Southeast Convergence for Climate Action ~ Aug 8 - 14

The Southeast Convergence for Climate Action, near Asheville, North Carolina, will bring together activists across the region who are fighting mountaintop removal mining and coal and nuclear power plants.

Mountaintop removal coal mining is currently devastating the ecologically diverse southern Appalachian Mountains. The coal companies have literally flattened hundreds of square miles of mountains, destroyed thousands of miles of our life giving streams, and terrorized countless communities in the process. Meanwhile southern utility companies are planning a blitzkrieg of new dirty coal plants, despite our regions already dismal air quality. To add insult to injury these same utility companies are using climate change as a justification for building a new fleet of dangerous nuclear reactors.

With extreme weather, massive species extinctions, and melting ice caps becoming a more urgent and dire reality each day, it is high time for us to come together to take direct action against the root causes of climate change. This summer, environmental and social justice groups throughout the Southeast will come together for the Southeast Convergence for Climate Action, a gathering to learn and take collective action against climate Change.

The convergence will consist of a week of information and skill-based workshops, strategy sessions, and direct action aimed at building a no-compromise climate justice movement. With some of the Big Green environmental groups selling out to the nuclear and "clean" coal industries, and large, corporate-led climate initiatives designed to preempt any meaningful reductions in greenhouse gas emissions being pushed in DC, grassroots groups need to join forces with affected communities to fight the fossil fuel empire and create truly sustainable, community-based solutions outside of the capitalist system.

The Convergence for Climate Action will be a space to gain necessary skills for fighting climate change in your region; to network with a broad range of environmental and social justice activists; to engage in intensive strategy sessions aimed at mapping out effective approaches to fighting climate change on a regional level; to confront oppression in our organizing; and to take action.

The Convergence for Climate action aims to promote a just, rapid transition away from fossil fuels; promote environmental justice by supporting communities that are fighting dirty energy developments in their backyards; encourage direct action as a means for challenging dirty energy and empowering the movement to stop climate change, and to increase networking and strategizing amongst the diverse social justice and environmental movements fighting climate change and the energy industry.

Workshops will include Direct Action 101, Climbing Trainings, Strategic Action Planning, Anti-oppression, Sustainable living skills, Debunking False Solutions, Blockades, Media, and much more. The convergence will culminate in a coordinated day of direct action against fossil fuel infrastructure projects.

Please join us for this exciting week of learning, networking, fun, and action. Due to requests of our hosts we ask that you please pre-register for the convergence. We'll see you in August.

www.climateconvergence.org
risingtide@mountainrebel.net
828-675-1792

TEPCO Still Finding/Hiding Radioactive Leaks in Three Mile Island Like Horror

Time Running Out On Nuclear Renaissance as Accidents Mount!

Cruising the Internet found and article from the Wall Street Journal that shows unknown and/or undetected leaks were being located divulged as late as Wednesday night. This means radioactive contaminants were finding their way into the AIR and WATER people breath and drink for almost three days completely unchecked. How many more horrid secrets are yet not known about these seven monster reactors?

Fresh News of Leaks Adds To Nuclear-Plant Worries

Associated Press

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118484761754271575.html?mod=home_whats_news_asia

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan -- Leaks at an earthquake-battered nuclear-power plant continued undetected even as officials assured the public that the damage posed no outside danger, it was learned Thursday, casting deep doubts on the plant's emergency measures and the response by Japan's largest power company.

The indefinite shutdown of the plant also raised serious fears of a summer power shortage.

Officials at Tokyo Electric Power Co. confirmed Thursday that radioactive material was leaking as late as Wednesday night, two days after the plant suffered a near-direct hit by Monday's quake, which killed 10 people and injured more than 1,000 in Kashiwazaki.

Meanwhile, over at the NEI Blog, where they are desperate to paint this event in its best light to protect the Nuclear Renaissance, the spin miesters are trotting out trusty old Lee to set us straight...funny thing this Lee. Claims to have all the answers, knows exactly what was leaked and how, but fails to mention any of the newly found leaks! Talk about someone talking out of their ASS! Give it a break Lee, you just proved yourself a nuclear industry hack and phony. Can we say BUSTED?

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Putting The Radiation Release at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa in the Proper Perspective

Let me make something clear at the outset: All over the world, the nuclear industry takes the events in Japan very seriously. With that in mind, here's some proper perspective from We Support Lee on just how much radioactive material was released from the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant this week:

TEPCO Promise To Restore Confidence Misses The Mark

After previous scandals, and corporate chicanery, Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) created a vision page on their web site that outlines their plans and promises to restore confidence and integrity to their company. The lies and coverup of the truth after the devastating earthquake earlier this week leads one to believe that NOTHING HAS CHANGED...for our readers enjoyment we have taken the liberty of posting their page below, with our own added commentary in red.

Restoring Confidence

http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/corpinfo/overview/restor-e.html

Improving the Corporate Culture
In September 2002, TEPCO implemented countermeasures to guard against a reoccurrence of incidents with regard to inspection and maintenance operations at our nuclear power stations. At the same time, the Company announced four commitments in the interest of creating a "Corporate system and climate of individual responsibility and initiative." The actualization of the four commitments has been adopted as our social mission, and the entire Company is deeply involved in the effort.

How involved can they really be in this social mission if they hid radioactive leaks from members of the host community around the plant for almost nine hours?

To restore public confidence, it is essential to give top priority to safety in our operations. However, every employee from management to the front line of operations must once again consider that a "sense of security" can be gained only when two vital factors are both satisfied: "Assuring Safety" and "Building Mutual Trust."

Giving top priority to safety does not mean hiding the truth. Giving top priority to safety does not mean keeping the truth from the courts about a known earthquake fault in the name of getting a citizens law suit dismissed. Building mutual trust requires FULL DISCLOSURE, and it is a pretty safe bet that we still do not have the FULL TRUTH from TEPCO regarding the level of damage done to their reactors during and following the earthquake.

Through strict safety procedures, TEPCO must make every effort to restore public confidence, beginning with the citizens of the regions in which its plants are located and extending to society at large.
Think we all can agree that TEPCO is failing miserably in their efforts to restore public confidence with anyone.

1. Promoting disclosure of information and ensuring transparency of nuclear operations. Through conducting thorough information disclosure, TEPCO has established a system of independent inspections, and is highly transparent in the operation of its power generation plants.

- Disclose information on the management and operation of our nuclear power stations, so the public is able to confirm that our plants are being operated safely
- Established a scheme to check nuclear safety and quality control by a third party.

After all the hiding of SERIOUS safety issues earlier this week, seems the only way TEPCO could prove they have any integrity at all, is too now agree to and Independent Safety Assessment (ISA). The assessment team should include at least two members from the host community (average citizens), and two members of anti-nuclear grassroots organizations to act as watchdogs.

2. Creating a work environment where proper operations can be carried out
We will strengthen functions that contribute to proper performance of job-related duties by our employees and organizations.

- Set up an office to address ethical concerns. Like failing to notify citizens of radioactive leaks?
- Established a Discrepancy Resolution Committee, a cross-organizational committee, which handles discrepancies in each plant. Like almost 400 gallons of radioactive materials dumped into the sea, while reporting two liters?
- Reviewing all rules and manuals of the company.

3. Strengthening internal surveillance and reforming our corporate culture
TEPCO is re-establishing the existing corporate culture of the Nuclear Power Division, and is building a corporate climate which produces cooperative atmosphere.

- Establish a quality assurance system in the Nuclear Power Division. We see this is not working out all that well.
- Energize internal communications to share an awareness of issues through every stratum and division of the Company. Not working, or there would not have been so many horrid mistakes made in the aftermath of the earthquake.
- Encourage exchange of views between the Nuclear Power Division and other divisions.

4. Promoting observance of corporate ethics. We will promote observance of corporate ethics in our operations through:

Have to wonder what kind of ethics include lying to the public, and cover up of serious radioactive leaks.

- Creating systems to ensure the observance of ethics
- Offering education and training
- Conducting internal and independent audits to keep a high degree of compliance

TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power) Shares PLUMMETING

Bloomberg News is reporting plummeting share value for TEPCO shares, with no end in sight before at least next week. So far, the shares have dropped over FIVE PERCENT in value to reach their lowest sales price in over nine months, at 3400 yen. This massive devaluation has seen the market share of TEPCO lose over $4.3 BILLION just this week! Could this be the beginning of the end for this trouble plagued, and some would claim dishonest company? Are we about to see a Nuclear Sequoya felled, chopped up and sold off in a fire sale?

Tokyo Electric Shares Drop to 9-Month Low After Quake (Update3)

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=aISahKatmLSM&refer=japan

By Megumi Yamanaka and Yuji Okada

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- Shares of Tokyo Electric Power Co. dropped to a nine-month low on concern the company's nuclear facility in central Japan, the world's biggest, may be shut for a year after an earthquake caused radioactive leaks.

The stock fell 5.6 percent to close at 3,400 yen, the lowest since Nov. 6 last year. The shares earlier slumped 7.5 percent, the biggest intraday decline since Feb. 18, 2000, after the Nikkei said the shutdown will be prolonged by checks to ensure the plant will resist future earthquakes.

The tremor, which killed 10 people, has wiped $4.3 billion off the market value at Japan's largest utility this week. Investors sold the stock on concern the company will have to switch on oil, coal and gas-fired power plants at a time when prices for the fuels are at or near records. Tokyo Electric asked six other generators to make up any supply shortfalls.

``Profit is under extreme pressure, as the additional costs for buying electricity, oil and gas, as well as fixing plants, mount,'' Hirofumi Kawachi, an analyst at Mizuho Investors Securities Co. in Tokyo, said by phone today. ``The shares are expected to drop continuously, and at least until early next week we need to watch them closely.''

Toyko Electric Power Takes Devastating Hit...Reactors Could Be Closed For Over One Year

The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Plant owned by corporate embarrassment Tokyo Electric Power Company could be closed for at least one year, and if it turns out that the Earthquake fault runs directly under this poorly managed facility, the seven reactors may never again be turned back on. Despite the Pro-Nuclear rhetoric over on the NEI Blog about the reactors doing what they were supposed to, this story keeps getting better (worse), even though the nuclear power brokers are trying to squelch the truth. For instance, trying to spin the accident in a positive light, while bringing great shame to his family, Nuclear Safety Commission Chairman Atsuyuki Suzuki stated, "The list of problems announced by TEPCO have no serious effect on the safety of the reactor." but then contradicted himself by asserting the need to do much more extensive checking of the inside of the reactors.

Further, he referenced the list put out by TEPCO...they have already proven they, and their information are not to be trusted. The only way to know the full truth, and dangers at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Plant is for the Japanese government to order a top to bottom Independent Safety Analysis (ISA) of the entire nuclear facility, similar to the one the citizens of Westchester County New York seek for the trouble plagued Indian Point reactors that also sit atop a quake fault line. Reading Atsuyuki Suzuki's comments, one has to wonder if the man has a personal relationship with, or has taken speaking lessons from such NRC pundits as Sam Collins, Chip Cameron and Neil Sheehan...they too have a way of putting icing on a turd and selling it as a chocolate eclair.

In a further example of the nuclear industry's callous disregard for protecting human and health, we have this breaking news from Japan. Despite Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki urging the operators of Japan's 55 nuclear reactors to speed up safety checks for earthquake-resistance, the industry was quick to announce they have no intentions of speeding up anything without an official order to do so. This means, that many of these safety checks will not be completed until the end of 2010. Funny how the NRC wants to push through license renewal applications in 22 months, but safety issues and inspections can be put off for YEARS.

Current best estimates have the transformer fire starting as a result of the ground under same sinking, which in turn damaged cables that then started the fire. So, that transformer weighs how much, and if it sank, would not smart money tell you other significant parts of the plant such as reactors also sank? Lets hope we do not see another major quake or after shock while Tokyo Electric Power fumbles for truthful answers.

Meanwhile, trying to see safety take a second seat to its profits, Tokyo Electric Power is trying to play the FEAR CARD in hopes of seeing the seven endangered reactors started back up before all safety checks have been completed. Seems they started beating the energy shortage drums yesterday, claiming Tokyo could face dire summer energy shortages without said reactors up and running. All the bowing and humble apologies to officials aside, guess we can see clearly where Tokyo Electric Power's true concerns reside...kind of brings up and instant image of Entergy's antics and use of the Bankruptcy Courts after Hurricane Katrina. However, looking at TEPCO's previous wrongdoings, their hiding of serious safety problems, none of this comes as any surprise. What TEPCO described on Monday as a transformer fire, and no leaks is now being described by the Japanese Press as a BARRAGE OF LEAKS...sounds like it may be time for Japan to seriously rethink it's entire nuclear strategy.

With Prime Minister Shinzo Abe deeply involved in elections, he is taking the peoples side against the nuclear industry, stating in his weekly email magazine, "Needless to say, ensuring the people's safety is of utmost importance." Unlike President George W. Bush, do not see Japan's Prime Minister cutting a back room deal with TEPCO or the Japanese nuclear industry at this stage of the game, so Reuter's report that Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Plant could be closed for at least a year seems not only plausible, but probable. As was shown here in America when Maine Yankee went through a complete ISA (Independent Safety Analysis), it is very likely that TEPCO's reactors will never be restarted, and that would be good news for the safety and security of the citizens living around these failing and dangerous reactors. Japan more than any other nation knows the DARK SIDE of nuclear, and they do not need to add a Chernobyl like event to their nation's history books.

The Nikkie business newspaper is also reporting the possibility of the entire plant being shut for at least one year, which would make the financial losses for TEPCO staggering...look for plummeting stock prices soon. Financial analysis have warned, that if TEPCO has to fire up more traditional plants to meet summer energy needs, that it could face millions of dollars in extra costs and a possible dividend cut. Sure Wall Street is watching all this very closely, which is going to make them think long and hard before investing in the NEI's (Nuclear Energy Institute) dream of a Nuclear Renaissance. Not even the Price Anderson act can protect their investments in this kind of a scenario, and investors want profits, not excuses.

In other TEPCO related news, look for a citizens law suit to have new life. Back in 2005 a lawsuit that claimed the plant was built on a fault was dismissed as having no merit. Well, that line of reasoning has sure been shot to hell. Further, TEPCO has admitted that they believe the fault was found 30 years ago, but ignored as they did not think it could cause a quake of this magnitude...sounds like negligence to me.

GNEP (Global Nuclear Energy Program) is fundamentally flawed, and George W. Bush's Nuclear 2010 Initiative makes about as much since as his Iraq War strategy. The NRC can rubber stamp license renewal applications all they want, but when you get to the bottom line, this weeks serious problems in Japan have shown us Nuclear is not the great placebo to end Global Warming. We as a world need to take a long serious look at this Three Mile Island like event, look at TEPCO's lies and deceits, and rethink America's rush too build a whole new generation of AP1000 reactors...remember, the AP1000's are brought to you by GE, and if you do your homework, you will find they were INTIMATELY involved in the design and construction of TEPCO's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Plant.

In The Name of Nuclear Renaissance Entergy and Others Did The Dick Cheney Circle Jerk

OMG, the Washington Post has come into possession of Dick Cheney's Energy Task Force meeting list. Seems that Entergy was doing a circle jerk with the man on at least three occasions, but they are not the only interesting party invited to suck up to Dick during these Energy Strategy meetings.

Some of the highlights include for instance a Valentine's Day love fest with Jim Rouse of Exxon. Makes one wonder if Dick Cheney actually swings on both sides of the tree. In March not one, but FOUR people from BP (British Petroleum) met Dicky Boy for lunch...rumor has it that sausage was on the menu.

As has been mentioned in past articles here on Green Nuclear Butterfly, George Bush sold out to the nuclear industry clear back in his days as Governor of Texas, so it is no surprise that the Nuclear Industry had some serious back door access to Dick Cheney during the process. General Electric (Rob Wallace) and NEI (Nuclear Energy Institute) both showed up on March the 28th just in time to have Dick for dinner. Apparently April the 9th was the Nuclear Industry's "lets do Dick" day with all the major players showing up for a piece of Cheney. Attendees included Kristen Ludecke of PSEG Power, David Brown from EXELON, David Gilbert for Constellation Energy Group, Holly Nichols and Joe Vasapoli representing Reliant Energy, Tom Briggs of Enron fame was there, and lets not forget Karen Hunsicker Billups for perennial nuclear bad guy Entergy...geepers, I would not even be surprised to find out that Patrick Moore was outside hiding behind the bushes that day.

Studying Dick's appointment book, it becomes readily apparent that America's middle and lower class were deliberately raped by the Vice President and his minions. A full study of the list makes it apparent that the Nuclear Renaissance is not about saving the world from Global Warming, but about paying back political favors. You want to know why the oil companies have been reaping record profits, just look at their incredible access in the process. In short, the Bush Republican Energy Policy was/is intended to rape America's middle class, and if the current congress has a soul, they will roll back all tax breaks for big oil, and defund GNEP.

Pro Nuke Bloggers Grow Silent As Japan Nuclear Accident Worsens

Setting aside Chernobyl, the world right now is in the middle of the worst nuclear accident since Three Mile Island, and the loud and proud Pro Nuclear Bloggers such as the NEI Blog, Rod Adams and This Week In Nuclear have grown deathly silent, crawled back into the wood work hoping that the radioactive cloud now hovering over the Nuclear Renaissance will soon pass, and they can get back to Propaganda As Usual.

They do not want to talk about the THREE known leaks at the Tokyo Electric Power site, nor do they wish to discuss that the seven reactors at the site have now been shut down for at least two months as they go through a complete safety check...they want this story to JUST GO AWAY as it is bad for business. Last time it was checked, both TEPCO and Entergy stocks were down, and the worse this story gets the worse their financial numbers are going to be. Even more alarming for the likes of Rod Adams, is this accident has alerted Wall Street to the very real risks of investing in the faulty science that is nuclear energy. How many months, even years has GNEP now been pushed back? Could we see Congress greatly reduce funding to the nuclear pork barrel projects that litter our Federal Budget? Seven reactors at say $1.5 million a day in gross revenues...forced shut down of at least 60 days comes out to $NINETY MILLION in lost revenues, and of course we have repairs to consider, not to mention citizen lawsuits. Any one else hearing the investor screams of SELL, SELL, SELL?

By the way, where is Patrick Moore? The former Greenpeace Founder, now corporate shill for nuclear sure has been rather silent and absent these past few days. Didn't he PROMISE that nuclear was safe, vital and secure? Sure we will see him crawl out from under some rock deep in the woods he wants cut down as soon as someone waves a $15,000 check under his nose. Patrick will insist he has not sold out, but if you bother to see who is funding his CASEnergy group, it is obvious he is firmly in the pocket of the nuclear industry. After all, NEI(Nuclear Energy Institute is careful about where they throw their millions at.

The proverbial cat is out of the bag, and the nuclear industry can no longer dance around the may pole claiming nuclear energy if vital, safe and secure. The world just dodged another Chernobyl, and such and event would topple financial institutions all around the world. Global Warming is real, and we as a world have to take it seriously, but this event has shown that nuclear cannot be a part of the solution.

Situation grave at world's largest nuclear plant

by Deep Harm

Wed Jul 18, 2007 at 06:25:27 AM

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/7/18/92527/0219

The world's largest nuclear plant, the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, experienced a fire and damage after two earthquakes on Monday. Accounts of the damage worsen with each new report, and now data indicate that the plant sits directly over a fault line. The plant's seven reactors are currently shut down, but keeping them safely shut down will be difficult. If technicians cannot keep cooling water flowing to the radioactive cores, those could overheat, resulting in a meltdown and massive release of radiation. The head of the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency has urged Japanese authorities to investigate the accident fully.

The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Reactor Accident Worse Than Three Mile Island

With each passing hour, with each passing day, the reports coming out of Japan make it clear that the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant accident is in some ways far worse than the accident at Three Mile Island, and citizens in the area surrounding the reactors are in grave peril as long as these seven reactors owned by the Tokyo Electric Power Company are in operation. As information comes streaming in, as the damage estimates and contamination amounts grow, one thing is obvious...all seven Kashiwazaki-Kariwa reactors are in serious trouble, and need to be decommissioned in the name of public health and safety. To do other wise exposes the citizens of Japan to a nuclear disaster potentially far more devastating than Hiroshima ever was.

In the early hours following the 6.8 on the richter scale earthquake, officials at Tokyo Electric Power knew they were in trouble, but refused to sound the alarm, waiting hours to inform the authorities that they were in trouble. Instead, they down played both the damage at the facilities, and the risk to human health and the environment, claiming the only damage suffered was a small transformer fire...suppose they (company management) were blinded to the obvious, which included buckled sidewalks, huge cracks and heaves in the plants road system, and concrete barriers tossed about like a child's Lego set.

With each passing hour, the reports have grown more severe, the contaminant issues growing expodentially. For instance, the tipped barrel of radioactively contaminated materials went to a few, to fifty, then to 100, and now the count is 400 barrels of spilled contents. A leak of materials into the environment was originally stated as being less than two liters now stands at almost 400 gallons of highly toxic waste savagely dumped into the Japanese Sea, potentially threatening the fishing industry of the area. Additionally, we now know that an undisclosed amount of Cobalt 60, and other highly dangerous, cancer causing radioactive contaminants escaped into the air...with NO WARNING TO THE CITIZENS!

The Mayor of Kashiwazaki, Hiroshi Aida tired of the lies and coverup by TEPCO has acted both quickly and decisively in ordering the entire facility closed until it can prove to the citizens it is a safe site that can be operated safely. If the mayor sticks to his guns, it may be impossible for TEPCO to prove these seven reactors are safe. New geographical information coming out into the light of day shows A) that the quake far exceeded the design basis criteria for the plants, which were only designed to survive a quake of a magnitude of 6.5, instead of the 6.8 quake that demolished much of the reactor site, and B) it is now believed that at least one of the reactors actually sits directly atop a fault line.

In an attempt at damage control, in their drive for a Nuclear Renaissance, the heavy hitters within the nuclear industry are out in force downplaying the significance of the event, and offering Tokyo Electric Power whatever help is needed in getting the reactors back up online. Sad to think that political and financial agendas are taking a front seat to human health and safety, but if some of the remarks on the NEI Blog are any example, that is just what we are seeing. IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei was quick to offer aid, saying he would be more than willing to put together a team of foremost experts from around the world, but then discredited himself and the IAEA by being quick to point out (without even having seen the damage) that he was sure the basic structural stability of the reactors was probably fine.

The NRC was/is not much better, caring more about political spin, and keeping the GNEP, Nuclear Renaissance ball moving down the field than seeing to the safety of almost 100,000 Japanese citizens, even if it means losing seven of their precious reactors. Expecting Entergy to trot out any minute to the press to announce they are sending Paul Newman over to take a personal tour of the site, and give it a clean bill of health to resume operations. In a perfect Bill Clinton, George Bush tag team, Entergy could also snag Patrick Moore...after all, he never met a corporate jet and a $15,000 check he did not like. Entergy could make it the Three Musketeers by rounding off the group with Christine Todd Whitman. We'll call it the CASEnergy Nuclear Diplomatic Tour.

Face it folks...the longer reactors are up and running, the closer we are getting to a disaster of Biblical Proportions, and try as they might, the Nuclear Energy Institute and the trouble plagued industry they represent cannot hide the horrid truths forever. A perfect example of the twisted lies told to protect the industry can be found in the differing views offered to the Press from a TEPCO spokesman, and a spokesman for Japan's Meteorological Agency. To mitigate public image damage, and the very real risk of having their reactors permanently shut down and decommissioned, TEPCO spokesperson Hiroshi Itagaki said aftershock data indicate a fault under the ocean floor near the plant. Meteorological Agency official Osamu Kamigaichi paints a far more troublesome picture though when discussing the EXACT SAME DATA when he stated to the press that the fault line runs directly under the plant, and that one reactor may actually sit directly on top of the fault line.

Entergy's Indian Point and numerous other aging and brittled reactors also sit on or near MAJOR earthquake fault lines, and a quake of similiar numbers to the one in Japan would more than likely split the cores like an over ripe mellon. Our own reports from various people we have spoken with who are familiar with Entergy's problem plagued Indian Point reactors, which are leaking tritium and strontium 90 into the Hudson River lead us to believe that most of the sensors installed over 30 years ago to detect and record earthquake activity at the Indian point site are not only outdated and obsolete, but in too many cases are no longer functioning. One thing is certain...a earthquake of significant proportion at a site such as Indian Point, or California's Diablo Canyon would cause catastrophic harm, and financial damages would run into the hundreds of billions if not trillions of dollars. If New Orleans is any example, such and event would all but destroy New York City as we know it today.

Hideyuki Ban, director of the civil group Citizen's Nuclear Information Center was quoted by the press"Japan has a dense population so the human damage would be major here. There would be many deaths," and "I think that a quake-prone country should phase out its use of nuclear power." He is absolutely correct. Neither America or Japan needs another Chernobyl or Hiroshima on their shores, yet the IAEA, NRC and the NEI seem willing to risk just that in their push to revitalize a failing industry. The NRC's rubberstamping of license renewal applications to maintain the nuclear industry's market share has got to come to a screeching halt. Here in New York we have 21 million people living within 50 miles of the crumbling Indian Point nuclear reactors, and a quake similiar to the one in Japan could potentially kill hundreds of thousands of those innocent people.

Nuclear energy is neither safe, nor green, and the time to seek a different pathway to energy independence without nuclear is upon us.

Why The Anti Nuke Movement Must Get NET SAVY

It has amazed me in a dissappointing fashion how unwilling the Anti Nuclear movement is to get with the program, and use the net (specifically blogs) in organizing the Anti-Nuclear movement, in getting our message out, in uniting ourselves. Speaking with various grassroots people and groups, I hear over and over again things like, "I don't know how" or "if you want to do that, go for it, but we are going to keep doing what we are doing". I can preach all day that we need to use blogs and link together, but people are not listening, and the few that do are not enough for us to effectively get our message out in a BIG WAY.

Rather than continue preaching, thought I would share a blog entry found on one of the enemies (Pro Nuclear)blogs...in short, they A) are aware of our shortcomings in this area, B) are using it to their best advantage in winning the hearts and souls of the young people, and C) laughing at us. If you wonder why 48 aging reactors have been relicensed, and we have stopped not one application so far, here is a big part of the answer...we are being out gunned on the net.

Saturday, June 02, 2007
Anti-Nuclear Net.Activism

Anti-nuclear activists have started circulating an email alert (rather, an alert in the footer of every email they send) asking people to get a (they suggest) WordPress or MySpace blog and start blogging as a way to stop nuclear power. I see some good signs here.

First, a WordPress blog in its externally-hosted form is a technical challenge for people who aren't familiar with servers, and in its free form is not powerful enough to be effective in an actual campaign. You can't even change the HTML code. MySpace, however, is a joke. There's no point trying to use it; once you get past being a joke of a movement, you have to disassemble everything you did and start over on a real platform.

We didn't make that mistake, at least not that badly. Blogger, for all its faults, is extensible. And most importantly, we made our mistakes a while ago and are starting to recover while they dig themselves a hole. They don't know that it's easier to have a tech-savvy organization set up a community that activists can join than to try to make everything work together after six or seven incompatible systems are entrenched. It seems also that anti-nuclear pages are either sophisticated ASP jobs or hacks, with nothing in between; an anti-nuclear activist who is trying to do a good job faces an almost square learning curve with almost no help from their colleagues. They are forced to cut corners and further decrease compatibility (and thus interoperability--which is the whole point).

Second, they honestly think that NEI pays everyone off, and that we're all NEI employees. Wrong. They simply, honestly, and truly do not understand that there is a difference between the industry and the supporters of the technology. That leads them to think we aren't distributed and can be beaten easily by five or six dedicated people.

Third, they concentrate on RSS. Go chase RSS, guys. Nobody uses it. It's useful only as an aggregation tool for people with nothing else to do and when it is converted to an email alert system.

Fourth, they acknowledge that the anti-nuclear movement doesn't do blogging. The first three dedicated, sustained pro-nuclear blogs (NEI, Atomic Insights, and NIOF) started in a short period in 2005. Others came along later; a second wave came along in 2006 (Freedom for Fission, We Support Lee, Energy from Thorium, and ARDT), and a third wave came along in late 2006 to early 2007 (Pebble Bed Reactor, Idaho Samizdat, Left Atomics, Nuclear Australia, NNadir). I like the fact that that number is going up with each wave (and diversifying), and NIOF is working on making it easier for people to get started--and get started in an organization.

I don't see the anti-nuclear activists, who are new to this and learn tech more slowly, getting there any faster than we did. Accordingly, I (conservatively) conclude that the anti-nuclear activists are two years behind us.

We have a window, and we have to do something with it. This little smell of blood shouldn't lead us to believe that they're dead, but should inspire us to work even harder to kick their butts and make sure they don't get up again. We must do this by removing their base of support; using the internet's core competencies (as the UNIX-HATERS Handbook says of computers, "nitpickers with elephantine memories") as a tool (not a strategy) to accelerate the process of organizing college campuses. It is clear that to do that, we need a Nuclear Advocates' Declaration of Principles (or something else similar to the Port Huron Declaration; if nothing else, to put our opinions in writing to immunize us from allegations that we're being bought off), a web-based community platform, and an internal handbook that we can keep out of anti-nuclear activists' hands until they have their own equivalent (i.e., something we can keep close to our chest for two or three years). NIOF is actively working on the second part, after which we'll obviously do the third part, but pro-nuclear activists will need to call a conference to do the first part.

In short: they're a threat, but a foreseen threat. We know what timeline, roughly, they will be operating on. Our application of game theory to proliferation--and their disdain for doing so--helps us. We know exactly what to do to prevent this threat from materializing. We can do it, and I know we will. We must. Too much is at stake, environmentally and on a public health level, for us to not do anything about it, or to fail to do what we know we can do and operate at the high level we know we can operate at.

Get up and do something!

Mayor Orders Nuke Plant Closed, Company President Apologizes

The Mayor of KASHIWAZAKI, Japan has ordered Tokyo Electric Powers seven reactors shut down until they can prove they are SAFE! The NRC would have a shit fit if Andrew Spano ordered Indian Point shut down...after all, God Forbid Entergy's profits be impinged upon because of SAFETY ISSUES such as tritium and strontium 90 leaking into the Hudson River. Tokyo Electric Power's stock took a one percent hit yesterday, and sure the Mayor's announcement will see said stock tumble further. If the NRC actually starts enforcing its regulations at Entergy and Exelon nuclear reactors here in America, we could see similar stock plummets here as well. If there was ever a risky time to own Entergy stocks, right now seems to be it.

Indian Point represents almost 20 percent of Entergy's nuclear arsenal, and the aging brittled reactors have some serious problems...far more serious than those of the currently closed Tokyo Electric Power reactors that could remain closed for months, if not years. After all, the ground under the reactors WENT LIQUID for God's sake. Indian Point failed five of the six siting criteria back when they were originally licensed, and the fact said reactors sit on top of a earth quake fault line should seriously jeopardize their bid for relicense...SAY TUNED folks, as this fight is far from over, and when the dust settles, Westchester might yet rid themselves of these monsters.

Mayor Closes Quake-Hit Japan Nuke Plant

By ERIC TALMADGE,

AP

Posted: 2007-07-17 23:13:30

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan (AP) - The mayor ordered that a nuclear power plant hit by a strong earthquake be shut down Wednesday until its safety could be confirmed after a long list of problems - including radiation leaks, burst pipes and fires - came to light.

Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is the world's largest nuclear plant in power output capacity.

Signs of problems after Monday's quake came first not from the officials, but in a plume of smoke that rose up when the quake triggered a small fire at an electrical transformer.

It was announced only 12 hours later that the magnitude 6.8 temblor also caused a leak of about 315 gallons of water containing radioactive material. Officials said the water leak was well within safety standards. The water was flushed into the sea.

Later Tuesday, it said 50 cases of "malfunctioning and trouble" had been found. Four of the plant's seven reactors were running at the time of the quake, and they were all shut down automatically by a safety mechanism.

Officials said there was no harm to the environment, but acknowledged it took a day to discover about 100 drums of low-level nuclear waste that were overturned, some with the lids open.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

07/17/07 23:12 EDT

Utility chief apologizes for problems at quake-hit nuke plant

By ERIC TALMADGE,

AP

Posted: 2007-07-17 23:15:01

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan (AP) - A top power official apologized for radioactive leaks and several other malfunctions that occurred at a Japanese nuclear plant after a deadly earthquake, but said the company's basic safety measures still worked.

The comments came just moments after the mayor of the local city hosting the power plant ordered the facility shut down until its safety can be confirmed.

Tsunehisa Katsumata, president of plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co., toured the site Wednesday morning, declaring it "a mess." The previous evening, his company released a list of dozens of problems triggered by Monday's 6.8-magnitude quake.

"It is hard to make everything go perfectly," Katsumata said.

"We will conduct an investigation from the ground up. But I think fundamentally we have confirmed that our safety measures worked," he said.

While TEPCO says the quake was stronger than planned for, it has said none of the problems posed serious threats to people or the environment.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

07/17/07 23:13 EDT

Providing Another Piece of The Puzzle...Stopping The Uranium Fuel Cycle Game

Just received this in email from Remy, and feel compelled to put it on the blog as written...the uranium fuel cycle, from mining to waste disposal, and all point in between is a cycle of death...it is time the truth be known, is it time that we as Americans demand accountability.

Friday, May 26, 2006

Report on Uranium Project

http://environmentalnightmares.blogspot.com/2006/05/report-on-uranium-project.html

by Harold J. One Feather
igmuskala@yahoo.com
605-845-5978

May 27, 2006

First of all, I am a volunteer for the Defenders of the Black Hills and am honored to be one.
www.defendblackhills.org
P.O. Box 2003 Rapid City SD 57709

My report will be short and will describe to you my goals, objectives and accomplishments as this relates to the Custer National Forest abandoned uranium mines and the extreme health crises in Rock Creek (Bullhead, SD) on the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation.

I call your attention to the issue of extreme genocide and racism against our people occurring in northern South Dakota resulting from the radioactively contaminated abandoned uranium mines in the Custer National Forest. I have been involved in this issue for nearly ten years beginning in 1997 and have conducted an intensive examination of the facts relating to this critical issue.

In the Rock Creek community, there is an increasing rate of health problems: cancer and cancer deaths, miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies, diabetes and kidney diseases, and, sadly, birth defects. I have lost my mother to cancer, my father died of a heart disease, two of my aunts died of cancer, my niece has had two miscarriages and an ectotopic pregnancy; this is my testimony to you, others in the Rock Creek community have the same health problems. That there is an extreme health emergency on the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation is not the question, I ask what can we do about this, for our future generations, for those that have lost our relatives?

As one man with limited resources, I could do nothing, my pleas were routinely ignored although I presented the facts to our tribal leadership, and to my community. Feeling a sense of hopelessness, I almost gave up and would have left my reservation with a guilty conscience knowing that our people are dying needlessly.

I have then asked in 2004 for the help of the Defenders of the Black Hills to deliver this message to concerned individuals and to governmental officials: Our people are dying and are getting sick from the abandoned uranium mines.

To date, the Defenders and I have attended several crucial meetings with the US Forest Service relating to their CERCLA/Superfund remediation actions. I like to think that because of our insistence, they received the $22 million reclamation grant from the US EPA and hopefully will reclaim the mines in the near future. Our next step should be to cause the US Forest Service to consider the extreme health crises on the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation under the CERCLA/Superfund. This will cause the US Forest Service to speed up the Riley Pass abandoned uranium mine reclamation action as well as reclaim the other mines at the South Cave Hills and Slim Buttes. And hopefully this will cause the US EPA to give technical assistance grants to the affected communities and to the Defenders of the Black Hills to have CERCLA/Superfund explained in layman's terms. This way the rights of the people to have a safe environment will assured for future generations of our people.

We must also never forget to make those atomic bombs and nuclear power plants, they, the mining companies, have poisoned our environment and hurt our people, and they must be held accountable for their radioactively contaminated toxic mines. Tronox, formerly Kerr-McGee, must not be allowed any leniency since they have did a very unexcusable crime against our people.

We have also caused the State of South Dakota to initiate their surface water quality monitoring program for the western river basins except for the Bad River and will sample the water for radionuclide contamination. The Defenders must establish their proposed water quality monitoring project to compare these results with the States' results. To do properly implement the project, we will need funds and a budget, a sampling plan, sampling kits and supplies, intensive research on water issues, a quality assurance and assessment policy manual, and maps.

As some of you know I have volunteered to lead the MySpace group "Defenders of the Black Hills" (http://groups.myspace.com/defendblackhills) and have gained the support for several key MySpacers. I have placed four videos on the group main page:

1.) Destruction of the Black Hills;
2.) Riley Pass Mining Spoils;
3.) Picnic Springs; and,
4.) Riley Pass Mine.

I have also included many important links to the uranium issues in our area including several key photographs of the Riley Pass uranium mine. In my photoblog at MSN Spaces (http://spaces.msn.com/uraniummine) I have many more photos and links to this areas newspaper story about the uranium issue. We have 124 members who are very interested in our activities concerning the Riley Pass mine and the others in the Custer National Forest. We have also all worked on a letter that we should all send to the State governor and to our Congress persons.

With the help of John LeKay (www.heyokamagazine.com), we have also established the Silkwood Project (www.silkwoodproject.com) which has interviews from myself, Dr. Helen Caldicott, world-renown nuclear activist; Timothy Benally, Navajo nuclear activist; Doug Brugge, Tufts University nuclear activist; Diane Stearns, Northern Arizona University biochemist, and William Under Baggage, Indigenous Nations Network environmentalist. The site is full of interesting and scary articles about uranium issues. I would highly recommend that everyone read these articles, John is very thorough in his writing and is extremely intelligent; we are very fortunate that he is helping the Defenders by publicizing our fight for environmental protection and for the uranium issue

Posted by igmuska

Nuclear Renaissance, step backwards into the Dark Ages

by Harold J. One Feather

My point here in my blog is not denigrate the global warming theory, but to show you that it is being used to further concentrate political power in the hands of certain nuclear energy companies. I firmly believe that this is illegal and contrary to the US Constitution. The names of the key players in this lawless game are: Exelon, Entergy, Dominion, Constellation, Uranez, Uranium Resources, Hydro Resources, Cameco, Strathmore, Westinghouse, Fluor and several other lesser known nuclear-related companies.

The Propaganda

As the nuclear renaissance in allegiance with the global warming buffs continues its onward march through the history as one of the most controversial and concentrated political movements, using outright media fabrication of a decade's old problem, formerly known as pollution, now as global warming to foster a society-wide delusion that we need more nuclear power plants, that we need more sources of uranium, that we need more nuclear waste repositories and that nuclear energy is inherently safe. Being associated with global warming must indicate to the unknowing earning their well-meant support.

Supporting the nuclear renaissance is the mass media, owned by only a few individuals and corporations, who are, in turn, responsible to others with just as nefarious ties to unlawful and illegal trusts, syndicates, front companies, and outright Mafioso mobs.

This propaganda, at first, confused all the environmental groups and anti-nuclear groups but as certain contradictions within it are becoming more apparent, this propaganda is being attacked by all sides as a gross lie. Although the dividing lines in the sand have been drawn with several fence sitters being knocked off their fence into the wrong pasture, this propaganda serves only to illustrate the level and number of front groups that covertly sponsor nuclear energy as an alternative to coal and other power generation industries. On the other hand, this dividing line is providing intelligent decision making possibilities for investment to those groups that are truly for protecting and preserving the environment.

Advanced Burner Reactors (ABR) is most often used in the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) as its poster child of hope. Advanced Burner Reactors are still in the design stages expecting to come on line in nearly 20 years as stated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). This type of reactor recycles spent uranium, converting it to plutonium to be used again in the fuel cycle. Instead of decreasing the safety risks, these types of reactors actually increase the danger. But again nothing says that they can't spend research funds studying the ABR technologies. Also after reading the GNEP, I can't help but feel a sense of irony since it reminds me of a pipe dream and doesn't consider any potential accidents or disasters.

The Conspiracy

As our society's economy is based on the exploitation of our earth's natural resources, then adding value to this through taxation and tariffs, stocks, bonds and dividends, corporations and political parties. Given this, we were told that the name of this diffuse organization is the military industrial complex, named as such during the Viet Nam War. Owned by forces unseen, our economy is being driven in directions that are environmentally dangerous; all in the name of profit. Yet what can one individual do to resist this control; you can't stop purchasing their products especially food, gas, medicine and others, that would be suicide. And as they know that we can't stop using electricity, so again the conspiracy emerges, are they promoting this nuclear renaissance to promote coal-fired power plants although these contribute significantly to the problem?

A very illustrative example of the conspiratorial nature of this issue is the United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC) and its Megatons to Megawatts program. This program buys from Russia uranium that was formerly in nuclear warheads. As of April 2007, more than 12,000 nuclear warhead material has been sold to the US. This uranium is then converted to fuel for the 103 reactors spread across this country. The implications herein cause me great consternation in terms of world peace and stability.

The Mining

The nuclear renaissance has also increased the demand for the uranium, causing a boom in the in situ leach uranium mining industry. But sadly it has not caused increase attention to the abandoned uranium mines located in and around Native American communities. (read this post for more details)

In the Midwest in states such as Wyoming, ISL uranium mining is growing rapidly with former uranium strip mines being reopened for extraction. Nunn County in Colorado is one of the few places that the ISL operation where the community is actively opposing the mining operation over concerns about the effects on drinking water. In Goliad, TX community residents are wondering why they fell for the lies that the ISL uranium mining could return water quality to pre-mining levels. In South Dakota, abandoned uranium mines and current attempts by an ISL uranium mining operation are very major concerns in terms of water quality and current health crises in the downstream reservation communities.

These concerns are not heeded, only the desire for profit stands tall.

The fact is that most mining companies that are now producing uranium are capitalized by banks and financial investment corporations which I presume are owned by foreign countries who have long realized that control of the interest rates is more important than owing physical assets such as manufacturing industries, mineral extraction industries and energy corporations. Controlling interest rates does major significance in the common day lives of our society. Financing the nuclear renaissance is debt or government subsidies. And without the source materials for enrichment, the nuclear renaissance is supposedly going to be held to a standstill but not necessarily, there are other mining locations in this world other than in the US.

The Hypothesis

Therefore herein I state my new hypothesis; the nuclear renaissance is meant mainly for the Asian countries as they are in the construction phases of many new reactors using US technology and companies. The uranium demand is needed for these Asian reactors, not US reactors.

I agree with global warming but I know for a fact that nuclear energy will not be the solution to it. Only conserving what we have now is the only way to preventing future climate disasters, educating ourselves about the nature of the nuclear renaissance helps in this regard.

(Read more from Harold J. One Feather on his blog Environmental Nightmares)

Mounting Troubles Could Shut Down Japan Reactors For Months, Even Years?

As the investigations at Tokyo Electric Power widen, it is becoming very obvious that Japan just ducked a nuclear Holocaust in the aftermath of Monday's Earthquake. The originally filed false report of just a transformer fire is now an ever growing list of serious issues at the largest nuclear facility in the world, and one has to wonder if all seven reactors should be permenantly shutdown in light of this earthquake. Problems now on the list include the following.

Huge fire at an electrical transformer facility took over two hours to bring under control, and only an act of God kept it from spreading.

At least 1,200 liters of radioactively contaminated water spewed into sea, with the effects to fish and aquatic life not really known. Look for Homer Simpson's three eyed fish in the coming days and months.

No less than 100 barrels of radioactive waste were brutally knocked over in storage facility, with thousands of barrels yet to be fully investigated.

Major duct thrown out of place in major vent; resulting in a horridly dangerous leak of radioactive cobalt-60 and chromium-51 from five of the plant's reactors. Imagine not one, but FIVE reactors spewing cobalt-60 and chromium into the atmosphere, yet it was TWELVE HOURS before the public was informed!

Water leaks inside buildings housing all seven reactors, with no accurate measure of how much liquid has been released.

Significant malfunctioning and blockage of water intake screening pumps at two reactors, which could have potentially led to core meltdowns in a worse case scenario.

Blowout panel visciously ripped down at turbine buildings at two reactors.

Significant oil leak from low-activation transformer waste oil pipes at two reactors.

Loss in water-tight seal at reactor core cooling system-this could be indicative of significant damage, as reactor(s) shifted off original locations.

Major water leaks from diesel generator facility, burst and destroyed extinguisher pipe, burst condenser valve and filtration tank.

Seriously broken connections and horribly broken bolt at electric transformer.

Total and complete loss of power at control center for liquid waste disposal facility.

Significant and troublesome oil leaks from damaged transformer and magnetic transformer facility.

Numerous oil leaks at reactor water supply pump facility.

Disrupted electrical connection at magnetic transformer facility.

Structurally significant cracks in embankment of water intake facility.

Numerous air and oil leaks at switching stations.

Huge amounts of land under most parts of plant turned to mud in quake-caused process known as liquefaction which could lead to significantly settling of important infrastructure of the plant in the coming months, which in turn could compromise structural stability and reliability of foundational structures.

Robert Kennedy Jr. on nukes!

"According to Terry Tamminen, former director of the California EPA, the true costs of our oil dependence run as high as $807 billion a year – or $2,700 for every U.S. citizen. If all the hidden costs that Americans currently pay for oil were reflected in the price at the pump, gasoline would cost more than $13 a gallon. In short, taxpayers and consumers are essentially giving the oil industry a subsidy of $10 for every gallon of gas sold in America. If we simply eliminated those subsidies and created a truly free market, renewable sources of energy would beat oil – as well as nuclear power and coal, which receive equally grotesque subsidies. It is only through these giant subsidies that gasoline has a prayer of competing with alternative sources such as biofuels and wind, which produce energy far more cleanly and efficiently, at far less cost."

Source:
http://www.robertfkennedyjr.com/articles.html

Rolling Stone
June 18, 2007

Kazuyuki Takemoto ~ I told you so!

Anti-Nuke Who's Who

Kazuyuki Takemoto: changing nuclear policy from the regions

By Noritomo Nagase*

The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) is the largest NPP in the world, with 7 reactors and a total power output of 8,212 MWe. It was built by the largest electric power company in Japan, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO).

Kashiwazaki City and Kariwa Village are located 250 km north west of the capital, Tokyo. The area has a population of 100,000 people and is surrounded by mountains and sea. It is mainly a region of paddy fields, but there was oil drilling there 100 years ago and some related machinery industry remains. The plan for a nuclear power plant was announced in 1969, just when agriculture began to decline.

Kazuyuki Takemoto was born in 1950, the oldest son of a farmer whose farm was near the NPP site. A farmer himself and also a technologist involved in agricultural construction, Kazuyuki is engaged in survey, planning and design work related to water and soil. He is also involved in flood response and post-earthquake recovery planning. He has opposed the NPP plan ever since it was announced, taking the view that "nuclear energy is dangerous and will ruin the local community". He has been campaigning now for over 35 years. During that period he was a local councilor for 6 terms, for a total of 24 years.

Besides protesting the all too frequent nuclear accidents, in 1979 the movement against the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa NPP initiated a lawsuit for the annulment of the plant's license. This lawsuit is still continuing. It has been campaigning against the pluthermal plan since 1997 and is also campaigning on the problem of electro-magnetic radiation associated with high voltage transmission cables.

More than 20 years have passed since the first reactor at Kashiwazaki commenced operations. Aging is a big issue and numerous cracks have appeared in the pipes and structural components of reactor cores. Kazuyuki is a key member of the movement, employing the wealth of knowledge he has picked up from experts to home in on TEPCO's weak points. Consequently, he is a very busy man.

Kariwa Village, where Kazuyuki lives, has a population of 5,000 people. One in every four families has a family member who makes his or her living at the NPP or at a related company. It is like a castle town, totally dependent on the castle, though in this case the castle is the NPP. But it was this same Kariwa Village which, in 2001, held a referendum and a majority voted against the pluthermal1 plan. This achievement was brought about by the joint efforts of many people within the movement.

Kazuyuki studied geology and seismology and in 1974 drew attention to the poor quality of the ground on which the NPP stands, pointing out that the NPP would not withstand a powerful earthquake. Ever since, he has been arguing with TEPCO, which built the plant, and the government, which approved the license, about the NPP's earthquake resistance. The Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake occurred in October 2004. Now, the ability of the plant to withstand earthquakes has become the issue of greatest concern in the area. Recently, people working at the NPP have begun to give inside information to the anti-nuclear energy movement in Kashiwazaki and Kariwa. This is evidence that the movement, which has been campaigning for all these years, is trusted in the local area. The Kashiwazaki Kariwa anti-nuclear energy movement hopes to change nuclear policy from the regions. Kazuyuki Takemoto sees nuclear energy as war technology, which began with Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He believes that it is incompatible with human peace and environmental preservation. He is engaged in the movement against nuclear energy, because he believes that society must rid itself of nuclear energy as soon as it possibly can.

1. The term 'pluthermal' refers to the use of plutonium in the form of 'mixed oxide' (MOX) fuel in light water reactors.* Noritomo Nagase is a local councilor in Kariwa local council. He has worked with Kazuyuki Takemoto against the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant from the beginning.

CNIC
Citizens' Nuclear Information Center
Akebonobashi Co-op 2F-B, 8-5 Sumiyoshi-cho,
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-0065, Japan
TEL.03-3357-3800FAX.03-3357-3801
http://cnic.jp/english
cnic@nifty.com

Source:
http://cnic.jp/english/newsletter/nit111/nit111articles/whoswho111.html

Quake Stabilizers Could Be In Trouble At Japan Reactor

The news keeps getting worse at the world's largest nuclear reactor site owned by the Tokyo Electric Company in Japan...seems they have over 50 know issues, including BURST PIPES to deal with. The Green Nuclear Butterfly is on the case, and after speaking with one of our sources, we believe that the Shock Stabilizers on which these reactors were built have now been significantly compromised.

Our source used too work for Underwater Construction of Essex, Connecticut. Further, he actually did some welding work at the nuclear site in Japan. All the reactors were constructed in a fashion that they sit on these shock stabilizers, which are basically large shock absorbers meant to cushion the reactors, and give them some movement mobility during a earthquake. Problem is, the 6.8 Richter earthquake that hit on Monday FAR EXCEEDED the Design Basis for said stabilizers, and it is this former Underwater Construction employee's educated belief, that all the stabilizers have been compromised, thus placing the entire nuclear facility and its numerous (seven)reactors in grave jeopardy should a quake of similar magnitude strike near the facility.

In short, Tokyo Electric Power company may have dodged the bullet during this earthquake, but the long term viability of the entire facility is now very questionable, and the Japanese government should order all seven reactors shut down permanently unless the company can prove conclusively that said earthquake stabilizers have not been compromised in any way.

Meanwhile, the folks over at NEI are already trying to do damage control by spinning the incident in a different light, posting false assurances to members of the public who foolishly follow their blog...check out the spin miesters yourselves:

http://neinuclearnotes.blogspot.com/2007/07/japan-quake-and-kashiwazaki-kariwa.html

Japanese Quake Delivers Devastating Blow to Nuclear Renaissance?

Could we be watching the beginning of the end of GNEP, and the Nuclear Renaissance that is being trumpeted by the Bush Administration as the aftermath of the earthquake in Japan unfolds?

In early reports out of Japan, we heard about a minor fire at the world's largest nuclear plant. Then, we were told there had been a very insignificant leak (a few pints)of radioactive contaminants inside the plant. Then we found out that there had been off site contamination. Next, a few liters of radioactive waste became, in the blink of and eye well over 300 gallons dumped into the sea. The next shoe to drop was the news that the Tokyo Electric Power Company and the Japanese government had hidden the truth from the populace for many hours.

Now today, we find out even more bad news (or good if you are anti nuclear). Seems that the quake far exceeded the plants DB plans, was well above the criteria the plants were designed to withstand, which raises some very serious concerns, or should raise some serious concerns. Additionally, Japan has announced the launch of a second leak investigation...which means, the structural stability of these reactors is now in question. Do we have a cracked core? Has the entire underground piping system been compromised? If there is a second leak, how significant is it, and can they even locate it so that repairs can be made?

In short, people that own stocks in companies like Entergy or Exelon might be wise to dump their investments, as a significant structural problem at Tokyo Electtrics reactor site will send shock waves through the nuclear industry.

Japan quake toll at nine; nuclear plant still shut
BBC reports that a second radioactive leak is being probed
By MarketWatch
Last Update: 5:43 AM ET Jul 17, 2007

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- The world's largest nuclear power plant by output capacity remained closed Tuesday, after seismometers indicated the magnitude 6.7 earthquake that hit northwestern Japan Monday produced shocks that exceeded the reactors' design strength, according to media reports.

The quake was reportedly the strongest ever detected at a domestic nuclear reactor.
Second leak being probed: BBC
Water containing radioactive material is already known to have leaked from the plant into the sea after that quake, but officials say it will not harm the environment. And Japanese officials are investigating the possibility of a second radioactive leak from the plant, the BBC reported on its Web site.

Indian Point is Built on Earthquake Fault Line...Reactors Will Break Apart

The NRC decades ago opted to EXEMPT Indian Point from the citing criteria, allowed the now failing reactors to be built on an earthquake fault line...face it, when the BIG QUAKE hits, we are all in serious trouble unless we shut the plants now.


Earthquake In Japan Real Video Clips - Watch more funny videos here

Japanese Government, Tokyo Electric HIDE Radioactive Leak FROM PUBLIC

In shades of an NRC cover up that Bush would be proud of, seems that the Government of Japan, and the Tokyo Electric Company kept the public in the dark about hundreds of gallons of radioactive materials spewing into the sea after the early morning earthquake. Seems that Japan has taken a page out of the NEI/NRC play book...if there is and accident, try to cover it up, and keep the news from the general public for as long as you can. Which explains why it is that NRC/DOE and FEMA have a whole bunch of FAKE news pieces in the can for when the major nuclear incident hits here in America, more than likely at Indian Point, since Entergy's failing reactor on the Hudson is a serious target for results minded terrorists around the world. After all, if we knew the truth, we would NEVER voluntarily shelter in place, but like lambs to slaughter, that is just what Entergy and the NRC have planned for us...sheltering in place, sentencing us to slow deaths with a skant 40 percent level of protection from the fallout after a terrorist attack, or significant incident at the plant. Guess the money players in Japan were thinking along similiar strategy lines in keeping the public stupid today.

Japan Quake Causes Nuke Plant Leak, Fire
AP
http://news.aol.com/story/_a/japan-quake-causes-nuke-plant-leak-fire/n20070716153709990020
Posted: 2007-07-16 15:37:53

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan (AP) - A strong earthquake shook Japan's northwest coast Monday, setting off a fire at the world's most powerful nuclear power plant and causing a reactor to spill radioactive water into the sea - an accident not reported to the public for hours.

The 6.8-magnitude temblor killed at least 8 people and injured more than 900 as it toppled hundreds of wooden homes and tore 3-foot-wide fissures in the ground. Highways and bridges buckled, leaving officials struggling to get emergency supplies into the region.

Some 10,000 people fled to evacuation centers as aftershocks rattled the area. Tens of thousands of homes were left without water or power.

The quake triggered a fire in an electrical transformer and also caused a leak of radioactive water at the Kashiwazaki Kariwa nuclear power plant, the world's largest in terms of electricity output.

The leak was not announced until the evening, many hours after the quake. That fed fresh concerns about the safety of Japan's 55 nuclear reactors, which supply 30 percent of the quake-prone country's electricity and have suffered a long string of accidents and cover-ups.

Curious here...does Entergy have a financial interest or stake in Japan's problem plagued Nuclear industry? If the littany of mistakes, problems, and leaks is any example, the Green Nuclear Butterfly is betting that Entergy has a stake in Japan's nuclear present and future, and that is a scary thought indeed.

Two News Items...Cracked Japanese Reactor, Homer Simpson Protests

Nuclear Reactor on The Brink of Chernobyl in Japan after early morning earthquake...a bullet dodged...this time.

Two breaking news items to report here:

1. Japan has suddenly changed its tune, and has admitted the reactor shaken to its core in the western coastal city of Kashiwazaki, near Niigata, about 160 miles northwest of Tokyo is spewing forth radioactive contaminants into the Sea of Japan...the NRC has offered to SEND HELP. Like a freaking egg, a newer, yet still very fragile reactor core has BROKEN UDER PRESSURE, and here we sit in the Hudson Valley with not one, but two reactors built right on top of and earthquake fault line.

Nuclear scare after Japan quake

A strong earthquake in central Japan has damaged a large nuclear power plant causing a leak of radioactive material, officials at the plant have said.

2. Meanwhile, closer to home in New York city, seems some protests/street actions are shaping up in New York City for the opening next week of the new Simpson's movie...what better opportunity to bring attention to Indian Points failing reactors that are leaking strontium 90 and tritium into the Hudson River? The new Simpson movie, and the evacuation scene that plays a crucial part in the movie are a perfect back drop to use in bringing public attention to the very real fact that Entergy and the NRC's evacuation plan for Indian Point is a non workable piece of shit.

We are watching our news sources to bring you up to the minute information on Japan's radiation leaks...all we can do, is thank God that the epicenter of the earthquake was no closer than it was. Sadly, the NRC could care less about public safety, and will continue to rubber stamp license renewals in the name of a Nuclear Renaissance....after all, the citizens of Westchester County, and New York City are expendable in Entergy's eyes.

Simpsons Movie-National Day of Action

Simpsons Movie-National Day of Action

Excellent (imagine it being said sinisterly and with hands in prayer position, fingers tapping rhythmically)

What: National Day of Action - to oppose nuclear power- to expose safety/security issues in the industry- to alert residents of possible new reactors.

The Action:
- Depending on resources activists can: postcard or circulate a petition or collect names (recruitment) to "learn more or be alerted about upcoming actions, events, dems.
- All can: leaflet with factsheets about NP issues, specific concerns around local reactor or potential reactor ideal-If there is interest in media attention, activists should make signs.
- using icons such as the 3-eyed fish or series quotables.

When:
Friday, July 27th
Opening night of the Simpsons Movie
45 mins before movie time.
Directly after (when people get it)

Who: state PIRG canvassers, state Sierra Club activists, PC activists, local grassroots anti-nuke groups.

Where: targeted cinemas in states with reactors and/or face a potential new license.

Top 12
Maryland, Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Texas, New York, Vermont, Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Miss., Pennsylvania...

Background: The Simpsons Series has routinely satirized safety issues surrounding nuclear power plants. If the town of Springfield is supposed to represent "anytown USA", then the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant could be " any reactor in the USA". It is rumored- though Matt Groening's PR have not confirmed - that the SNPP was intended to mock the ill-fated Trojan Nuclear Plant in Oregon.

The Movie plot: Homer mistakenly pollutes the river with toxic waste from the power plant, he loses his job and forces evacuation from Springfield. Even though we don't know how the film plays out, it may be safe to say that NP is not shown in a favorable light.

Please let me know if you are interested in participating in the action or need help coordinating
Thanks,

Allison Fisher
Organizer- Energy Program
Public Citizen
(202) 454-5176

Back From Vacation, Busy Week Planned

For the sake of our children, IPSEC needs to change their image, and way of conducting business... during the relicensing process, action through consensus is a recipe for failure.

Greetings Blog Readers:

Yes, I have been on vacation, getting some much needed rest and relaxation, but am now back and ready to face what promises to be a very busy week here at the Green Nuclear Butterfly as we man the fortresses, and continue our fight against the wrongful relicensing of the aging and brittled Indian Point Nuclear reactors. Thought I would give a quick run down of some of the things we are working on.

1. Remy should be reporting on the *Rock The Reactors* concert event held this past weekend in Woodstock, New York.

2. Green Nuclear Butterfly is working with FUSE to complete comments opposing the New York State Discharge Permit for Indian Point reactors.

3. We are working to schedule a meeting with the state of New York on the permitting process as a stakeholder, and are going to opposed the state meeting with the NEI who is NOT a stakeholder for Indian Point.

4. We are in the process of interviewing and considering the hiring of our first expert witness as we move our Petition to Intervene further down the track.

5. We will be receiving a full box of necessary documents from the DOE this week, and have to prepare proper paperwork to get other documents that require special clearance.

On other fast breaking news...has the time come for IPSEC and their member organizations to reconsider their basic charter or become obsolete? In recent months, IPSEC's basic way of operating has shown itself to be a dismal failure in our community's time of need...when we are staring a wrongful relicensing square in the face, it is necessary to act fast, to be decisive in which direction to turn as and organization. IPSEC's consensus style of management has been a complete disaster, and as a result deadlines have been, and are about to be missed as they languish in shallow waters while the Manna Jo's of the world drag their feet and keep the organization from reaching agreement on what to do, or what petitions to be a part of.

IPSEC has reached a crossroads, and decision time is upon them...if they are going to be effectively involved in the fight to close down Indian Point, they need to trash the consensus style of operation they have played with for years, and elect a board that has the power to actually make decisions for the organization and its members. Failure to realize and accept this reality, failure to make immediate changes makes them obsolete as and organization, and they will not play a part of any merit in the fight...no clearer sign of this reality can be found than Riverkeeper's sudden departure from the coalition after another meaningless emergency of the STEER committee this past week failed to find any consensus, and all agenda items were put on hold until September.

Green Nuclear Butterfly is actively working with three other organizations to put together a new coalition of the ready and willing. We are taking the necessary steps required to merge the necessary talents needed to be a major player in the relicensing process, and hope to announce these developing plans very soon...if you are your organization would like to be a part of this new coalition, please feel free to send and email to uraniumhotspot@aol.com with all your contact information.