[NukeNet] Take the I-RatePayer Pledge!

Thu Aug 10 16:14:21 CDT 2006

 NUCLEAR INFORMATION

AND RESOURCE SERVICE

6930 Carroll Avenue, Suite 340, Takoma Park, MD 20912

301-270-NIRS (301-270-6477); Fax: 301-270-4291

nirsnet at nirs.org; www.nirs.org <http://www.nirs.org/>  

August 2006

Dear Friend of NIRS:

Are you as tired of rising electric bills as we are?

Here in the Washington-Baltimore area, electric rates are increasing
from 35% to nearly 80% this summer! All over the country, electric bills
are going up, up, up.

But, to borrow a line: you ain't seen nothing yet.

The Bush administration wants dozens, even hundreds, of new atomic
reactors. Electric utilities have responded by so far proposing at least
25 new atomic projects at 19 different sites across the country.

They have short memories. The first generation of atomic reactors was an
economic debacle, one that caused electric rates to soar in every part
of the nation. 21 years ago, Forbes magazine's cover said: "The failure
of the U.S. nuclear power program ranks as the largest managerial
disaster in business history, a disaster on a monumental scale."

This time around, if the administration and industry get their way, hold
on to your wallets!

Because this time, we're all going to be hit twice: not only would we
have to pay higher electric rates to our utilities, but we'll all be
paying for privately-owned, commercial reactors from our taxes as well.
It's a good deal for rich utilities, but it's a double-whammy for people
trying to make a living.

Angry yet? You bet we are.

Irate, even? Yep, and that's why we created I-RatePayer, a new way for
you to help take on the nuclear industry, to challenge the use of your
tax dollars for new reactors built by wealthy utilities, to build strong
and effective grassroots opposition wherever new reactors are proposed.

The I-RatePayer program works like this: you agree to make a small
donation to NIRS every month with your credit or debit card. The amount
is up to you. It could be $25/month--the price of a couple pizzas, or
$10/month-a latte a week, or more or less: you decide based on what you
can do. 

You'll be making a clear statement that you won't tolerate increased
electricity prices so a few mega-utilities can waste their money on new
atomic reactors. And you'll receive all of our publications-the Nuclear
Monitor, our Alerts, the Atomic Watchdog, delivered to you promptly by
e-mail. Most importantly, your funds will be used to provide direct
assistance to the grassroots groups who are the front lines against a
nuclear power resurgence. You can sign up at our secure site online at 
https://secure.campagne-online.com/registrant/startup.aspx?eventid=3593

Our expert staff is preparing new materials: on organizing, on the ins
and outs of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's byzantine licensing
process, on how to participate in the process with or without a lawyer,
on the continuing and myriad drawbacks of nuclear power. We need to get
these materials into the hands of the grassroots groups that need and
will use them, and that's where your help is essential. It takes
resources, and the monthly assurance of resources, for us to reach our
maximum effectiveness.

We can't wait until utilities have applied for licenses to act: the
window of opportunity is very short and there won't be enough time to
get the materials to the grassroots, nor to train people how to use
them. It has to be done now, before the actual license applications
start coming in early next year.

Every day, I read of some politician who has raised hundreds of
thousands, even millions of dollars for a political campaign-usually
more money in just a few weeks than NIRS' entire annual budget.

Of course, it's important to support the person you want to represent
you in Washington, your state capitol, your city council. But think of
it this way: NIRS is here to represent you in all of those venues. Your
financial support enables us to do that, especially when the foundation
world for the most part continues to ignore nuclear issues. Without your
support, NIRS would simply cease to exist. With your support, we can use
our 100 years of accumulated expertise to take on the nuclear
industry-and win.

I hope you'll join the I-Rate Payer program. Just go to our secure site
at 
https://secure.campagne-online.com/registrant/startup.aspx?eventid=3593

Don't worry, you can stop your participation in the program at any time,
with a simple e-mail, letter or phone call. Your monthly donation may
seem small, but to us, when hundreds or thousands of you make the same
pledge, it becomes very large, and makes it possible for us to provide
the real empowerment and support necessary to stop a nuclear power
resurgence and build the clean, safe, economic and sustainable energy
future we all want and our planet needs.

All my best,

Michael Mariotte

Executive Director

P.S. If you aren't able to join the I-Rate Payer program, I hope you'll
contribute as generously as possible now. I know many of you have
already given to NIRS this year, and we are very grateful for your
support; if you haven't donated or renewed your membership yet, now
would be the perfect time.

NIRS Board of Directors

Susan Alzner, Paxus Calta, Kay Drey, Karl Grossman, Rick Hind, Timothea
Howard, Judith Johnsrud, Debby Katz, Michel Lee, Elizabeth May, Vladimir
Sliviak, Doug Teper, Frank Van Schaik, Harvey Wasserman, Daphne Wysham

NIRS Core Group

Ed Asner, Ed Begley, Jr, Claus Biegert, Helen Caldicott, Susan Clark,
James Cromwell, Scott Cullen, Scott Denman, Gary Ferdman, Nancy
Florsheim, Judi Friedman, Lou Friedman, Lois Gibbs, Tom Goldtooth, Keith
Gunter, Anne Sward Hansen, Jeannine Honicker, David Horowitz, Joan King,
Janet Lowenthal, Francis Macy, Mary Morgan, Denise Nelson, Dennis
Nelson, Anne Rabe, Bonnie Raitt, Diana Sidebotham, Alice Slater, Ed
Smeloff, Steven Strong, Betsy Taylor, Rosemary Vietor, Paul Winter,
Gretchen Wyler

This is the NIRS E-Mail Alert list. You are on this list because you
signed up on our website, at a NIRS table at a concert or other event,
on a petition, or directly to NIRS. Your name and address are never
sold, rented, or traded with anyone for any reason. For address changes
or to unsubscribe, just send an e-mail to nirsnet at nirs.org. If you have
friends or colleagues who would like to be on this list, have them send
a note to nirsnet at nirs.org 

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