First, my love and compassion goes out to Japan. I cannot imagine the pain and sorrow the people are experiencing, and I pray that it will not happen here on the West Coast. The tsunami was the worst part; however the damage done to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is also devastating. The original reports in the news media were rather benign. Now, the truth coming out about the damage and radiation is leaving its trail of adverse health effects. The latest reports allege that Fukushima Daiichi is every bit as bad as Chernobyl, which leashed its radiation exposure in 1986. Today, the Ukraine has raised $782-million for completion of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant for a shelter project. As I understand it, the "shelter" is to shield radiation from spreading.
According to an article written by Paul Blumenthal, the pro-nuclear lobbyists are out in force on Capitol Hill. From my perspective, they are locusts in for the bucks. Never mind the long-range carnage a nuclear meltdown or blast could cause in these United States. Blumenthal writes...
"Nuclear Industry Lobbyists Battle Fallout from Japan Reactor Crisis may come apart as the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan continues. On March 11, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant suffered major damage from a 9.0 earthquake and the ensuing tsunami. In the following days the plant's condition has deteriorated dramatically. Evidence has emerged of partial meltdowns in three reactors at the plant. Explosions have occurred at three reactors, while a fire broke out at a fourth. A small, dedicated group of workers remains at the site in an attempt to avoid a full meltdown at the plant. Traces of radioactivity are being found as far as Tokyo, although not at harmful levels yet."An analysis of the lobbying expenses of electric utilities operating a majority of the nation's nuclear reactors and the main industry trade group show lobbying spending has doubled since 2004. The industry's lobbying jumped from $27 million prior to the nuclear-friendly Energy Act of 2005 to nearly $54 million in 2010.
"Not all of this lobbying has been directly focused on growing the nuclear industry, but the key bills spurring much of the lobbying activity have included major government support for nuclear power plant growth. The industry's lobbying team is filled with former government officials -- 68 percent of them, including 12 former congressmen. Among them, former Sens. Trent Lott and John Breaux lobby for Entergy, former Rep. Dick Gephardt works for Progress Energy, and former Sen. Don Nickles holds Southern Co. as a client."
Think about it. Sixty-eight percent of the lobbyists for this industry are former government officials! The name of the game is money and screw the people. This is only for one industry. When one contemplates all the other industries, we have an army of lobbyists who are actually working against the people. There are about 104 nuclear reactors here in the United States, with the majority of them between the Mississippi River and the East Coast. Heaven forbid that a tornado, earthquake or tsunami hits those areas!
I do not buy into their verbiage that nuclear reactors are safe. I happen to live in the State of Washington. We have the Hanford Nuclear Power plant that is active. In my research, I have learned that in March there were three articles with one stating that "Hanford was more robust that the Tokyo nuclear plant," one stating that Hanford "shut down for a short time," and the other saying that there would be a "long outage for Hanford."
What can we do to stop using nuclear energy? Research is the first key. Then if we each sent an email to our list requesting they join in stopping nuclear power plants by contacting first the local officials, second, county officials, third state officials and fourth our national representatives, we might get the ball rolling. Other avenues are writing letters to the editors, contacting radio stations, using Facebook and other forums. Perhaps our voices will be heard and with enough pressure, there could be a major change. By doing this, we do not have to sign petitions (unless it is viable), or pay dues. Regarding petitions: on-line petitions are not workable, as a valid petition needs a valid name, both printed and written, and an address with zip code. It is best to check your county/state for the rules. We answer to no one but our own delightful self.
I have recognized that this country is no longer the land of the free. We have had for the most part, our freedom sucked from us. It began to be more obvious during the 1960s, and it is now escalating. From the UK news Daily Mail: The Obama Administration is recommending an internet I.D. -- "A plan to create a national online identity system was launched today to help combat cyber crime. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke claimed the move will protect Internet consumers from fraud and identity theft. Unveiling the scheme, he insisted the cyber ID was not a Big Brother plan by the government to snoop on web users." If this is so, then why have a cyber ID???
I won't go into the details of Wall Street, Banksters, Corporate "persons," plus the disintegrating mentality of the Republican party as well as the limited thinking of the Tea Party along with the Democrats. Therefore, I ask that you become a party of One and on your own initiative contact as many sources as you can and demand that all U.S. nuclear power plants cease and desist. Alternative energy is already known and it is up to us to let our voices be heard loud and clear.
"Enlighten the people, generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like spirits at the dawn of day."~~Thomas Jefferson
