Beyond Nuclear

At a time when we’re seeing the real-​world effects of our smug self-​assurance about our ability to safely produce nuclear power, it’s important to realize that we don’t have all the answers. It’s fine to be wrong in love, or about people, or even in politics; but when you’re wrong about something as dangerous as nuclear power, the consequences can be devastating.
Look at what is happening in Japan. It’s a tragedy that the only country ever to have been attacked with nuclear weapons – a country that has a proud history since the end of World War II of peacemaking and opposition, at least among individual citizens, to imperialism – is suffering the consequences for believing so deeply in its own technological prowess. And if it can happen in Japan, with its cultural attention to detail and strong sense of collective responsibility, imagine what could happen here.
There’s lots of proof that mistakes are made all the time in the nuclear-​power industry. But rather than being admitted to, these mistakes are lied about, covered up. The United States federal agency tasked with regulating the nuclear industry is one of the most corrupt in the government. It usually plays the role of cheerleader.
Nuclear power isn’t green. The accidents at two separate power plants (and at least six different reactors) in Japan prove that. The radiation that has been leaked in the last few weeks will have devastating effects on human and environmental health for the rest of our lifetimes. And even without accidents, there’s no safe way to store nuclear waste, which remains deadly for thousands of years.
Nuclear power isn’t safe. The tragedy in Japan happened because of a foreseeable act of nature, but even nukes far from fault lines are susceptible to terrorist attack. The September 11 planners actually considered attacking the nuclear power plant just a few miles from New York City. Had they gone through with that plan, far more than 3,000 would have perished on that horrible day.
Nuclear power isn’t cheap. No power company can obtain insurance on the open market for running a nuclear power plant. Nukes are «cheap» only because the government backs the loans and underwrites the insurance. So whether or not you agree with nuclear power, you are subsidizing it because your tax dollars are propping up the industry.
Beyond Nuclear provides solid information to people like me who refuse to drink the nuke Kool-​Aid. With the US raring to approve building permits for nuclear power plants for the first time since 1979, now is the time to join Beyond Nuclear. Accidents can and do happen. There’s Three Mile Island. There’s Chernobyl. There’s Japan. But there is also a long list of other accidents and near accidents that no one ever talks about.
California’s two nuclear power plants are located on the ocean and on fault lines, making them susceptible to the same earthquake-​tsunami combo that wreaked such havoc in Japan. Until those two plants are shut down, I’ll proudly support Beyond Nuclear.