Entergy's Palisades atomic reactor, 40 miles west of Kalamazoo on the Lake Michigan shore. Lake Michigan is a headwaters of the Great Lakes, 20% of the world's surface fresh water, drinking water supply for 40 million people in 8 U.S. states, 2 Canadian provinces, and a large number of Native American First Nations. Van Buren County, visible in the background, is one of Michigan's top agricultural producers.Kalamazoo Chapter-Michigan Safe Energy Future Sponsors
May 19th Benefit for "Shutdown Palisades Campaign"
What:
Great local musicians are donating their talents in support of this Campaign to Shutdown the Palisades nuclear reactor plant near South Haven on our Lake Michigan. Palisades is a major threat to the Kalamazoo area which is within the 50-mile radius radioactivity fallout and ingestion zone.
Performers for the Benefit are: Dunuya Drum and Dance; Duffield & Co.- Piano Blues-Boogie; Gypsy Sojourner- Folk and Blues (Catherine and Allen); Unusual Suspects-Blues; Wayfarers (Lynette & Tom). There will also be an Open Mike ---"Your 1 Best Tune or Spoken Word."
Donation: $5-$20+
Who:
This Benefit is sponsored by the Michigan Safe Energy Future-Kalamazoo Chapter with support from the Shoreline Chapter and others
Why:
To:
*Provide an opportunity for the public to learn more about this dangerous nuclear plant which could melt down and cause catastrophic damage to everything in its way.
*To continue to build the support for this Campaign
Background:
Topping the public's concerns is Palisades’ reactor pressure vessel Embrittlement. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) conceded in February 2012 that Palisades has the worst embrittled reactor pressure vessel in the U.S. Media has reported that Palisades will violate the NRC’s embrittlement safety regulations yet again by 2017. It first did so in 1981, 10 short years into operations.
There is major public concern, as well as from the Union of Concerned Scientists, that an activation of the Emergency Core Cooling System – the last line of defense against a reactor core meltdown at Palisades – could, ironically, invite catastrophe. As it happens, suddenly-injected cold water could cause “pressurized thermal shock” in the aging pressure vessel - high pressure magnified by the sudden temperature decrease which would cause the pressure vessel, bombarded by neutrons for years, to fracture. This could lead to a Loss of Coolant Accident, core meltdown, and catastrophic radioactivity release to the environment.
Kalamazoo is within the 50-mile radiation ingestion zone.
A second major concern is the radioactive waste currently stored on site in older casks and on the shores of Lake Michigan. To add to the threat, Palisades continues to generate high level radioactive waste without a repository for it.
Palisades is owned by Entergy Corporation based in New Orleans. Recent media reports have discussed Entergy's financial troubles as it operates several nuclear plants across the Country, including the controversial Vermont Yankee plant. Entergy has not completed all the safety repairs necessary, and required, by the NRC for Palisades. Entergy has been under intense scrutiny from the NRC, with additional inspectors placed at the plant and increased monitoring. We are also concerned that Entergy could simply walk away from its responsibility to the people of the Lake Michigan region and leave a radioactive legacy behind for us.
Michigan Safe Energy Future calls for Shutdown Before Meltdown-2013 to avoid further risks.
Who Should Attend:
*Anyone concerned about safe energy for Michigan and about the devastating effects of a nuclear meltdown at Palisades.
* Media from Kalamazoo, all Lake Shore Areas and any/all independent or other media
When: Sunday, May 19, 5-9 p.m.
Where: Old Dog Tavern, 403 Kalamazoo Ave., Kalamazoo, MI; 269-381-5677, plenty of parking available
Media Contacts:
Catherine Sugas, 269-692-2827
Iris Potter, 269-271-4342 Email: b.irispotter@gmail.com
Facebook Event named: Benefit for "Shutdown Palisades Campaign" sponsored by Michigan Safe Energy Future