German Study Confirms What We Already Knew-Reactor Causes Leukemia

What if it WERE YOUR CHILD?

The United States government, the nuclear industry, and America's 104 nuclear reactors and their NRC licensees have used every trick in the book to eliminate, deny or discredit any report that showed a link between the operation of a nuclear reactor, and cancer. Yesterday, a new study out of Germany shows a link between children who live near a nuclear reactor, and Leukemia.

The study reports that 37 children living within three miles of a nuclear reactor (think Peekskill)had developed Leukemia between 1980 and 2003. The statistical average for the area studied should have only been 17. At what cost nuclear power? Are we as a society willing to say TO BAD, that is a small price to pay for the convenience of a nuclear society? Are you willing to tell those 20 families that their child MUST DIE so that you can save a few dollars each month on your electric bill?

The data from the study convincingly shows that children living within 50 kilometers (just over 30 miles) of a nuclear reactor are at an increased risk of contracting cancer. More importantly, the studies states that these children could be struck down with various cancers, including Leukemia before the age of five.

Child cancer risk higher near nuclear plants: study
Sat Dec 8, 8:48 AM ET
Story Link
BERLIN (Reuters) - A German study has found that young children living near nuclear power plants have a significantly higher risk of developing leukemia and other forms of cancer, a German newspaper reported on Saturday.

"Our study confirmed that in Germany a connection has been observed between the distance of a domicile to the nearest nuclear power plant ... and the risk of developing cancer, such as leukemia, before the fifth birthday," Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper quoted the report as saying.

The newspaper said the study was done by the University of Mainz for Germany's Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BFS). A copy of the report was not immediately available.

The researchers found that 37 children within a 5-kilometer (3-mile) radius of nuclear power plants had developed leukemia between 1980 and 2003, while the statistical average during this time period was 17, the paper said.

The newspaper cited an unnamed radiation protection expert familiar with the study who said its conclusions understated the problem. He said the data showed there was an increased cancer risk for children living within 50 kilometers of a reactor.

German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel said in a statement that he would examine the study. He said the BFS should also evaluate its findings.

Germany plans to prematurely shut down all of its nuclear power plants by the early 2020s.

(Reporting by Louis Charbonneau)

Support The Vermont Yankee Seven on June 19th

For those of you who do not know the Vermont Yankee Seven, better known the Raging Grannies, as a quick introduction...they are a small dedicated group of women who had the courage to stand up against Entergy, who chained themselves together, thus successfully blocking the entrance to Entergy's ailing and failing Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor up in Vermont. They carried a banner reading, "No MoreTax Subsidies For Vermont Yankee." For their troubles, they are facing charges of trespass and disorderly conduct...if you asked me, they should be issued medals of honor, and a key to the city. They are scheduled for trial on June 19th, and can use all the public support they can get. Any chance we could get a group of us from Indian Point to head up, seeing as both communities are being raped by the same corporate monster in Entergy?

Our thanks to Hattie, and the folks at Nukebusters for this important update on this issue.

Seven Women in Court for Vermont Yankee Action

Marcia Gagliardi
haley.antique@verizon.net

June 19th in Windham County Court, Brattleboro, Vermont, is the court date for seven women in the SHUT IT DOWN affinity group who were each charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct for their April 25 chaining action at Vermont Yankee in Vernon, Vermont. They carried a banner reading No More Tax Subsidies For Vermont Yankee.

We would love as many people as possible to join us in court. We will meet in the court parking lot at 7:30 AM and be in the courtroom by 8:00 AM. The women are: Julia Bonafine of Shrewsbury, Vermont, Frances Crowe, Paki Wieland, and Ellen Graves of Northampton;Dorthee of Wendell; Hattie Nestel and Marcia Gagliardi of Athol.

If questions, contact
Hattie at Hattieshalom@verizon.net or telephone
978-249-6224 or
Marcia At haleyantique@verizon.net or telephone
978-249-9400.

News Story On Protest...notice Entergy's hostility even towards the PRESS who were warned to vacate the property or be arrested...those TURDS!

Seven arrested in anti-nuke protest at Vermont Yankee
http://burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articleAID=/20070426/NEWS/70426013/0/NEWS05

Published: Thursday, April 26, 2007
The Associated Press

VERNON — Seven anti-nuclear activists were arrested after chaining themselves to a fence at Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant during a protest in which police also threatened to arrest members of the media.

The protesters, who call themselves the Raging Grannies, want the plant shut down and have engaged in dozens of similar actions since December 2005.

In those incidents, reporters and photographers were allowed to speak to the women and take pictures during their arrests.

But on Wednesday, Police Chief Kevin Turnely told members of the media they would be arrested if they didn’t immediately leave the property, which is owned by Entergy. Entergy spokesman Rob Williams said the order wasn’t given by the plant’s owners, but that in such protests, journalists must abide by trespassing laws just as protesters do.

Arrested and cited for trespassing and disorderly conduct were:
--Julia Bonafine, 38, of Shrewsbury.
--Frances Crowe, 88, of Northampton, Mass.
--Paki Wieland, 63, of Northampton, Mass.
--Ellen Graves, 66, of West Springfield, Mass.
--Hattie Nestel, 68, of Athol, Mass.
—Marcia Gagliardi, 59, of Athol, Mass.
—a 78-year-old Wendell, Mass., woman who goes by the name Dorthee.

Since 2005, members of the group have protested regularly at Entergy’s corporate offices and at the gate of the power plant in Vernon. State’s Attorney Dan Davis has balked at prosecuting them, saying he doesn’t want them using the justice system as a platform for attention.

Green Nuclear Butterfly Expands Readership With My Space Presence

Green Nuclear Butterfly is pleased to announce the launch of yet another avenue for our message with the creation of our MySpace page, and blog. Many of the articles from this blog will now be cross pollenated onto My Space as we spread our, "Close Indian Point" message to and ever expanding audience of readers and potential activists. Stop by and say hello.

http://www.myspace.com/uraniumhotspot

http://blog.myspace.com/uraniumhotspot

Paul Newman's Own Nuclear Reactor Safety Salsa

So, last week Paul Newman ran around Indian Point shaking hands, with Steet's nose doing the two cheek fork tongue, and left the facility ready to endorse it, and its security for another 20 years of operation. It was obvious that the doddering fool in this scenario had not done his homework on the facility, or their safety/security record...but then, he is Paul Newman of the blue eyes and faded glory.

Be interesting to know what Paul Newman thought of Entergy's Indian Point sending the REAL McCoy software up to Mass this week, instead of the sample software, so that when it was tested, the four counties surrounding Indian Point, and their emergency planning people started receiving faxes that an incident was occurring at the facility sitting on the Hudson! Neil Sheehan of the NRC, and Steets of Entergy Brown Nose fame were quick to say it was and inadvertent mistake, and the situation was rectified very soon after it happened...OH REALLY?

1. Entergy at first HAD NO CLUE, immediately contacting the State Police to find out who had HACKED INTO THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEM...ignoring the obvious (they forked up big time), they have basically admitted that a computer hacker can get into their system.

2. They sent a viable usable set of software to another reactor site...curious, was it MAILED, and if so standard first class mail? Not very prudent...what if it had been intercepted.

3. What if the Emergency Planners had taken the faxes as the real deal? Sirens sounding, people freaking out, a mass exit of four counties under way before someone called a time out. Also, look at the reverse...what if those faxes had been real, and while they were second guessing people were breathing in radioactive particulates?

So, we have Entergy playing games with safety by claiming that reactor 2 did not go into shut down, but is operating smoothly at 2 percent...all to avoid a White rating, and the NRC with a wink and a nod giving Indian Point a thumbs up on the shrewd move to avoid another unplanned shut down. We have the siren issues with the company promising us a working emergency siren system some time in August...isn't that special. There is the tritium leak into the Buchanan sewer system, and then that small problem with the explosion! We could go on, but think most of us get the picture.

To help Paul Newman get the picture, Remy Chevalier of Rock the Reactors paid a little visit to Paul Newman's organic eatery in Westport, the Dressing Room...never been there, but is the motif pink? "Another Environmentalist for Nuclear Power" bumper sticker, a flyer for Green Nuclear Butterfly and copy of Remy's latest documentary, Toaster 66, about electric car rapid chargers all along the old Route 66, so tourists can travel the old mother road without the $1000 gasoline bill for the trip were left for Paul.

Remy and Paul Newman have been adversaries for quite some time. In the late 70's, Remy fought Mr. Newman and his now retired local attorney Leo Nevas in the hope of establishing a park on Gorham Island, the once charming island in the middle of the river, downtown Westport. Remy's effort failed to prevent Mr. Nevas from building a three story office building. It would seem as if the old rivals are at it again. Remy can't understand how a seemingly intelligent man who would open an organic restaurant, could also advocate the relicensing of an old, dirty, decrepit, dangerous nuclear power plant that is leaking tritium and strontium into the Hudson River.

Maybe next time Paul is in Peekskill to sing the praises of Indian Point, he'll contact the Green Nuclear Butterfly so that we can sit down together and enlighten him to the truth he so far refuses to see...OK, maybe too harsh...sure at his age he does not see as well as he used too.

NEI/Nuclear Industry Have Another PRO NUKE ATTACK ORGANIZATION IN WATER

Never has the funding discrepancy been more noticeable than right now, as the Nuclear Industries to force a Nuclear Renaissance down the world's collective throat. First, we had to deal with the traitors Christine Todd Whitman, and Patrick Moore of Greenpeace shame as they used their 501 3C non-profit attack boat to go after anti-nuke groups, especially in the Northeast, and specifically, Vermont where Entergy's failing Vermont Yankee is being wrongfully rubber stamped through the relicensing process.

Meet the new bastard child of the NEI attack fleet of 501 3C's:



Here is a taste of their ribald lies:

The Future of Nuclear is NOW!

Nuclear powers 1 in 5 homes and businesses in the U.S. 74% of the clean electricity produced in the U.S. comes from nuclear power plants. U.S. nuclear plants prevent the discharge of 697 million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year--nearly as much carbon dioxide as is released from all U.S. passenger cars combined. Operating costs for nuclear power are the lowest of any generating source except hydropower.

Have you heard all this good news? If you’ve navigated to this site, chances are that you have. But do your friends and neighbors know? Have you told your elected representatives? While 70% of Americans support the use of nuclear power only 31% believe that the majority of the people in their community agree with them! So we need to get out there and tell our stories. At the local, state, and federal levels there is a flurry of activity related to used fuel management, relicensing existing plants, and building new ones. And while there is more enthusiasm than we have seen in years, there is still work to be done. Rampant misconceptions about nuclear power continue to abound and our friends, neighbors, regulators, and elected officials need to hear from us. Nuclear’s opponents won’t be sitting idly by and neither should we. Let’s put our energy in action!

Westchester County One Nuclear Fire Away From Indian Point Holocaust?

Indian Point Nuclear Plant Fire Violations ?

Too Dangerous to Allow Endless Delay

A FACT SHEET BY Green Nuclear Butterfly-reprint allowed with source credit.

The Indian Point Nuclear Plant that is mismanaged and poorly run by Entergy has a increased risk of a radiation disaster by potentially/probably being in violation of federal fire safety regulations for decades.

1. Fire is a leading risk factor for meltdown at US nuclear plants (according to federal studies)

Fire or electrical shorts can cause operators to lose control of the reactor or safety systems.
The Indian Point reactors have a large number of faulty fire barriers and inadequate distances between vital electric cables.

Fire could cause overheating of the reactor fuel, with a resultant major release of radioactivity that could KILL THOUSANDS.

2. Are Indian Point and Entergy relying on “compensatory” measures that were rejected by NRC.

The “compensatory” measures require operators to quickly enter plant and perform complex procedures required to manually operate safety systems during emergencies.
Does Indian Point “compensate” with fire patrols intended to be used only for weeks, not years.

3. Compensatory measures have never been approved – or tested for feasibility.

The nuclear industry is now fighting NRC over how to test the operator manual actions: more delay.

4. Potential Indian Point fire violations are heightened by new ruling on plant security.

The NRC ruled that instead of defending against aircraft or substantial teams of ground attackers, US nuclear plant owners can rely on measures that control fires and explosions. Yet we wonder why we stakeholders are not allowed to know the real risks we face in playing hosts to failing reactors like Indian Point.

Numerous federal studies show us that “allegedly robust nuclear plant structures are extremely vulnerable to fires from within,” (Lochbaum 2/1/07) and that fires fed by thousands of gallons of jet fuel could lead to catastrophic releases. Some of the studies indicate a high likelihood of meltdown.

5. Serious Fires have occurred at Harris and other nuclear plants, so what makes Indian Point immune?

There have been four “emergency declared” alerts at US plants since October due to electrical fires.

A major electrical fire at Harris in 1989 required 30 firefighters and led to a weeks-long plant outage.

A 1975 severe fire and near-meltdown at Browns Ferry led to the rules that many nuclear reactors are now disobeying with the NRC's full blessings.

6. The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission is allowing Entergy and other reactor licensees to violate fire regulations under the agency’s “Enforcement Discretion” authority.

NRC plans to let its reactor licensees study fire vulnerabilities for many more years.

Yet rules allowing Enforcement Discretion for fire protection are set to expire within weeks.“Entergy's Indian Point and Vermont Yankee nuclear reactors are not safe today. A fire tomorrow or the next day would be like a nuclear Katrina times 100:

People in New York and Vermont would pay a high price, some the ultimate price if there is a fire, but the rest of the U.S. would benefit if Congress forces the NRC to enforce its own fire protection rules.”

“Since the NRC and industry cannot agree on how to test whether operators could run through the plant and manually operate multiple safety systems to prevent a meltdown, how can we the public bank on those measures as a substitute for compliance?

Did Entergy KILL A Family? Lessard Murder Suicide Raises UGLY QUESTIONS

This Woman Was Killed By Her Husband, Steven Lessard...Could Entergy Have PREVENTED IT?

Imagine the shock and horror in quaint Peekskill Lake as the residents learned that a very well known and respected employee of Entergy's Indian Point Nuclear Plants in Buchanan, New York had killed his wife and daughter before taking his own life...more importantly, what signs did Entergy miss on February 8th, 2007 that could have saved the lives of these innocent victims of Steven Lessard's great agnst and anger? We might never known the full hideous truth behind this local murder/suicide, but it is obvious that the NRC needs to open up a full fledged investigation into the issues surrounding the Indian Point/Lessard MURDERS!

Perhaps the stress of working within the confines of Entergy's failing Indian Point Reactors was too much for the normally quiet 51-year-old U.S. Naval Academy graduate, and he just SNAPPED...or perhaps something far more SINISTER was/is at play? His behavior on February 8th, 2007 was ODD ENOUGH to capture the attention of his fellow employee, caustic enough for them to bring his behavior to the attention of his immediate superiors...whatever occurred, Entergy kept it SECRET, hid the horrid truth of his actions from authorities who might have been able to save Steven Lessard's life. Perhaps if Entergy had not been so secretive about Indian Point and it's incestuous family of workers, authorities could have intervened, could have saved the innocent lives of Steven's wife and daughter!

We have all heard the recent reports of the leaked strontium 90, and tritium from the Indian Point plant, have heard about the leaking spent fuel pools...what if what we have here is NOT a murder/suicide? What if Steven Lessard was about to become a major whistle blower, and someone needed him silenced, like the lambs? What if there was some kind of a RELEASE at the site that affected Mr. Lessard? So many questions that the public NEEDS answers to, yet will we come up against a wall of silence, will Entergy close ranks and keep the events surrounding February 8th forever silent and hidden from public review?

MURDER-SUICIDE: Father was placed on leave for irrational behavior
By Greg Clary
The Journal News
(Original Publication: February 20, 2007)

http://www.nynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070220/UPDATE/702200410

BUCHANAN - Steven Lessard, the killer in the Putnam murder-suicide case, first showed some irrational behavior at his Indian Point job on Feb. 8, when co-workers noticed that he seemed to be unusually upset about his car getting a flat tire.

The normally quiet 51-year-old U.S. Naval Academy graduate didn't routinely generate much notice among his co-workers, said a spokesman for Entergy Nuclear Northeast, which owns and operates the plant.

But that day, he was visibly upset about what he had to do to get his car back on the road, and it triggered the other members of his 12-employee project management group to notify their supervisor, Michael Rutkoske.

"We're trained and required to do that," said Entergy spokesman Jim Steets. "It was a relatively minor personal issue, so after talking to his supervisor, the two of them went up to speak to the fitness for duty coordinator."

Sharon Quinn, a registered nurse, spent 90 minutes with Lessard and Rutkoske and they all agreed that Lessard should go home until he felt better. Steets said he continued to be paid during his time off.

"She offered him help through our employee assistance program, but he declined," Steets said. "He said he was seeing a doctor. She even asked him if he were comfortable with that doctor and he said he was."

Lessard was due today to speak to Entergy officials about returning to work, a day after authorities discovered that he had strangled his wife, Kathy Lessard, 48, and their 14-year-old daughter Linda, and then killed himself in their family home in Putnam Valley.

Indian Point officials said Lessard had been transferred at his own request from an engineering job at Indian Point 2 to a project management position that served the entire nuclear site.

At the time of his leave, he was working on a piping upgrade to serve Indian Point 2 and Indian Point 3. He did not operate any equipment or deal with any safety-related procedures, officials said.

Rutkoske said early this afternoon that Lessard was "a very dedicated worker" who had come under Rutkoske's supervision in October.

"He was relatively quiet," Rutkoske said. "Very much interested in following proper processes and procedures."

When the flat tire problem upset Lessard so much, Rutkoske said he knew it had something under it that was the real cause of his agitation.

"It just meant to me that there were other things going on, if a car tire was getting him upset," the supervisor said.

Rutkoske said Lessard wasn't the kind of guy who mixed a lot with co-workers and ate his lunch alone most of the time. He said he hadn't heard anything about possible domestic troubles.

Lessard's co-workers were concerned enough about him that they took up a collection and sent him a basket of fruit while he was on medical leave. His wife even called up to thank the workers for their thoughtfulness and said he was doing better, company officials said.

"He had no performance issues, and when they asked him about lightening his load, he didn't want to do that because he didn't want to burden his co-workers," Steets said. "The feeling was that he was very hard on himself. But he was considered a 'valuable contributor,' which is a category of employee rating that the company uses."

Lessard had come to the site in 1995 as an employee of General Physics, an engineering contractor. He was given a routine psychiatric evaluation and background check at the time. The background check was updated as required in 2003, with no visible problems, Steets said. He had been hired full time by Con Edison in 2001, right before the plants were sold to Entergy.

"The background check can often turn up outside stresses, such as financial," he said. "But none showed up."

Steets said the company would review all of Lessard's work, "given what's occurred," but didn't expect to find any problems. (Forget reviewing Lessard's work, how about MAKING IT PUBLIC?)

"There's no reason to think there would be anything wrong with his work," Steets said. "And he wasn't working on any critical things." (Why does Steets feel compelled here to assure us that Lessard was not working on ANYTHING critical?)