HomeHomehttp://www.beyondnuclear.org/home/2012-02-07T22:45:28ZSquarespaceRadioactivity and toxic chemicals spilled into soil and groundwater at Prairie Islandhttp://www.beyondnuclear.org/home/2012/2/7/radioactivity-and-toxic-chemicals-spilled-into-soil-and-grou-1.htmladmin2012-02-07T17:58:35Z2012-02-07T17:58:35Z

NRC file photo of Prairie Island nuclear power plantXcel Energy's Prairie Island nuclear power plant has made what appears to be two admissions of separate toxic chemical and radiological spills in less than a week. Residents, and the tribal day care center, of the Prairie Island Indian Community are located within hundreds of yards of the nuclear power plant. Read more...

]]>Brand new replacement parts failing at atomic reactorshttp://www.beyondnuclear.org/home/2012/2/6/brand-new-replacement-parts-failing-at-atomic-reactors.htmladmin2012-02-07T04:20:29Z2012-02-07T04:20:29ZA tube rupture in a brand new replacement steam generator at San Onofre Unit 3 last week, and a defective brand new replacement reactor head at Palisades, show that safety significant structures at atomic reactors are of questionable integrity and quality assurance. Three Mile Island and Arkansas Nuclear One have also experienced premature degradation of new replacement steam generators, manufactured by Areva of France.

]]>Extraordinary music video: Japanese youth speak truth to power in aftermath of Fukushima Nuclear Catastrophehttp://www.beyondnuclear.org/home/2012/2/6/extraordinary-music-video-japanese-youth-speak-truth-to-powe.htmladmin2012-02-07T02:11:39Z2012-02-07T02:11:39ZFRYING DUTCHMAN humanERROR rocks the street with spoken word in an anguished, angry, yet hopeful, inspiring, and empowering "No Nukes!" marathon jam session.

]]>"Fermi 3 foes urge health analysis"http://www.beyondnuclear.org/home/2012/2/6/fermi-3-foes-urge-health-analysis.htmladmin2012-02-06T23:39:23Z2012-02-06T23:39:23Z

NRC file photo of Fermi 2, located on the Lake Erie shoreline near Monroe, MI, just over 10 miles north of Ohio, and 8 miles as the crow flies from OntarioThe Detroit News has reported, in an article entitled "Fermi 3 foes urge health analysis," that indications of health damage from the operations of Fermi 2 be further studied before any plans for a new reactor at Fermi 3 move forward. The article reports on the questions raised in a recent report by Joe Mangano, Executive Director of the Radiation and Public Health Project, such as why Monroe County suffers from inexplicably high rates of infant motality, low birth weights, cancer mortality, and non-fatal cancer incidence.

Mangano serves as an expert witness for the international environmental coalition officially intervening against the Fermi 3 proposal. The coalition's member groups are Beyond Nuclear, Citizens for Alternatives to Chemical Contamination, Citizen Environment Alliance of Southwestern Ontario, and the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter.

The article quoted from Mangano's submission: "Of 19 indicators, the Monroe County rate change (before and after Fermi 2 began operating) exceeded the state or nation for all 19...".

The article also quoted from Don't Waste Michigan's Michael Keegan: "It's important to establish what the situation is...If you're talking about putting another reactor into play, you need to know where you are with baseline cancer statistics."

]]>Japanese authorities recognize 573 deaths related to Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Catastrophehttp://www.beyondnuclear.org/home/2012/2/4/japanese-authorities-recognize-573-deaths-related-to-fukushi.htmladmin2012-02-04T22:32:17Z2012-02-04T22:32:17ZAs reported by the Yomiuri Shimbun:

"A total of 573 deaths have been certified as "disaster-related" by 13 municipalities affected by the crisis at the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, according to a Yomiuri Shimbun survey.

This number could rise because certification for 29 people remains pending while further checks are conducted.

The 13 municipalities are three cities--Minami-Soma, Tamura and Iwaki--eight towns and villages in Futaba County--Namie, Futaba, Okuma, Tomioka, Naraha, Hirono, Katsurao and Kawauchi--and Kawamata and Iitate, all in Fukushima Prefecture.

These municipalities are in the no-entry, emergency evacuation preparation or expanded evacuation zones around the nuclear plant, which suffered meltdowns soon after the March 11 disaster.

A disaster-related death certificate is issued when a death is not directly caused by a tragedy, but by fatigue or the aggravation of a chronic disease due to the disaster. If a municipality certifies the cause of death is directly associated to a disaster, a condolence grant is paid to the victim's family. If the person was a breadwinner, 5 million yen is paid..."

]]>Beyond Nuclear on the Thom Hartmann Show: tritium leakshttp://www.beyondnuclear.org/home/2012/2/3/beyond-nuclear-on-the-thom-hartmann-show-tritium-leaks.htmladmin2012-02-04T00:03:13Z2012-02-04T00:03:13ZThom Hartmann had Beyond Nuclear's Kevin Kamps on his television show yesterday to discuss radioactive steam   releases at San Onofre nuclear power plant in California due to defective, brand new steam generators -- a problem that has surfaced at Three Mile Island and Arkansas Nuclear One as well, due to brand new, yet defective, steam generators fabricated by Areva of France. Tritium, a radioactive form of hydrogen that emits beta radiation particles, is a clinically proven cause of cancer, birth defects, and genetic damage, which can integrate into the human biological system right down to the most intimate levels -- including the DNA molecule.

]]>Surfing for Change video on the proposed nuclear plant in South Africahttp://www.beyondnuclear.org/home/2012/2/3/surfing-for-change-video-on-the-proposed-nuclear-plant-in-so.htmladmin2012-02-03T18:41:24Z2012-02-03T18:41:24Z

This is an excellent short film made by surfer and activist, Kyle Thiermann. Watch and share and check out the website for Surfing for Change.

]]>Celebrate 25 years of the Alliance for Nuclear Accountabilityhttp://www.beyondnuclear.org/home/2012/2/3/celebrate-25-years-of-the-alliance-for-nuclear-accountabilit.htmladmin2012-02-03T14:07:52Z2012-02-03T14:07:52Z
Join us for DC Days 2012 and demand "Nuclear Budget Accountability Now!"

The Alliance for Nuclear Accountability (ANA) invites you to join our annual DC Days advocacy event March 18th-21st. This year's theme is "Nuclear Budget Accountability Now!" Disarmament and environmental activists from across the country will deliver our message to Congress and the Obama Administration - will you be among them? DC Days is the perfect opportunity for new or seasoned advocates to call for environmental cleanup, restrained nuclear weapons programs, and rolling back the "nuclear renaissance". DC Days 2012 will overlap with the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the most popular time to visit DC, so book your travel and lodging in advance! Visit bit.ly/DCD12 or email Katherine at kfuchs@ananuclear.org for more information or to register.
]]>Beyond Nuclear requests NRC to take action at shaky North Annahttp://www.beyondnuclear.org/home/2012/2/2/beyond-nuclear-requests-nrc-to-take-action-at-shaky-north-an.htmladmin2012-02-02T16:36:25Z2012-02-02T16:36:25ZBeyond Nuclear was before the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission on February 2, 2012 calling on the federal agency to take more protective actions at the North Anna nuclear power in Mineral, VA.  The call comes following the NRC approval to restart the two unit reactor site just several months after the August 23, 2011 earthquake. The two atomic reactors are sited amidst seven fault lines.

According to the Wall Street Journal (01/31/2012) , the NRC is requesting 96 nuclear power plants in central and eastern United States to make new seismic risk assessments and potentially extremely costly changes to reactor safety systems as a result of the unprecedented Virginia earthquake and the earthquake-induced Fukushima Dai-Ichi catastrophe in eastern Japan.  Rather than make the costly retrofits some reactor are likely to permanently  shutdown. The NRC and nuclear industry have already started the retreat from timely action and enforcement.

According to the US Geological Survey, to date there have been 100 afershocks in the North Anna area since the 5.8 magnitude quake where the epicenter was within a few miles the reactors shook much of the East Coast. 

Beyond Nuclear is calling on the NRC to require North Anna's operaters, Virginia Electric Power Company (aka Dominion) to submit to the license amendment process and formal public hearings to make changes to the plant which is the first reactor in the United States to shut down operations as the result of an earthquake.

A portion of Beyond Nuclear remarks before the NRC on February 2, 2012 can be found here. The NRC webcast of the proceeding will be posted here when it becomes publicly available on their archive.

]]>"The Atomic States of America" debuts at Sundance Film Festivalhttp://www.beyondnuclear.org/home/2012/1/31/the-atomic-states-of-america-debuts-at-sundance-film-festiva.htmladmin2012-01-31T23:34:50Z2012-01-31T23:34:50ZDon Argott and Sheena Joyce of 9.14 Pictures, based in Philadelphia, have debuted their anxiously awaited film, "The Atomic States of America," at the Sundance Film Festival. Featuring interviews with Beyond Nuclear's founding president Helen Caldicott and Beyond Nuclear board member Karl Grossman, "The Atomic States of America" was inspired by and based on the book Welcome to Shirley: A Memoir from an Atomic Town by Kelly McMasters. McMasters was born and raised in Shirley, Long Island, immediately downwind and downstream from leaking experimental atomic reactors and high-level radioactive waste storage pools, which have had a devastating impact on the health of her friends and neighbors. John Anderson has written a good review in Variety, and Democracy Now! radio show host Amy Goodman interviewed Joyce and McMasters at Sundance.

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