Wednesday is Loud & Clear's regular segment Beyond Nuclear, looking at nuclear issues including weapons, energy, waste, and the future of nuclear technology in the United States. Today, the hosts interview award-winning anti-nuclear activists about their work. Kevin Kamps, the Radioactive Waste Watchdog at the organization Beyond Nuclear; Terry Lodge, anti-nuclear attorney and 2018 awardee of the Judith Johnsrud Unsung Hero Award; and David Kraft, co-founder of the Nuclear Energy Information Service and 2017 awardee of the Judith Johnsrud Unsung Hero Award, join the show. (Listen to the segment beginning at the 28 minute 25 second mark, and ending at the 58 minute 5 second mark, of the 115 minute 41 second entirety of the show.)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 24, 2018

CONTACT:

Tish O’Dell, Ohio Community Organizer

440-552-6774

tish@celdf.org

Ohio Attorney & Community Rights Advocate Receives the 2018 Johnsrud Unsung Heroes Award

TOLEDO, OHIO: This week, one of Ohio’s most dedicated environmental attorneys, Terry Lodge, received the 2018 Johnsrud Unsung Heroes Award in Washington, D.C. Dr. Judith Johnsrud was a geographer who worked diligently for more than 50 years to protect communities from nuclear power in all its phases.

Lodge began practicing law in 1978. He has fought corporate welfare, defended peaceful protestors, and worked to advance other issues protecting people and nature. However, he is most well-known for his environmental efforts. For decades, Lodge has battled nuclear power plants, mountaintop removal, pipeline construction, and fracking wells. Today, he also works tirelessly in partnership with the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) to advance, protect, and defend Ohio communities’ democratic and environmental rights. 

Dr. Johnsrud recognized what the anti-nuclear movement was up against. She stated, "[We must] recognize that [nuclear power] is a political problem and that problem lies in the law of the United States."

Lodge concurs, recognizing that the problem we face in protecting our communities from a multitude of environmental harms lies in this same law – and he sees local community democracy as the most viable remedy. In his address accepting the award, Lodge stated,

“Rediscovering and using … [our] forgotten tools [of local control and democracy] makes voting on issues a form of civil disobedience. How about a local ban on hauling spent fuel through your town? Give your town the gift of criminal punishments for transports of weapons or waste through it. Legislate your county’s denial of consent to a radwaste dump. Legislate nature’s right to exist; prohibit air, soil and water from exposure to nuclear perils and make citizens the legal guardians with the power to sue on behalf of nature. These changes are utterly necessary for the survival of the planet.”

About CELDF — Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund

The Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund is a non-profit, public interest law firm providing free and affordable legal services to communities facing threats to their local environment, local agriculture, local economy, and quality of life. Its mission is to build sustainable communities by assisting people to assert their right to local self-government and the rights of nature.

The Toledo Blade has reported on this story in an article entitled "Activist-attorney Terry Lodge receives national award." Here is the text of the entire article:

Toledo lawyer Terry Lodge is this year’s recipient of the Johnsrud Unsung Heroes Award presented by the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability, a coalition of more than 30 activist groups across the nation that promote non violence and less reliance on nuclear power.

The award, presented Tuesday at the alliance’s 30th annual awards gala in Washington, is named after the late Judith Johnsrud, a geographer “who worked diligently for more than 50 years to protect communities from nuclear power in all its phases,” the alliance said.

Mr. Lodge, who specializes in environmental and energy issues, has been a lawyer since the late 1970s. He is associated with the nonprofit Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, which offers free and affordable legal services.

In his acceptance speech, he encouraged more active participation in democracy.

“Legislate nature’s right to exist; prohibit air, soil and water from exposure to nuclear perils and make citizens the legal guardians with the power to sue on behalf of nature,” Mr. Lodge said.

Another area activist, Michael Keegan of Monroe, received the award in 2015 for his many years as a nuclear watchdog. Another Michigan activist, Kay Cumbow of St. Clair County, was the award recipient in 2016.

Ellen Thomas of the Proposition One Committee has provided a video recording of Kevin's presentation, and Terry's acceptance, of the Dr. Judith H. Johnsrud "Unsung Hero" Award for anti-nuclear power activism. Thanks Ellen!