WAND Education Fund » Japan disaster http://www.wand.org Women. Power. Peace. Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:59:07 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 WAND’s thoughts on the disaster in Japan http://www.wand.org/2011/03/15/wands-thoughts-on-the-disaster-in-japan/ http://www.wand.org/2011/03/15/wands-thoughts-on-the-disaster-in-japan/#comments Tue, 15 Mar 2011 20:13:09 +0000 Elizabeth Holland http://www.wand.org/?p=1657 WAND is looking at the disaster in Japan with both heartbreak and  nerve-wracking worry. Days after the devastating earthquake and tsunami, the crises are continuing to mount. Of particular concern are the nuclear reactor explosions, fires and radioactive releases, all coming on top of earthquake aftershocks. Our hearts go out to the Japanese people in their desperate need for finding safe shelter and food so they can begin to ease the trauma and process grief. WAND passionately supports efforts to alleviate suffering and diminish evolving threats.
Here are some lessons we in the United States must learn from the unfolding crisis in Japan:
1)      Nuclear power is fraught with risk. There is a limit to what can be done to predict, mitigate and control that risk. Particularly at a time when we are cutting federal spending, the U.S. government should stop subsidizing this inherently dangerous energy source with federal loan guarantees and other subsidies. The United States should instead invest in less risky energy solutions. As Georgia WAND has stated: “We ask all those who support nuclear power expansion and the federal loans needed to prop it up - whether here or in other parts of the world - to rethink their position and consider how nuclear power threatens the safety and health of those who live directly downwind and downstream of nuclear power plants. By combining intelligence with imagination we can face "unthinkable" scenarios and turn towards much less risky energy solutions.“
We urge you to take action:  Ask the President to stop subsidies for U.S. nuclear power. Send a short message here.
For more information see our link of Georgia WAND's response and “Japan's nuke threat 'a wake-up call' for the U.S." from USA Today.
2)    The United States should also rethink nuclear weapons policy. The specter of radiation exposure in Japan is so frightening because we know the lethality of not just nuclear reactor accidents, but also the devastation of nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Even after the recently passed New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), the United States plans to maintain thousands of nuclear weapons many times more destructive than the bombs dropped in Japan. More than enough to destroy the world and make the rubble bounce. Over the next 10 years, we plan to spend about $200 Billion on maintaining these nuclear weapons and their delivery systems.
For more information see "How much can we justify spending on nuclear weapons " in the Washington Post.
3)    International cooperation to reduce nuclear dangersis crucial and should be strengthened. The United States should ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).  An extensive monitoring and detection system is being built up as part of the CTBT Organization to support verification efforts of this treaty that prohibits all nuclear weapons test explosions.  This monitoring system was important in early detection and warning of the earthquakes and tsunami and it is continuing to play a role in tracking radionuclides in the unfolding nuclear reactor crisis.  The United States should participate in funding to expand this international monitoring system.   It is also essential that the United States show effective leadership with prompt CTBT ratification.  We must be vigilant in preventing environmental degradation and radiation exposure from all sources – including from nuclear test explosions. Moreover the CTBT is crucial to prevent the spread of new and more sophisticated nuclear weapons.
For more information see the "Nuclear Test Gauges Beat CNN, Aid Radiation Watch in Japan" from Bloomberg.com and the Project for the CTBT.
]]> http://www.wand.org/2011/03/15/wands-thoughts-on-the-disaster-in-japan/feed/ 0 Georgia WAND speaks up about the events unfolding in Japan http://www.wand.org/2011/03/14/georgia-wand-speaks-up-about-the-events-unfolding-in-japan/ http://www.wand.org/2011/03/14/georgia-wand-speaks-up-about-the-events-unfolding-in-japan/#comments Mon, 14 Mar 2011 21:29:36 +0000 Elizabeth Holland http://www.wand.org/?p=1650 As WAND watches the devastating news of events in Japan and reflect upon concerns about nuclear power in the United States, we recommend this information from our friends at Georgia WAND.

The letter below was distributed earlier this week by Georgia WAND's Executive Director Bobbie Paul and President of the Board Bernita Smith.

"As details continue to unfold about the tragedy in northeast Japan we are deeply concerned about the compromised nuclear reactors and radiation exposures that are causing death or serious illness to those working on the reactors and to those living near-by. The latest accounts Monday report that Fukushima No. 2 reactor is in danger of a melt down because its fuel rods were fully exposed at one point after standard cooling functions failed.  It is feared that an explosion in the No. 2 reactor similar to those in the No. 1 and 3 reactors at Fukushima is imminent.

There are an estimated 1.4 million people without water or power in Japan and hundreds of casualties. Over 185,000 residents have been evacuated from the area. Japanese officials are dispensing potassium iodide pills to evacuation centers in an attempt to protect people’s thyroid gland from radioactive iodine-131 that was released into the atmosphere.

Georgia WAND hopes that a growing renewable energy sector will soon make nuclear power generation obsolete. We ask all those who support nuclear power expansion and the federal loans needed to prop it up - whether here or in other parts of the world - to rethink their position and consider how nuclear power threatens the safety and health of those who live directly downwind and downstream of nuclear power plants. By combining intelligence with imagination we can face "unthinkable" scenarios and turn towards much less risky energy solutions.  Our commitment to environmental justice demands that we continue to take action for those who suffer this kind of nuclear terrorism.

One action we suggest is to send President Obama a message asking him to end federal support for nuclear power expansion in this country. Your opinion matters. www.whitehouse.gov Urge the President to eliminate costly government bailouts in the form of loan guarantees to the nuclear industry including the $8.3 billion his administration awarded to Southern Company/Georgia Power for two new nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle in Burke, County, Georgia.  Thank you.

Here is a link to a report from the BBC, dated March 13, about the reactor situation. Be sure to scroll all the way down to see photos and film footage.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12726628.

Sincerely,

-Bobbie Paul, Executive Director

-Bernita Smith, President of the Board

FYI - The Fukushima Daiichi Unit 1 reactor that exploded on Saturday, March 12, 2011, was a General Electric Mark I reactor. It is the same model used for both reactors at Plant Hatch, located on the Altamaha River in SE Georgia. These reactors came online in 1975 and 1979."

To read more from Georgia WAND, please visit www.georgiawand.org

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