[NukeNet] French nuclear workers contaminated after cascade of accidents

[Linda Gunter]

BEYOND NUCLEAR

Beyond Nuclear Bulletin 
July 31, 2008
Top Stories
U.S. State Department Acknowledges Spread of Nuclear Power Increases Risk of Nuclear Weapons Proliferation Worldwide
Background: A U. S. State Department report, “Proliferation Implications of the Global Expansion of Civil Nuclear Power,” has concluded that the expansion of nuclear energy is inevitable but poses proliferation risks. A key concern expressed in the report is that the two principal ways of making nuclear fuel – the enrichment of uranium and the reprocessing of spent fuel into plutonium – can too easily be used to make weapons-grade material for nuclear bombs.  However, among other recommendations, the panel suggests the United States – in partnership with countries that already have the capacity to make fuel, the "supplier nations" – volunteer to "provide reliable, economical supplies of fuel to nations undertaking new or additional nuclear energy plants" with tough safeguards to prevent them developing their own capacities.
Our View: By promoting an atomic supplier nations’ global expansion agenda, the State Department will likely increase the current danger of nuclear weapons proliferation. The committee’s self-titled “Attractive Offer” for non-nuclear weapons states to acquire reactors, nuclear fuel supplies and services in exchange for “written agreements” not to undertake uranium enrichment and plutonium reprocessing for weapons programs reinforces the existing “haves and have-nots’ agenda that already angers countries like Iran. Furthermore, civilian nuclear development in the Middle East (including Egypt, Israel, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan, Bahrain and Yemen) will most certainly load up the region with nuclear weapons materials and accelerate a future arms race. A more obvious, safer and simpler solution is to recognize that nuclear energy expansion is not “inevitable” as the report suggests, but eminently avoidable. International energy solutions should focus instead on helping countries to develop sustainable and renewable energy.  

Beyond Nuclear In the News
Linda Gunter quoted in Karl Grossman’s article on nuclear-powered amphibious assault vessels featured in counterpunch.
Paul Gunter’s Tides Foundation award covered in the Earth Times.

Of Note
The Environmental Impact of War: Scarred Lands and Wounded Lives: The Environmental Footprint of War is an award-winning new film by Alice and Lincoln Day that looks at the devastating ecological toll of war. In all its stages, from the production of weapons through combat to cleanup and restoration, war entails actions that pollute land, air, and water, destroy biodiversity, and drain natural resources. Yet the environmental damage occasioned by war and preparation for war is routinely underestimated, underreported, even ignored. The environment remains war's "silent casualty." Please visit the film’s Web site to learn more.

The French Nuclear Medusa: The Commission on Research and Information on Radioactivity (CRIIRAD), an independent French laboratory and research group, says too many French nuclear workers are being contaminated with radioactivity. “In less than 15 days, the CRIIRAD has been informed of four malfunctions in four nuclear plants, leading to the accidental contamination of 126 workers” CRIIRAD director, Corinne Castanier told the Reuters news agency. The group also found morale at nuclear installations in France markedly low and criticized the French state-owned utility, EDF, for downplaying the dangers of radioactive contamination.

Errata: In the previous bulletin we incorrectly stated that Nicolas Sarkozy has assumed a six-month presidency of the European Parliament. France heads the European Union for six months. We also implied that SOCATRI is the owner of the entire Tricastin nuclear complex. SOCATRI is a 100% subsidiary of EURODIF, which is majority held by AREVA. SOCATRI operates decontamination and waste processing facilities at Tricastin.

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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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