Beyond Nuclear joins with Ralph Nader to promote a carbon-free, nuclear-free energy economy

Ralph NaderOn Dec. 12th, Beyond Nuclear's Kevin Kamps joined with Ralph Nader (photo, left) in an hour-long presentation to the Climate Reality Check Coalition on why nuclear power is a false solution to the climate crisis.

As described in the event announcement, Ralph Nader is one of America’s most effective social critics - named by The Atlantic as one of the 100 most influential figures in American history, and by Time and Life magazines as one of the hundred most influential Americans of the twentieth century, his documented criticism of government and industry has had widespread effect on public awareness and bureaucratic power. He is a long time watch dog of the nuclear industry and critic of nuclear power.

The conference call, with about 70 participants listening in and asking questions from across the country, was hosted and moderated by Allison Fisher, Outreach Director for Public Citizen's Energy Program.

More.

Sign onto coalition letter urging Hansen et al. to rethink their support for nuclear power as a supposed solution to the climate crisis

Beyond Nuclear is pleased to be associated with Beyond Business as Usual (BBAU), a coalition of environmental groups opposed to dirty energy, such as fossil fuels and nuclear power, and advocates for clean energy (efficiency and renewables). Beyond Nuclear has endorsed BBAU's American Clean Energy Agenda.

One of BBAU's founders, the Civil Society Institute (CSI), has issued an action alert, calling for organizational sign ons as soon as possible. CSI writes:

"In early November, four climate scientists wrote an open letter to the environmental community urging the adoption of nuclear power as the energy source to meet the challenges of global warming and climate change.

The four are: Dr. Ken Caldeira, Senior Scientist, Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institution; Dr. Kerry Emanuel, Atmospheric Scientist, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Dr. James Hansen, Climate Scientist, Columbia University Earth Institute; Dr. Tom Wigley, Climate Scientist, University of Adelaide and the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

[Linked] here is a letter in response to them that we invite you to sign and support by getting around to other friends and colleagues.  The signatures are being gathered by NIRS [with a deadline for signing on of 5 PM Eastern on Friday, December 20th]. Please send [organizational] signatures as soon as possible to nirsnet@nirs.org. Send signer's name, title (optional), organization, city and state to nirsnet@nirs.org. 

[Linked] here for your reference is a longer analysis of the proposals laid out by Drs. Hansen, Wigley, Emanuel, and Cladeira."

Beyond Nuclear urges readers to get their own group, or groups they know, to sign on, and to spread the word!

One oral comment opportunity (call-in only) left on NRC's nuke waste con game DGEIS, Mon., 12/9; final written submissions due by 12/20

Environmental coalition members from the Crabshell Alliance, Sierra Club Nuclear-Free Campaign, NIRS, PSR, NEIS, and Public Citizen "just say NO!" at the NRC HQ nuke waste con game public comment meeting on 11/14 in Rockville, MD. Photo credit David Martin and Erica Grey.

From 1 to 4 PM Eastern on Monday, Dec. 9th is the last opportunity to submit oral comments to NRC -- via a call-in teleconference -- re: its "Nuclear Waste Confidence" draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement. Here is how to join the call: Prior to the start of the meeting, please dial
1-888-603-9749 and provide the operator with passcode 5132332.

Please continue to submit your public comments to NRC via email, webform, fax, and/or snail mail. You can submit as many public comments as you want, between now and the final public comment deadline (Friday, Dec. 20th).

Sample comments, which you can use to help you write your own, have been provided by Beyond Nuclear, NIRS, NEIS, and many others.

For additional background, including reports back from the public comment meetings across the country, click here.

WORLD BANK: "we don't do nuclear energy"

“We don’t do nuclear energy” was the categorical pronouncement made this week by the president of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim. The World Bank says it will not fund nuclear power instead giving development money to sustainable energy projects.

Kim and UN leader Ban Ki-moon outlined efforts to ensure all people have access to electricity by 2030.  The announcement roundly contradicts a favorite sound bite of the Pandora’s Promise promoters who insist nuclear energy is the only hope to electrify the Third World. 

Pointing out that nuclear is an "extremely political issue," Kim stated that the bank would look only at new technologies, including solar, wind and geothermal energy. “We will show investors that sustainable energy is an opportunity they cannot afford to miss,” he said. Full story

City of Takoma Park to celebrate 30 years as a nuclear-free zone

Beyond Nuclear is headquartered, appropriately, in the nuclear-free city of Takoma Park. On December 14th, the City of Takoma Park will celebrate 30 years as a nuclear-free zone. We encourage all those within reach of Takoma Park to join us for the evening's festivities which will begin at 7pm and take place in the Takoma Park Community Center Auditorium at 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912. There will speakers - including Beyond Nuclear's Paul Gunter and Peace Action's Kevin Martin - along with music, slide shows and poetry. An excerpt will also be shown from Nuclear Savage, the documentary PBS commissioned but refuses to show.The evening is hosted by the Takoma Park Nuclear-Free Committee (of which both Paul Gunter and Linda Gunter of Beyond Nuclear are members) and by Historic Takoma.