[NukeNet] Two French Nuclear Accidents in a Week

[Linda Gunter]

BEYOND NUCLEAR

Beyond Nuclear Bulletin 
July 24, 2008
Top Stories
Contact your U.S. Senators and Representative during their August recess to oppose nuclear power subsidies!
Background: The nuclear power industry has been the most heavily subsidized in the energy sector over the past 50 years. Amory Lovins at Rocky Mountain Institute estimates the total giveaways to nuclear power at half a trillion dollars. And during this year’s behind-closed-doors negotiations about climate change legislation, pro-nuclear U.S. Senators sought to secure hundreds of billions of dollars in further taxpayer support. Although the climate bill was blocked by a Republican filibuster, the first Republican amendment would have been to secure these nuclear power subsidies. Climate legislation will likely be back on the House and Senate floors early next year, regardless of whether John McCain or Barack Obama is elected president. The nuclear power industry’s army of lobbyists is busy even now laying the groundwork for securing these billion dollar boondoggles in future bills. 
Our View: It’s time for nuclear power to stand on its own feet in the marketplace or enter the dustbin of history where it belongs. Despite nuclear receiving the lion’s share of subsidies – and renewable energy mere crumbs – wind power is currently half as expensive as nuclear power, and solar power is becoming cost competitive with new nuclear reactors. Lovins calculates that efficiency is seven to ten times more cost effective than nuclear power at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. To compensate for decades of unequal subsidization, cost-effective energy solutions like renewables and efficiency should now be generously supported. 
What You Can Do: U.S. Senators and Representative return to their home districts on August 5th for summer vacation and to campaign for the upcoming elections. It’s an excellent time to get their ear on these issues. Call their local offices to set up face-to-face meetings. Go to http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/, enter your zip code, and find your Congress Members’ local office contact numbers. Submit a letter to the editor or op-ed to your local paper on these issues. If your Congress Member(s) unabashedly support nuclear power subsidies, consider organizing a protest rally outside their office to draw attention to their irresponsible position. Contact Beyond Nuclear for help in pursuing any of these ideas. 

Of Note
The French Nuclear Medusa: Beyond Nuclear’s Linda Gunter has just returned from a fact-finding mission in France where she also spoke at a rally of 5,000 demonstrators in Paris on July 12 calling for a nuclear-free world. Watch for new updates on France on the French Connection page on our Web site. French speakers can also view videos of the rally here. During Linda’s visit, there were coincidentally – but not inappropriately –
two accidents at nuclear sites both operated by Areva. Although the company tried hard to downplay the accidents, they represented a serious black eye for an industry anxious to hide its ugly under-belly from public view. When uranium leaked into the groundwater at Areva’s enormous multi-complex nuclear site – Tricastin – in southern France, operated by its subsidiary, Socatri, residents were rightly perturbed. It took more than 12 hours after the accident before the public was told not to bathe in or drink the water. The ban lasted two weeks during which frightened residents began to file suit – not only because of the unacceptable health risks they endured but also because their agricultural livelihoods were destroyed and the value of their homes rendered negligible. Testing by an independent French radiological lab found the presence of isotopes that likely leaked at an earlier date from the site’s nuclear weapons installation, casting doubt on the safety of the groundwater at all French nuclear facilities. The lab condemned the authorities for their delay in safeguarding the health of residents. After a second leak at a different nuclear facility in the area the same week, Areva chief, the Cheshire Cat-grinning Anne Lauvergeon, paid a visit to the community and assured the press and public there was no danger while bemoaning the fact that her company’s “transparency’” had led people to be unnecessarily afraid! However, since then, authorities have admitted that at least 100 workers at the Tricastin site were “slightly contaminated.” All of this occurred at the same moment that French president and nuclear salesman par excellence – Nicolas Sarkozy – took over the presidency of the European Parliament. He is expected to use his six-month term to heavily promote nuclear energy to his European partners. Further reports and updates from Linda’s French visit will become available soon.

Beyond Nuclear in the News
• Linda Gunter’s op-ed on AlterNet – Let’s Kick Nuclear Power out of the Climate Change Debate – received 40,000 viewings and hundreds of responses. You can increase that number by reading the article here. 

• Paul Gunter cited on poor reactor fire safety in Facing South, NC.

• Kevin Kamps quoted on Rep. Fred Upton’s pro-nuclear record in the Dowagiac Daily News.

• Linda Gunter quoted on long reactor construction times in KC Earth Notes blog.
Please consider making a donation to Beyond Nuclear. All gifts are tax-deductible. Give on-line here. Or you can mail a check to: Beyond Nuclear at NPRI, 6930 Carroll Avenue, Suite 400, Takoma Park, MD 20912. Thank you!
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Beyond Nuclear aims to educate and activate the public about the connections between nuclear power and nuclear weapons and the need to abandon both to safeguard our future. Beyond Nuclear advocates for an energy future that is sustainable, benign and democratic. Beyond Nuclear staff can be reached at: 301.270.2209. Or view our Web site at: www.beyondnuclear.org


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