"A Nuclear Clash Could Starve the World"

Mushroom cloud rising above Hiroshima after U.S. atomic bombing of Japan, August 1945As described in an op-ed posted at CNN, "A Nuclear Clash Could Starve the World," Jayantha Dhanapala and Ira Helfand report on the findings of a new PSR/IPPNW report, NUCLEAR FAMINE: A BILLION PEOPLE AT RISK.

Among the findings: even a limited nuclear war, as between Indian and Pakistan, involving less than half of 1% of the world's nuclear arsenals, would cause climate disruption that could set off a global famine; 100 Hiroshima-sized bombs (see photo, left) exploded in a war between India and Pakistan would lead to the starvation of an estimated 1 billion people, one-sixth of the human race, over the following decade; each U.S. Trident nuclear submarine can destroy 100 cities and produce the global famine described in the study (the United States has 14 Tridents). 

Jayantha Dhanapala is a former ambassador to the United States from Sri Lanka, U.N. under-secretary general for disarmament and chairman of the 1995 Non-Proliferation Treaty Review and Extension Conference. Ira Helfand is the past president of Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) and current North American vice president of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW).

Finnish nuclear regulator tells Indian official of EPR problems

From The Hindu newspaper: "Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh heard a sobering assessment of the Areva's Finnish reactor project (pictured left) — which is running four years behind schedule, with cost overruns hitting 2.7 billion euros — from that country's nuclear regulator.

In a presentation made to Mr. Ramesh and a visiting Indian delegation in Finland earlier this week, Finnish regulator STUK put the blame for the crippling delay on Areva, for taking on the job without the requisite competencies, without experienced partners, and without completing design and engineering work before it started construction.

“In all of the Areva's earlier projects, the owner and licensee of the French nuclear power plants EdF had played the important role as the architect-engineer and had been responsible for the construction management,” The STUK told Mr. Ramesh. “at the start of the project it was found that many of the experienced nuclear manufacturers who had contributed to the earlier Areva projects had left the business. The Areva had to find new subcontractors and to coach them in nuclear manufacturing.”

The Finnish regulator added that the original schedule was “too ambitious” for a nuclear plant that is the first of its kind, larger than any previous project and built after a long gap in nuclear plant construction in Europe."

Good website reference for anti-nuclear action in South Asia

South Asians Against Nukes is a good clearing house website to use for actions, articles and other information about anti-nulear activities in South Asia.

Indian opponents of Jaitapur reactors forced to flee

Several activisists protesting the planned Jaitapur reactors near Mumbai, India, that will displace five villages, are on the run after bail was denied and local police slapped several charges of violent protest and attempt to murder against them. Local activists have approached the supreme court on their behalf but the activists, including a priest, fishermen and mango farmers and a tailor, remain on the run.

Schools shut down for two days in protest at Jaitapur reactors

About 70 schools in and around Madhban village, where the Jaitapur nuclear power plant is coming up closed for two days on January 10 and 11 as part of protests against the project. From kindergarten to high schools, around 70 schools with nearly 2,500 students shut down on Monday and Tuesday in 20 villages, including Madhban, Mithgawane, Karel, Niweli and Ansure that are the most affected. Land was seized from the villagers of Madhban by force. Five villages will be affected by the giant French nuclear power plant.