U.S. jittery over South African nuclear explosives

South Africa has enough highly enriched uranium (HEU) to fuel at leat six atomic bombs but is not about to give it up, according to a major investigative piece in the March 15 Washington Post. The HEU was extracted from the country’s now abandoned nuclear weapons program developed under the apartheid regime, and aided and abetted by the United States which now fears the materials could fall into the wrong hands. The Zuma government is also eager to develop nuclear power. South Africa currently has only one small research reactor at the Pelindaba Nuclear Research Center (pictured) where security breaches have already occurred and where the HEU is housed. More

"Fukushima...Yet Another Radioactive Leak!"

Thom Hartmann, host of "The Big Picture"On March 12, Thom Hartmann hosted Beyond Nuclear's Radioactive Waste Watchdog, Kevin Kamps, on "The Big Picture" to discuss a massive leak of 750 tons (200,000 gallons) of highly radioactive rainwater at Fukushima Daiichi, Japan. Ironically, the leak was revealed by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) on March 10th, the eve of the fourth annual commemoration of the beginning of the nuclear catastrophe.

On March 11th itself, Thom also hosted Kevin on his radio show, to give status updates about "4 Years of Fukushima Fallout." (Despite being a radio show, the clip includes a video recording of the interview as well.)

"Fukushima four years later..."

Chiho Kaneko, Fairewinds Energy Education board member, along with Alfred Meyer of PSR's national board, and Beyond Nuclear's Kevin Kamps, in the Carbon-Free/Nuclear-Free contingent at the People's Climate March in New York City, Sept. 2014.On March 12, Margaret Prescod hosted Fairewinds Energy Education board member, Chiho Kaneko (photo, left) on Pacifica Radio's "Sojourner Truth," to discuss the status at Fukushima, four years on (listen to the top audio clip).

CCNE: "The State of Affairs and Ongoing Challenges of the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster: A Civil Society Response Towards Recovery"

A new report from Citizens' Commission on Nuclear Energy (CCNE), "The State of Affairs and Ongoing Challenges of the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster: a Civil Society Response Towards Recovery," was launched on the occasion of the 4th anniversary of the beginning of the Fukushima nuclear disaster and also on the occasion of the United Nation's 3rd World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR), held in Sendai, Japan, not very far from Fukushima.

The report intends to answer questions such as:

-  What have been the impacts of the Fukushima nuclear disaster?
-  What is the current condition of the victims of the nuclear disaster?
-  What is going on at the nuclear plant site and what risks still exist?
-  What mistakes did authorities make in response to the nuclear disaster?
-  What countermeasures are now necessary to cope with the situation?

"Letters from Mina"

Mrs. Sachiko Sato (background) and her daughter Mina (age 13), speaking in New York City in September 2011. AP photo.In September 2011, about six months after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear catastrophe began, Beyond Nuclear had the honor and privilege of hosting Mrs. Sachiko Sato, a catastrophe survivor, and her teenage son and daugther.

Also in the delegation were Aileen Mioko Smith of Green Action-Kyodo, and anti-nuclear activists from Hokkaido. The group presented at numerous events in Washington, D.C. and the New York City metropolitan area.

Recently, Aileen Mioko Smith shared the news with Beyond Nuclear that a little booklet has been published, in Japanese language, entitled "Letters from Mina." It includes correspondence between Mrs. Sato, and her daughter Mina, from 2014. It also includes reflections, presented by Mina, to her classmates, about her heartbreak and healing in the aftermath of having to flee their family farm and home, likely forever, due to the nuclear catastrophe and radioactive contamination.

Mina gave her mother permission to share the letters and reflections, and Mrs. Sato has approved Beyond Nuclear posting the English translations here.