazil's nuclear energy utility, Othon Luiz Pinheiro da Silva. A retired admiral, Pinheiro da Silva was arrested on corruption charges on Tuesday for allegedly taking 4.5 million reais ($1.35 million) in bribes from engineering firms working on the long-delayed Angra 3 nuclear power plant. The arrest could disrupt a plan to revive Brazilian nuclear ambitions whose roots go back to its atomic-bomb program in the 1980s.

Background:                     August 5, 2015

The head of Brazil's nuclear energy utility, a retired military man, has been arrested on corruption charges. This will delay further the construction of Brazil's third nuclear power reactor, Agra-3, which is already about 2 billion dollars over budget.  Total cost is currently estimated at $7.6 billion; it will no doubt continue to climb. Power from existing nuclear plants in Brazil is about 50% more expensive than from other sources. 

Brazil's civilian nuclear program has close historic ties to the military. Alone among non-nuclear-weapons-states, Brazil is developing its own fleet of nuclear submarines; the nuclear shipyard was inaugurated in 2011. The Brazilian military has developed its own uranium enrichment facility using high-efficiency ultracentrifuges of indigenous design.  This capability, developed in secrecy, was only announced to the world in 1987. The Brazilian ultracentrifuges are unique, based on electromagnetic rather than mechanical bearings, and are not subject to direct inspections by the IAEA. The civilian nuclear utility in Brazil acquires its nuclear reactor fuel from the enrichment plant that is owned and operated by the military.

Brazil supplied uranium to the US Bomb program during the Manhattan Project -- and beyond.  The first Brazilian research reactor was built in 1957 with US assistance. When the military regime wielded power in Brazil (1964-1985) a secret "Parallel Program" was adopted to acquire total domestic control over the complete nuclear fuel cycle -- uranium enrichment, reactor operation, plutonium extraction, and nuclear explosive manufacture. Ostensibly devoted to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, the military worked clandestinely on nuclear weapons-related matters throughout this period.

When India exploded its first atomic bomb in 1974 using plutonium from a Canadian-designed research reactor, Brazil and Argentina were ruled by rival military regimes. Both countries had nuclear ambitions which included a nuclear weapons capability. The Argentine Generals were responsible for the kidnapping and secret murder of tens of thousands of "undesirables", including journalist and trade unionists. With the help of German scientists, some of whom worked under the Nazis during WWII, Argentina had already built a heavy-water nuclear reactor of German design and an experimental reprocessing plant for separating plutonium from irradiated nuclear fuel.

Canada sold a CANDU nuclear reactor to Argentina in 1978, despite the brutal nature of the regime and its obvious military ambitions. In 1979 longshoremen in Saint John, New Brunswick, refused to load heavy water onto a ship bound for Argentina because of the atrocities being committed on a daily basis in Buenos Ares.  The Trudeau cabinet decided to have the heavy water trucked in great secrecy to Mirabel Airport in Quebec where it was flown to Argentina. A cabinet briefing document stated that Canada's reputation as a reliable supplier of nuclear materials would be in jeopardy if the heavy water were not delivered....

(As it turns out, Canada lost $130 million on the Argentian sale, and tens of millions of dollars were diverted from Atomic Energy of Canada Limited to a numbered swiss bank account. An investigation by the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee concluded that this money was used for illegal or corrupt purposes and that AECL officials were uncooperative and unresponsive when questioned by Committee Members.  The head of AECL, John Foster, was subsequently fired.)

Following the Falklands War in 1982, both the Argentinian and the Brazilian military regimes collapsed, and by 1990 both countries had renounced nuclear weapons.  However, neither country has endorsed the IAEA's "Additional Protocol" (endorsed by 129 other countries) that would provide much greater access to IAEA inspectors.  To many outside observers, it seems evident that the military roots of the nuclear programs in these two South American superpowers have never entirely disappeared. 

Gordon Edwards.