This week sees the fifth anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. It will shortly be followed next month by the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. As the two worst disasters of the nuclear age, events are being held here in the UK and around the world to commemorate these anniversaries and seek solutions to go ‘beyond nuclear’. The Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) is involved in jointly organising important events in mid March to commemorate both disasters. This comes at a time when the final investment decision on building a new nuclear power station for Hinkley Point C is still being considered. Today, the Financial Director of EDF, Thomas Piquemal, dramatically resigned around his concerns that going ahead with the Hinkley project could jeopardise the entire company. NFLA believes Mr Piquemal’s resignation is honourable, and EDF and the UK and French Governments would be foolish to ignore his deep concerns.
NFLA 5th March 2016 read more »
The other report on Chernobyl 2016: FoE Austria has just published an (English) Update of Ian Fairlie’s “Other Report on Chernobyl”, updated to include relevant studies and reports of the last ten years. His findings in particular on Iodine-131 releases and Thyroid Cancer indicate that the Vienna region was hit heavily by Iodine and that 8–40 % of the excess thyroid cancer cases since 1990 can be attributed to the Chernobyl accident — more than 1000 kilometers away. Austria also received heavy caesium-137 fallout with 13 % of its surface contaminated above 40 kBq/m², making it the second most contaminated country after Belarus in relation to surface area contaminated.
Global 2000 – FoE Austria 7th March 2016 read more »
FoE also launched a petition demanding an end to IAEA downplaying of Chernobyl’s consequences.
Global 2000 – FoE Austria 7th March 2016
www.global2000.at/schluss-mit-werbung-für-atomkraft
Modern ghost towns, abandoned houses, and far stretching roads lined with plastic bags of radioactive garbage have replaced the once bustling neighborhoods and cities of the Fukushima Prefecture. Formerly home to thousands, the massive release of radiation has forced residents to evacuate their beautiful homeland, leaving the land they love behind without knowing whether or not they may ever return without putting their lives at risk. Join the Fairewinds Crew and ask yourself this: With 99 operating atomic power reactors generating electricity in the U.S., what’s so different about your home, your town, your state that what happened to Fukushima couldn’t happen to you and your family?
Fairwinds 7th March 2016 read more »
4 minute video message filmed with Mr Hasegawa Kenichi and Ms Muto Ruiko, two local leaders of Fukushima disaster victims who are calling on TEPCO and the government for an apology, full compensation, accountability, medical care, and measures to reduce radioactive risks. In the video they are sharing the current situation including in relation to decontamination, the government’s return policy of evacuees, compensation from TEPCO and so on.
Peace Boat 8th March 2016 read more »