(May 16, 1997) (472.4682) PIANO -The Western nuclear industry, starving for orders, has decided to move East. The US company Westinghouse (funded by the US Import-Export Bank), in cooperation with CEZ (the Czech electricity monopoly), is helping build the Temelin nuclear power plant.
Despite the promises from government and utility leaders, the plant continues to prove a financial burden with cost over runs and further delays in start-up each year. Meanwhile, the harmful coal burning plants of North Bohemia, which originally were to be phased out once the Temelin plant goes online, are being reopened without regard to environmental damage. On the other hand, a movement calling for ecological and financial responsibility continues to grow in the Czech Republic, under the leadership of Hnuti DUHA, South Bohemian Mothers Against Nuclear Danger, Deti Zeme, Greenpeace, and other NGO's in the region. This summer the pressure continues with nonviolent direct action at the gates of Temelin, an energy efficiency project near the plant, and other campaign strategies being pursued intensely. To make these projects successful we need your support - please take this opportunity to demonstrate against the expansion of nuclear power in Eastern Europe by attending the blockade or to prove the effectiveness of the "neglected way" - energy efficiency - by attending the Clean Energy Brigades camp near Temelin.
For the last three years the Czech environmental group, Hnuti DUHA, has organised a non-violent blockade at the construction site of Temelin. Like in previous years, we expect to learn from each other, demonstrate our international solidarity against nuclear power, and give the issues surrounding Temelin (cost overruns, delays, bidding scandels, waste disposal, lack of environmental impact assessment, etc.) international media attention. Unlike previous blockades, we believe 1997 will be the year we completely shut the plant down for over 3 days - showing the CEZ utility our sincere concerns about nuclear power. During the blockade workshops will be held on topics such as: non-violence trainings, sustainability, technology, international anti-nuclear campaigning, and many others. Also, a cultural program is being organised including slide shows, music, and theatre performed by the Sustainable Europe Tour (SET). Food will be provided by Rampenplan, but please bring your own tent. This year, with your support, we can make this the most successful ecological action in Czech history.
Contact Information: PIANO Chvalova 3, Praha 130 00 Czech Republic
or register/find more information via the internet at: www.ecn.cz
Showing our disapproval against the plant is only a piece of a very sophisticated puzzle. Hnuti DUHA also wishes to prove the "neglected way" of energy production - that is, energy conservation. To do this, Hnuti DUHA has organized the Clean Energy Brigades, a practical energy efficiency program serving local areas near energy production facilities (e.g. coal-burning plants of North Bohemia). In short, CEB are teams of activists who install simple energy efficiency measures in homes or schools, charging only the costs of materials. To date, Hnuti DUHA has updated over 1,000 homes and schools to prove that energy efficiency is cost effective and easy. With every window and door insulated by volunteers, the government and CEZ officials have more difficulty answering questions about the construction of harmful and costly power plants. This year, Hnuti DUHA has decided to focus their efforts on the homes and schools around Temelin to prove to the people most effected by the plant (the people living in the region) that energy efficiency is cleaner, safer, and easier. But again, this can not be done without volunteer support - your support. We can offer travel reimbursement (up to 50%) and food for internationals willing to help (please bring a tent for accommodation). And if you haven't noticed the timing, you can always stay for the blockade right after the CEB camp
Contact Information: Contact PIANO, Chvalova 3, Praha 130 00 Czech Republic, or Ben MacConnell c/o Hnuti DUHA, Jakubske nam. 7, 602 00 Brno Ben.MacConnell@ecn.cz or register/find more informatio via the internet at: http://www.ecn.cz
Unfortunately, environmental NGO's working on energy related issues in Eastern Europe continue to be perceived as "against everything," while they leave the public few impressions about what the clean and safe alternatives are. The Clean Energy Brigades (see above) and other positive actions initiated by environmental NGO's to demonstrate the forgotten paths of renewable and efficient energy have proven to combat this misconception and improve the effectiveness of overall campaigns. Hnuti DUHA invites representatives from East European environmental NGO's to participate in a practical action training seminar. Set at the Ecofarm in Prague, NGO representatives will discuss successful positive actions and learn how to begin such projects in their countries. Workshops will given on topics including: fundraising, media work, campaign integration and diversification, and energy efficiency upgrades. Any NGO pursuing a campaign on climate change or nuclear power is strongly encouraged to attend the seminar. Travel reimbursement (up to 75%) will be offered. Food and accommodation will be given at an affordable participation price
Contact Information: Contact PIANO, Chvalova 3, Praha 130 00 Czech Republic, or Ben MacConnell (see CEB Contact Information) or register/find more information via the internet at:
www.ecn.cz
Reply to:Ben.MacConnell@ecn.cz
address post mail to: Ben c/o Hnuti DUHA, Jakubske nam. 7, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
Tel: +420-5-4221-0438; Fax: +420-5-4221-0347
(for Temelin info): www.ecn.cz/private/piano
WISE Amsterdam It was the largest and most important gathering yet in a decade-long fight. For three days, April 25-27, some 750 people gathered under the hot Mojave Desert sun to defend this valley from attempts to build a radioactive waste dump.
The event was in defiance of Governor Wilson's demand that the site be "secured" and an encampment of anti- dump protesters be evicted from Ward Valley.
The three-day gathering was hosted by the Colorado River Native Nations Alliance, a coalition of the Fort Mojave, Chemehuevi, Quechan, Cocopah and Colorado River Indian nations. These indigenous peoples of the area have vowed never to allow a dump to be built on their traditional and sacred lands at Ward Valley. Tribal leaders and elders were joined by environmental and social justice activists in strategy meetings, sunrise ceremonies, and traditional song and dance.
After intense discussions, dump opponents reiterated their intention to defend the area if authorities tried to work on the dump or evict the 18-month-old encampment. In an escalation of their determination, dump opponents unanimously agreed they would physically block any further damage to Ward Valley.
The Interior Department and the State Department of Health Services want to conduct more tests at the site, allegedly to determine if radioactive contaminants would leak from the proposed dump. But such tests would further damage the sacred lands at Ward Valley. Tests already conducted indicated the site would leak. Similar dumps operated elsewhere by U.S. Ecology, the company holding the contract for work here, have leaked. The nuclear industry and Gov. Wilson want to dump long-lasting and highly radioactive wastes from nuclear power plants into unlined dirt trenches at Ward Valley. The site lies above an aquifer with pathways to the Colorado River.
The state has already issued a license to U.S. Ecology to operate the dump, but strong public opposition has forced the U.S. Interior Department to delay the transfer of the lands from federal to state control. The Native nations and their environmental justice allies demand that President Bill Clinton reject the transfer of federal lands and stop the dump now. (see WISE NC 467.4646)
The Indian nations and allies vow their protests will be peaceful but also promise massive, vigorous and all-out physical resistance if police are sent in to remove them. "We are drawing a line in the sand to defend our sacred homelands and the Colorado River from nuclear wastes," said Steve Lopez of the Fort Mojave Indian tribe. "This nuclear dump project is a threat to our people and is a threat to the river that is our life's blood. We will not let this project kill our people, no matter what it takes to stop it from being built."
Source: Bill Allen in Workers World Newspaper, 15 May 1997
Contact: Save Ward Valley 107 F Street, Needles, California 92363, USA.
Tel: +1-619-326-6267;
Fax: +1-619-326-2468.
E-mail: savewardvalley@bbs.rippers.com
(May 16, 1997) 472.4680 (Wise Amsterdam) In connection with the campaign "Vite, sortons du nucléaire", ("quickly, get out of the nuclear"), les Européens contre Superphénix supported by a 250 groups, published a brochure "Sortir du Nucléaire", ("leave the nuclear") in which the french voters are invited to broaden and deepen their horizons by getting information on how the nuclear industry in other countries is in a dead end and how France will be isolated in a Europe without nuclear industry in the future. The brochure gives a good overview on the specific nuclear situation and possibilities to get rid of it country wise. Not only Europe, also articles on US and Japan and on alternatives are included.
The importance to give information to the french citizens is emphasized in the article on France itself. France not only is one of the most nuclearized countries in the world, with an exportation of nuclear energy of 14% this year, the nuclear stake in this year is heavy:
The campaign is a post card petition to french deputes and the french President in which they are asked to enter into a real change of energy politics in France.The brochure is in french language and the costs are 15 French Francs.
You can order it at:
Les Européens contre Superphénix.
9 rue Dumenge, F-69004 Lyon, France.
Tel: +33-4-7828 29 22; Fax: +33-4- 7207 7004
(472.4675) WISE-Amsterdam
Kiev
(May 16, 1997) On April, 23th, a group of activists from the enviromental movements "Rainbow Keepers", "Ecodefense" (Ecozahust) and other groups blockaded Ukrainian President's residence in Kiev to protest Ukrainian nuclear policy.-Activists demanded:
Early in the morning on that April 23, the center of Kiev was crowded with militia carrying machine-guns. The streets where the Presidental and other governmental buildings are located were blocked and all central streets were patroled by them. It was already the 3rd Chernobyl anniversary the Government had forbidden all kind of public actions. Using secondary streets, there were only 11 activists, who succeeded in coming close to the residence. There was much press coverage, including 15 video-cameras from main national TV-channels and international news-agencies. The activists unrolled a banner and chained themselves to the gates. Then an improvised press-conference took plase for 45 minutes, untill activists were arrested without any previous warnings. After 6 hours they were released with the obligation to come to the court on 23 May 1997.
The next day a press-conference was organised with activists and Vladimir Usatenko, expert of the Parliament's Chernobyl Commission. Unlike last years, media coverage was active and quite positive. All national TV-channels were running reports about the action for 2-3 days, and a majority of national news-papers had articles about the protest on the first page. For 3 years now groups have worked together organizing those kinds of direct actions in Kiev. Last year after the blockade of the Cabinet of Ministers 25 activists were arrested and 5 of them jailed for 3-5 days.
Minsk
More than 20,000 people marched through the Belarussian capital of Minsk, using the anniversary to protest also against the authoritarian rule of President Alexander Luka- shenko. Belarus, downwind of Chernobyl, was especially blighted. Althoug there was large fear for police violence, they were keeping a lower profile, so the march passed of peacefully.
Chernobyl
In the Chernobyl nuclear power plant hundreds of workers stood in silence to remember the deaths.
Slavutych
In Slavutych, the Ukrainian town built to house displaced workers from the plant, some 5,000 people began an all-night vigil at 1:24 a.m., the moment when staff at Chernobyl lost control over the reactor. Weeping women lit candles and placed flowers on a monument in the town centre dedicated to their dead colleagues.
Brussels
To commemorate the eleventh anniversary of Chernobyl fifteen activists of For Mother Earth, with radiation suits and masks on, did a non-violent symbolic blockade at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium, to condemn the export of the economically failed Western nuclear industry into Eastern Europe. To make clear that they do not agree with the opinion of the European Commission the activists were showing a blue flag with yellow radio-active signs instead of the yellow stars. Also banners were used, on which you could read "Welcome to Chernobyl". In front of this banner a skeleton was laying down.
Seoul
On 25 April, Korean activists held a moving commemoration in front of the offices of the Taipei Mission, in a very busy street of Seoul. The activists were joined by a group of internationals who were attending a Waste Seminar. All the international representatives gave a very short speech on the effects of the Chernobyl diaster for their part of the world. These statements where accompanied by music played on a violin. Flowers were layed down to commemorate the victims. Besides, the public was informed on the nuclear situation in Korea.
(May 16, 1997) The 28 February 1997, the Supreme State Administrative Court of France (le Conseil d'Etat) declared that the opponents of Superphénix are in right. The Court annulled the decree of 11 July 1994, authorizing the restart of Superphénix.
(472.4674) WISE-Amsterdam -It is a victory for the World Wildlife Fund, La Frapna (Fédération Rhone-Alpes de Protection de la Natural; Rhone-Alpes Federation for Natural Protection), the Europeans Against Superphénix, as well as tens of other associations and communities from Switzerland, Italy and France.
The Conseil d'Etat has two distinct functions. The Court itself serves as the government's supreme legal advisor and its litigation section serves as the country's highest appeal chamber for cases of administrative law. The Conseil d'Etat annulled the Superphénix license decree on grounds that a public inquiry, held as part of the licensing process in 1993, had emphasized electricity production while the decree issued by the government in 1994 stressed the reactor's role in research, exploring plutonium. So the inquiry was misleading. Consequently Superphénix has no legal status at this moment and a juridical imbroglio (confusion) since on 25 december 1996 Superphénix has been laid down for 6 months to be transformed into an incinerator.
Prime Minister Alain Juppé will ask the Conseil d'Etat for advice before deciding what to do now about the Superphénix breeder reactor. He has to arbitrate between the industry minister Franck Borotra and Corinne Lepage, the environment minister. Borotra and Electricité de France suggest to leave the transformation into laboratory and to publish a simple decree for a functioning conform to the public inquiry. Corinne Lepage declared that a new public inquiry must be held to gauge opinion about the reactor's role as a research tool. However there is a possibility she is backing down in exchange for another political decision in her favour.
Sources:
Contact:
Les Europeens contre Superphénix. 9 rue Dumenge F-69004 Lyon, France.
Tel: +33-4-7828-2922; Fax: +33-4-7207-7004
LaSalle closed till end of year.
(May 16, 1997) US utility Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) says it will keep its LaSalle nuclear power station closed until at least 1998. In January, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission put LaSalle on its watch list of troubled plants, citing poor performance by workers and equipment problems at the plant. The plant has been shut down since September, however, a ComEd spokesman says the plant was not closed because of mismanagement, but was shut down for refurbishment and the training of personnel.ComEd recently put the plant's reactor operators through simulator tests and training. Of the 63 operators tested, 19 were determined to be unqualified to return to their jobs in the control room. The utility had budgeted some $160 million to upgrade LaSalle and get it running by this fall. It now appears, however, it would cost 30 percent more to get the plant running this year.
UPI, 24 April 24 1997
Boycott campaign of 3 big Japanese nuclear companies. A campaign to boycott the products of Hitachi, Toshiba and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries began in February. These Japanese companies construct nuclear reactors and intend to export reactors to other Asian countries. The campaign, initiated by the Japanese Consumers Association, is calling for people to join the boycott under their banner of 'Kawan Sign'. Kawan means 'not to buy' in Japanese (aswell as 'friends' in Indonesian). The campaign is being carried out by various means such as mail, fax, and internet homepages.
Nuke Info Tokyo, March/April 1997
Contact: CNIC, 1-59-14-302, Higashi-nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164, Japan,
Tel: +81-3-5330- 9520, fax: +81-3-5330-9530
E-mail: cnic-jp@po.iijnet.or.jp
UNDP calls for energy efficiency instead of nuclear. According to an United Nations Development Program report of June 1996, about 2500 million people in poor countries have little or no electricity at that moment. The report recommends greater energy efficiency and more use of renewable sources ahead of nuclear energy, wich it plays down.
UIC Newsletter, March/April 1997
Uranium found in Mexico. Subcomandante Marcos of the Zapatista rebels in Mexico, stated in an interview published in March in the Italian magazine Limes, that, in addition to a great oil reserve in the state of Chiapas, there is also uranium. Marcos stated that the uranium deposit was discovered by a US company while it was looking for oil and that it kept the finding secret, just as they did about the oil reserve in 1993, whose location "they didn't even inform the Mexican government about". ".... that while they were exploring in search of oil, they found something even more important: uranium. We had known about it a few months ago because of an engineer ally of ours. Obviously the US company did not say anything".
Native-L mailinglist (Limes, Italy, 22 March 1997)
Founding of 'European Committee on Radiation Risks'. On April 11, at the European Parliament, Strasbourg, France, a network of associations concerned with nuclear radiation issues, prompted into existence by the new EU Directive on radiation standards (Council Directive 96/29/Euratom of 13 May 1996, OJ L 159 of 29 June 1996). This directive can be viewed as 'a nuclear waste disposers charter'. It will basically allow dilution of radioactive substances in low concentrations throughout the clean environment - air, water, food, and everything else without proper reporting - a neat solution to their massive disposal problem!
ECRR will:
ContactCrii-Rad, 471 Avenue Victor Hugo, 26000 Valence, France.
Tel: +33-4-7541 8250; Fax: +33-4-7581 2648.
Stop Cassini Post-card - A postcard campaign has been started to stop the launch of the US Cassini probe. (see WISE NC 466.4634 ) Send postcards, protest faxes, letters, etc. to President Bill Clinton, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, The White House, Washington DC 20500, USA.
Text on such a card could be something like: "I am concerned about NASA's plan to launch plutonium into space on- board Cassini on October 6, 1997. Please cancel this mission and order NASA to pursue alternative power sources. We can not allow nuclear power to proliferate in space. One accident with space plutonium could harm the whole world".
Postcards are avaible at Bruce Gagnon, the coordinator of the Global network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power In Space: P.O. Box 90035, Gainesville, Fl. 32607, USA.
Tel: +1-352-468-3295.
E-mail: fcpj@afn.org
Stop PU shipments! -Help stop nuclear waste and plutonium shipments coming through the Pacific region.
This year a ship carrying high level nuclear waste passed through the Pacific on its way from France to Japan; there are many more to come. The Pacific Concerns Resource Centre (PCRC) are calling for help; they are collecting signatures wich will be submitted to the South Pacific Forum in the Cook Islands in September 1997.
Help them to collect as many signatures as possible.
Contact the PCRC for more information and lists at:
83 Amy Street, Toorak, Private Mail Bag, Suva, Fiji.
Tel: +679 304 649; Fax:+679 304 755.
E-mail: pcrc@pactok.peg.apc.org
(May 16, 1997) An international meeting on April 24, 1997, organized by Green Korea and the KoreanFederation for Environmental Movement was attended by 120people from Korea and representatives from seven othercountries. They sent us the following report.
(472.4677) KFEM/Green Korea -In opening the meeting, Mr. Choi Yul, Secretary General of KFEM, said that no country has found an acceptable solution to the nuclear waste problem, and that as long as there is no solution, "it is clear that it is a scandal to go on creating more waste." The major English-language newspaper, 'The KoreaHerald' (April 25, 1997) gave a review of the seminar of wich we take some parts.
"Environmentalists step up efforts to deter nuclear waste shipment".
"We feel sorry about exporting radioactive wastes to foreign countries," said Renata Hsu of the Taiwan Environment Protection Union (TEPU), who gave an overview of the nuclear power problem in Taiwan during the morning session. "Dealing with radioactive waste of Taiwan is our own business, and therefore we should never dispose of our radioactive waste outside our country." Hsu explained the Taiwanese government's policy of temporarily disposing radioactive wastes to nearby Orchid Island beginning in 1982, with the promise of removing the wastes before the year 2002. In order to make good on its promise, the Taiwanese government was put in a difficult situation to find a permanent dump site for the nuclear wastes. As a result, North Korea recently became apotential permanent dump site because of its economic hardships. "We will do our best to ask the Taiwan government to abate the proposal of exporting radioactive wastes to foreign countries," she said. "If a government has no idea as to how to manage radioactive wastes, it is not qualified to operate nuclear power plants."
Following Hsu's remarks, Peer de Rijk of WISE-International discussed the effects of radiation on one's health. Up till now, the most extensive health data on the effects of radiation is the data on atomic bomb survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. According to de Rijk, high doses often result in a painful death within a few weeks while intermediate doses have shown to cause cancer and other health problems. "The health effects of lower doses received over along period are still debated, but the prevailing view of scientists appears to be that there is no safe dose," said de Rijk. In other words, should nuclear wastes be disposed (sic)in North Korea, there is a chance that the people of South Korea could also become victims of radiation as well. During the afternoon session, Ho Wai Chi of Greenpeace Chinaaddressed strategies to prevent the trans-boundary movement of nuclear wastes. Upon discussing Greenpeace's environmental efforts, Chi suggested that countries should enact laws or legislation at the national, regional and international levels prohibiting the transport of nuclear wastes. "Countries unwilling to accept the significant risks of these shipments should notify exporting countries that they want formal guarantees that irradiated nuclear fuel, plutonium and nuclear waste transport will not enter their territories or regions,"Chi said. Added Hiroo Komura of Japan's Shizuoka University,who spoke during the afternoon session, "I would like to say that transporting radioactive waste from nuclear facilities to a foreign country without any relations is absolutely criminal."
Other international presenters at the seminar included Mina Hamilton from New York (US), writer and expert on radioactive waste; Corazon Valdez Fabros, Secretary General of the Nuclear Free Philippines Coalition; Dian Abraham of the Indonesian Anti-Nuclear Society in Jakarta; and Satomi Oba, Director, Plutonium Action Hiroshima, Japan. Ms Hamilton explained that there is 'a trap in the term low-level' when referring to indigenous peoples. What "was potentially a local issue is now a national one," she said. The waste issue is important as they lobby their government: if there is no solution to waste storage then new plants cannot be allowed. She emphasized the connections between repressive regimes and this energy source: "When people have democratic rights there is no way that a nuclear program can be pushed through."
Problems on the Korean peninsula were discussed by the Korean participants. Prof. Pil Youl Lee of the Korea National Open University emphasized that South Korea, while critical of Taiwan's plans, "has many more reactors and produces more waste than Taiwan... and we all know that South Korea doesn'thave perfect technology for storing nuclear waste," He criticized plans for construction of two reactors in North-Korea by the international KEDO project, which will also produce nuclear waste. Through South Korea's major role inthis effort, "we (too) are exporting or making nuclear waste in North Korea." Dr. Gi-Woong Son of the Korea Institute for National Unification told the seminar that "because of the overall crisis of the North Korean nation, we doubt that the North Korean government can safely handle radioactive waste."An article from the North put on the Internet said they planned to use their own ships to move the waste. This is especially dangerous since the North does not have special ships for transport of such materials. He also doubted the safety of the deep coal mines where the waste would be stored,and anticipated marine pollution in the adjacent coastal areas.
Green Korea's Secretary General Dr. Jang Won thanked Taiwanese activists for their support of the Green Korea hunger strike in Taipei in January (an action before Taipower's headquarters demanding cancellation of the waste export plans, during which the Korean activists were attacked by ultra-nationalists and subsequently deported by officials). He said that currently South Korea has three major problems: nuclear waste, food waste, and human waste -- that of corruption in business and government circles. He called for an international network to stop transport of nuclear wastes from Taiwan to North Korea.Then he said, "we can move on to work on other waste issues in other countries."
A successful strategy workshop was held the following day. Discussion focused on coordinated actions to prevent the proposed waste export. The activists of TEPU, KFEM, GreenKorea need your international support!!
Contact: For more information on the waste deal in general and the direct action: KFEM, # 251, Nooha-dong, Chongo-Gu, Seoul,110-042, S.Korea.
Tel: +82 2 735 7000; Fax: +82 2 730 1240
E-mail: kfem@kfem.or.kr
For the waste deal in general:
Green Korea, 385-108 Hapjong-dong, Mapo-Ku, Seoul, S.Korea
Tel: +822 325 5525; Fax: +82 2 325 5677
E-mail:environ@chollian.dacom.co.kr
http://soback.kornet.nm.kr/~baedal
Together with the representatives of Greenpeace Hongkong and the Plutonium Action Hiroshima (Japan), WISE-International had a short official meeting with the Taipei Mission Representative. Besides presenting the official seminar statement we could explain our particular views on the nuclear waste deal. The representative stressed that up till now the Taiwan government has nothing to do (officially) with the waste deal because there is no application yet for the waste deal from Taipower. Of course this is an ashaming statement. As if the government has not given permission already: Taipower is owned by the government. He stressed that as soon as Taipower applies for a license, the government will look at all the viewpoints and arguments (economical, environ-mental, etc)
After stressing from our side that the deal has to do as well with ethics, we left with the feeling it will take more than some nice talks to stop the waste deal....
Peer de Rijk WISE-international
(May 16, 1997) (472.4681) CNIC Tokyo On 11 March, Kyushu Electric Co. announced, that it would undertake a thorough reconsideration of the planned construction of a nuclear power plant near Kushima City, Miyazaki Prefecture (Japan). The representatives of the utility, including a vice-president visited the mayor to inform him of this.
A referendum was scheduled in the city to question pros and cons of the plan. This announcement is widely considered to be a ploy to undermine the referendum by reducing the apparant necessity of holding it, making it seem less important to the citizens of Kushima and thus avoiding the possibility of having to face an overwhelming "No" vote as happened in Maki, Niigata Prefecture in August 1996. In that referendum 60 percent voted against the proposed 825 MWe reactor (see WISE NC457.4527).
"To reconsider" the plan for Kushima as one of the candidate sites, and not "to abandon" the plan, however, does not justify cancelling the referendum. The mayor has stated that, "regardless of the change in the situation, the city will conduct the referendum as scheduled," and preparations to that effect, are underway.
Source: Nuke Info Tokyo, March/April 1997.
Contact: Citizens' Nuclear Information Center,
1-59-14-302, Higashi-nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164, Japan,
Tel: +81-3-5330-9520
fax: +81-3-5330-9530
E-mail: cnic-jp@po.iijnet.or.jp
(May 16, 1997) (472.4679) WISE-Amsterdam On 6 May the American organisation International Action Center (IAC) presented the book 'Metal of Dishonor' on depleted uranium. On the press conference the activists accused the Department of Defense of ignoring the possibility that Gulf War veterans suffered from the exposure to depleted uranium shells. US and British Army shot probably more than 400 tons of depleted uranium shells.
Sarah Flounders, coordinator of the Depleted Uranium Education Project, called for an independent investigation. According to IAC the Pentagon is endangering lives by using depleted uranium in bullets and tank-armor. The Pentagon officially denies the risk from depleted uranium, but documents from the department point at the possible radiological and chemical risks of depleted uranium. From a report of the Army Environmental Policy Institute: "If DU [depleted uranium] enters the body, it has the potential to generate significant medical consequences. The risks associated with DU in the body are both chemical and radiological." But they claim that the so called Gulf War Syndrome, a sickness among several veterans, would not be caused by depleted uranium.
At the press meeting anti-nuclear activist Helen Caldicott spoke about a "huge cover-up" by the Pentagon. "The Gulf War was actually a nuclear war", she said. In the book Caldicott wrote: "Never in my wildest dreams did I think that the United States would be detonating nuclear shells to poison its own soldiers and the surrounding civilian populations with radioactive isotopes." Army nurse Carol Picou fears she may have inhaled or ingested uranium particles when she came in contact with Iraqi vehicles that were destroyed by uranium munition. She was never warned for possible hazards and the Pentagon is refusing help. Picou is now suffering different diseases. From her unit of 150 who went to the front, 40 are sick.
Metal of Dishonor contains contributions from several Gulf War Veterans, Scientists, Lawyers and NGO's. From the preface:
"This heterogeneous collection of articles, most published here for the first time, makes a strong case that depleted-uranium weapons are not only lethal to their intended targets, they are dangerous for the humans who handle them and for the present and future environment of the planet. They also show there is a potential for building a movement to end this danger. We hope Metal of Dishonor will serve as an organizing tool that will contribute to the fight for an independent inquiry into the causes of Gulf War Syndrome and an eventual ban on the use of depleted-uranium weapons."
Special attention is given to uranium mining and indigenous people and the risks of low-level radiation. In one of the appendix a list of qoutations from government documents is given to show they do know the risks of depleted uranium. On the web-site of IAC reprinted articles from Metal of Dishonor can be found, as well as updates, other articles, lectures, speeches and related issues.
Metal of Dishonor costs $12.95 and can be ordered at the IAC.
Source: Metal of Dishonor, IAC, May 1997; AP, 7 May 1997.
Contact: International Action Center, 39 West 14th Street #206, New York NY 10011, US.
Tel: +1-212-633-6646; Fax: +1-212-633-2889,
E-mail: iacenter@iacenter.org
WWW: www.iacenter.org.
(May 16, 1997) For Mother Earth International, a peace and ecological network based in Belgium, coordinates a new international legal campaign of civil disobedience to uphold international law to abolish nuclear weapons.
(472.4676)WISE Amsterdam -The campaign is planned by a fast growing international network of NGO's, lawyers and non-violent grass-root activists. The campaign titled 'Nuclear Weapons Abolition Days 1997' makes succesful use of the Internet to plan and strategize a campaign of non-violent civil resistence following the historic ruling of the International Court of Justice on the illegality of nuclear weapons (July 8th 1996). (see WISE NC 455.4499)
A first series of non-violent direct actions of civil disobedience is announced for the upcoming NATO Summit in Madrid and for the 52nd commemoration of Hiroshima and Nagasaki if the Nuclear Weapons States don't comply with international law.
NATO summit The first non-violent actions will start July 8, on the first anniversary of the historic decision by the UN International Court of Justice (ICJ) on how international law applies to nuclear weapons. The ICJ, asked for an Advisory Opinion by the United Nations General Assembly, decided that 'the threat with or use of nuclear weapons is generally contrary to the rules of international law' and could find no circumstance in which they could lawfully be used.
On this, the first anniversary of the ICJ-decision, all of the NATO leaders, meeting in Madrid for the NATO Summit, will receive a summons from a Spanish bailiff. Non-violent direct actions will commence in Madrid to remind the NATO leaders of their obligations under international law.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki From August 1 to 11, there will be an international peacecamp with non-violent direct action training and work-shops near the NATO Head Quarter in Belgium.
On August 6th, on the 52nd anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, there will be a non-violent direct action at NATO HQ in Brussels to condemn the nuclear policy of NATO which is in violation of the spirit of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (Art I & II) as well as with international humanitarian law (for example NATO's first use policy).
On Saturday August 9th, the anniversary of Nagasaki, grass-roots peace and ecological groups are organising non- violent direct actions at different nuclear 'sites of crime' around the globe, e.g. nuclear weapon laboratories and depots. Untill now activists are already planning thirteen different non-violent direct actions in Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Scotland and US.
The activists are cooperating actively with members of the International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms, the World Court Project and other members of Abolition 2000, the growing global network of over 720 NGO's which are working towards a Nuclear Weapons Convention to prohibit testing, manufacturing and stockpiling of nuclear weapons. This aim is supported by most governments, the public and the International Court of Justice which stated on July 8th 1996 that "there exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament", referring to Article 6 of the NPT.
Last April 7th the Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy presented a model Nuclear Weapons Convention to UN delegates during the nuclear NPT PrepCom at the United Nations in New York.
George Farebrother, Secretary of the World Court Project UK stated:
"As citizens of a planet which already suffered irreparable damage from the illegal threat and use of nuclear weapons, and acting in accordance with our obligation under the Nuremberg Principles to uphold the law, have to take immediate action to review NATO's illegal nuclear policy. As the Nuremberg Principles were confirmed by the World Court, we have and shall use all means in our power, including taking part in, advocating individual and mass participation to organise for direct non-violent resistance, to intervene against all preparations for nuclear war at the places where they are carried out".
The upcoming actions of non-violent civil defence are not only a means, they are also an aim. They are an example of active non-violent conflict resolution, of civilian defence, which we put forward as an alternative to military defence and doctrine. The latest example was practised succesfully in Gorleben last February when thousands of citizens blocked a rad-waste transport to protest against the nuclear policy of the German government. We have to remind the politicians that we want to free the world of the madness of arms and the money which dominates everything. Let the people work together towards more democracy and solidarity, and move into the new millenium with a Convention to free the world of nuclear weapons.
For up to date info, please send E-mail message to majordomo@knooppunt.be, with empty subject line, and "subscribe a-days (your account)" in the body of the message. This way you'll join the growing electronic web serving campaigners and activists preparing this campaign.
Source and Contact:
For Mother Earth International, Lange Steenstraat 16/D, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
Tel: +32-9-233 8439;
Fax: +32-9-233 73 02
E-mail: info@motherearth.org
WWW: www.motherearth.org
(May 16, 1997) On April 4, the US Secretary of Energy Federico Pena announced plans for two so called subcritical experiments on the Nevada Test Site (NTS). The tests are conducted underground with high explosives and nuclear material (plutonium).
(472.4673) WISE-Amsterdam -The first test, named Rebound, will be in June, a second one, Holog, next Fall. Later on four more tests are probably planned: Icebound, Ash, Boomerang and Beech. According to the Department of Energy (DOE) each test will cost 15 to 20 million US Dollars. In a subcritical test no nuclear explosion would occur in spite of the nuclear material present. According to the DOE the explosions are necessary to test the safety and performance of nuclear weapons. US DOE: "Specifically, such experiments will provide needed data on the behavior of weapon materials and components, as well as the effects of remanufacturing techniques, aged materials and other technical issues." The tests were originally planned in June 1996 but were cancelled due to intense grassroots opposition and international diplomatic pressure from the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) negotiations (see also WISE NC 453.4489). According to the DOE the subcritical tests are consistent with this CTBT as they are no nuclear explosions. In August 1995, President Clinton elaborated six safeguards which would condition US support for the CTBT. Safeguard C says: "the maintainance of the basic capability to resume nuclear test activities prohibited by the CTBT should the United States cease to be bound to adhere to this treaty." One of the reasons to withdraw from the CTBT could be the "lack of confidence in the safety or reliability of a critical nuclear weapon type" (Safeguard F). The use of subcritical tests would reduce the likelihood that Safeguard F will ever need to be invoked, says the DOE.
However others see the tests at least as a violation of the treaty, which bans "any nuclear weapon test explosion or any other nuclear explosion". If these subcritical test will be accepted, other countries will claim to have the right to do similar tests. Daryl Kimball, Director Security Programs of the Physicians for Social Responsibility, in a reaction:
"The US subcritical experiments may add to the difficulty of securing support for the CTBT from some nuclear capable states such as India and Pakistan, which are concerned that the United States may be able to continue nuclear weapons development through the labaratory-based, stockpile stewardship programs, including activities such as subcritical experiments."
Numerous groups had urged DOE to conduct independent reviews on two questions before making the final decision. A review on the potential proliferation implications and the impact on the CTBT. Another review was asked on the necessity of the tests for the maintainance of existing arsenal. DOE however asked Jasons, advisors to the department, to review a narrower question, wether the tests could breach criticallity. According to them a nuclear explosion could be excluded.
Actions against the planned subcritical tests were organised in an action week beginning on March 28, before the official announcement by DOE. Several hundred activists gathered first for a Peace Walk from Las Vegas to the NTS. At the test site several activists were arrested for tresspassing. On Eastern Sunday again 65 people were arrested for the same. On March 31 the three entrances of the NTS were blockaded succesfully using tripods and cement filled tubes. On April 1 a demon- stration in Las Vegas was organised complete with costumes and puppets. A press conference was organised for local television and newspapers with representatives of Native American tribes and local environmental organisations. US Highway 95, the main access road to NTS, was blockaded on April 3. Police was able to divert smaller vehicles around the blockade but larger vehicles, also two trucks with radioactive waste, linep up for more than a mile. Seventeen buses carrying NTS workers were held up for almost four hours. Sixteen people were arrested and charged for tresspassing and obstruction, twelve were injured due to police conduct and two were taken to a hospital.
Throughout the week, the actions received national and international press coverage and succeeded in bringing attention to the planned subcritical tests, nuclear waste dumping, transportation issues and Shoshone land rights. The NTS area belongs to the Western Shoshone Nation, making them the most nuclear bombed nation in the world. In addition, the activists hope to bring attention to the recent World Court Decision that declares nuclear weapons illegal.
Source:
Contacts:
ACTION ALERT! Send your protest on these nuclear tests to president Bill Clinton:
1600 Pennsylvania Ave Washington DC 20500 United States of America
phone: +1-202-456-1111 or 1414; fax: +1-202-456-2461 or 2883
E-mail: president@whitehouse.gov
E-mail Secretary Pena: Federico.F.Pena@hq.doe.gov
(May 16, 1997) Metsamor 1+2, both 440 MW, old soviet-built VVER nuclear reactors were shut due to political opposition early 1989 after the heavy December 1988 earthquake.
(472.4678) WISE-Amsterdam This decree to close Metsamor was reversed in 1992, when the Armenian government decided to authorize the restart of Metsamor. Russian funds made it possible to restart Metsamor-2 in November 1995. When it became clear that the reactor should restart anyway, other countries provided some assistance: France, Germany and the US. A safety improvement program was recommended by Framatome and analyzed by the IAEA, but Western officials said that last year only half the measures recommended by Framatome had been carried out. The Western safety organisations IPSN (France) and the German GRS stated that the level of safety had to be strenghtened, even for a limited period of operation.
The restart of first-generation VVER- 440 was a setback for western officials and politicains who sought early closure of old units they considered impossible to upgrade to western saftey levels. Because of Armenia's isolation and armed conflict with Azerbaijan, there was no formal western assistance, in contrast with other countries with old VVER's like Bulgaria. This isolation has come to an end: mid-1996 a political agreement was concluded between the European Union (EU), that requires Armenia to keep Metsamor-1 shut down and to close Metsamor-2 in the `medium term'. In April, the EU and the US have decided to fund a number of safety upgrades. About US$11.4 million worth of contracts will be awarded to western firms by the European Commission in the framework of its TACIS technical assistance program. A consortium of European utilities, led by Italian Enel, with German RWE and Belgian Tractebel, will provide on-site assis- tance, including spare parts of the closed Greifswald reactor (former East-Germany), inspections and specifications for the purchase of hardware like valves. Another consortium of Western safety organi- sations, led by the IPSN and the GRS, will help to analyze the work. The US will fund another US$5 mil- lion. These grants enable the initial, urgent phase of upgrade work. Armenia intends to spend a total of about US$51.4 million. It is only probably, part of this money will be provided by further grants of the EU. Over the next three years some US$105 million is needed to carry out maintenance and safety upgrades, a plant manager said. He also wants US$40 million for preserving unit 2, arguing safety would be better if both units could operate.
Metsamor-2 operates at about 240- 250 MW, because the Armenian grid is too unstable to transport higher output. Therefor the restart of unit 1 is not possible in the near term. The western money could be used better to analyze the potential of energy efficiency and conservation measures and to realise part of it.
Source: Nucleonics Week, 10 April 1997
Contact: Human Ecology Centre/ HUMECO. Room 33-34 (Tsodna), Kosatava Street 47, Tbilisi 380071, Republic Of Georgia.
Tel: +995- 8832-936940;
Fax: +995-8832- 999594.
E-mail: humeco@itic.ge
(May 16, 1997) Metsamor 1+2, both 440 MW, old soviet-built VVER nuclear reactors were shut due to political opposition early 1989 after the heavy December 1988 earthquake.
(472.4678) WISE-Amsterdam This decree to close Metsamor was reversed in 1992, when the Armenian government decided to authorize the restart of Metsamor. Russian funds made it possible to restart Metsamor-2 in November 1995. When it became clear that the reactor should restart anyway, other countries provided some assistance: France, Germany and the US. A safety improvement program was recommended by Framatome and analyzed by the IAEA, but Western officials said that last year only half the measures recommended by Framatome had been carried out. The Western safety organisations IPSN (France) and the German GRS stated that the level of safety had to be strenghtened, even for a limited period of operation.
The restart of first-generation VVER- 440 was a setback for western officials and politicains who sought early closure of old units they considered impossible to upgrade to western saftey levels. Because of Armenia's isolation and armed conflict with Azerbaijan, there was no formal western assistance, in contrast with other countries with old VVER's like Bulgaria. This isolation has come to an end: mid-1996 a political agreement was concluded between the European Union (EU), that requires Armenia to keep Metsamor-1 shut down and to close Metsamor-2 in the `medium term'. In April, the EU and the US have decided to fund a number of safety upgrades. About US$11.4 million worth of contracts will be awarded to western firms by the European Commission in the framework of its TACIS technical assistance program. A consortium of European utilities, led by Italian Enel, with German RWE and Belgian Tractebel, will provide on-site assis- tance, including spare parts of the closed Greifswald reactor (former East-Germany), inspections and specifications for the purchase of hardware like valves. Another consortium of Western safety organi- sations, led by the IPSN and the GRS, will help to analyze the work. The US will fund another US$5 mil- lion. These grants enable the initial, urgent phase of upgrade work. Armenia intends to spend a total of about US$51.4 million. It is only probably, part of this money will be provided by further grants of the EU. Over the next three years some US$105 million is needed to carry out maintenance and safety upgrades, a plant manager said. He also wants US$40 million for preserving unit 2, arguing safety would be better if both units could operate.
Metsamor-2 operates at about 240- 250 MW, because the Armenian grid is too unstable to transport higher output. Therefor the restart of unit 1 is not possible in the near term. The western money could be used better to analyze the potential of energy efficiency and conservation measures and to realise part of it.
Source: Nucleonics Week, 10 April 1997
Contact: Human Ecology Centre/ HUMECO. Room 33-34 (Tsodna), Kosatava Street 47, Tbilisi 380071, Republic Of Georgia.
Tel: +995- 8832-936940;
Fax: +995-8832- 999594.
E-mail: humeco@itic.ge