Visualizing the climate march

3 Replies

pcmpressnonukesWith just over three weeks to go until the September 21 People’s Climate March, we are receiving more and more questions from people about everything from logistical details to the message of the Nuclear-Free, Carbon-Free Contingent.

In some cases, we just don’t have answers yet–especially on some of the logistical issues, some of which are pretty important. The People’s Climate March didn’t exactly have everything planned when the organizers announced the event. From our perspective, it seems more like the event was announced with the hope that it would take off, and the planning would depend on the response.

Fortunately, the event has taken off and momentum clearly is building. About 200 buses to NYC are confirmed and more are being chartered from various areas of the country just about daily. There are special trains coming from the West Coast and from Washington DC. There are car caravans being set up. And, of course, with tens of millions of people living within commuting range of New York City, there is a huge local base to draw on who don’t need chartered buses or other special transportation. Continue reading

Fukukshima aftermath, August 2014

3 Replies
Three and a half years later, the Fukushima accident shows no signs of ending.

Three and a half years later, the Fukushima accident shows no signs of ending.

Three and a half years after the onset of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, its ramifications continue to reverberate across the world, but as one would expect, especially in Japan.

A quick roundup of some recent Fukushima-related news:

Two Japanese economists released their study this week showing that financial costs of the accident are now at 11 trillion Yen, or about $106 billion. That’s about twice previous government estimates. Continue reading

UBS: It’s time to join the (solar) revolution

1 Reply
UBS: the falling costs of solar power and battery storage combined with increasing use of electric vehicles means the end of large power plants--faster than you might think.

UBS: the falling costs of solar power and battery storage combined with increasing use of electric vehicles means the end of large power plants–faster than you might think.

Already this year we’ve reported on several major investment banks and analysts that argue the future is solar power. First there was Goldman Sachs (Goldman Sachs sees a solar future for the U.S.–and that has nuclear utilities running scared), then Barclay’s (Nuclear industry wins short-term victories, but losing long-term battle), then Bloomberg (Bloomberg sees a renewable-powered future), then Citigroup (Citigroup: The revolution will not be televised).

Now the giant multinational investment firm UBS has joined the march toward a clean energy future.

In a letter to its clients, UBS says flat out: “It’s time to join the revolution.”

Right now, the payback period for installation of rooftop solar plus battery storage is about 12 years. That means that after 12 years, the homeowner’s electricity is essentially free. Continue reading

NRC approves radwaste rule; ends reactor licensing moratorium. Magwood phones it in.

1 Reply

PrintThe Nuclear Regulatory Commissioners today approved its controversial replacement for its “waste confidence” rule that was slapped down in 2012 by a federal court and also approved a resumption of new reactor licensing and license renewal activities.

The new replacement rule essentially gives up on the notion of “confidence” that a permanent high-level radioactive waste repository will be built in any foreseeable time frame and instead expresses the agency’s support for the concept that “continued storage” in the absence of a permanent repository–even for millenia–is just A-OK with them. Continue reading

Former top NRC inspector says shut Diablo Canyon

Leave a reply
The Diablo Canyon reactors near San Luis Obispo, California

The Diablo Canyon reactors near San Luis Obispo, California

The big news today is that the former top Nuclear Regulatory Commission on-site inspector at the Diablo Canyon reactors, Michael Peck, has recommended to the NRC that those reactors be shut down until their ability to withstand earthquakes is fully assessed.

The weekend’s earthquake in the northern Bay Area of California just adds impetus to Peck’s position.

The irony is that this should have been the big news a year ago: Peck wrote his recommendation–in the form of a formal Differing Professional Opinion–in July 2013. And the NRC still hasn’t taken action, or even responded to it. Continue reading

Is NRC rushing critical vote for Magwood?

4 Replies
NRC Commissioner William Magwood 's term is ending in controversy--of course.

NRC Commissioner William Magwood ‘s term is ending in controversy–of course.

Why is the Nuclear Regulatory Commission seemingly rushing its critical vote on its new radioactive waste policy? This isn’t just routine Commission business. It’s a key vote that will clear the way for resumption of licensing activities for both new reactors and license renewals.

The issue arises because controversial NRC Commissioner William Magwood’s last day on the NRC is August 31. Yet the Commission has tentatively scheduled this vote for August 26–even though it wasn’t expected until October. 34 environmental and clean energy organizations have repeatedly pressed the case that Magwood, who is leaving for a job as chief of Europe’s Nuclear Energy Agency–a body that promotes rather than regulates nuclear power–faces a serious conflict of interest.

The NRC is a regulatory body; it is prohibited from promoting nuclear power. Magwood is thumbing his nose not only at his critics, but at the entire concept of separating regulation and promotion. For background on the Magwood controversy, see GreenWorld here and here.

The real question is: why is the rest of the NRC apparently letting him get away with it? Continue reading

We’re going all out for the climate march

Leave a reply

Atlanta-20140729-00643NIRS–and some 800 other organizations–are going all out this weekend to build support for the September 21, 2014 People’s Climate March in New York City. It’s a coordinated effort, so don’t be surprised if you see multiple March appeals in your inbox, on your Facebook page, in your Twitter feed, and maybe even flyers at your local coffee shop.

This holds promise of being a historic, transformative occasion: one of those rare events that can literally upend the political landscape, much like the 1963 March on Washington did for civil rights; the November 1969 March on Washington did against the Vietnam War; and the 1982 New York City march for a nuclear freeze that a few years later led to the first serious nuclear arms reductions ever.

But it will only be that kind of game-changing, rule-changing event if we all participate; if we all make a commitment to be there if at all possible, and to support the event if we can’t.

From NIRS’ perspective, we fully expect this to be the largest Climate March in history. We also believe it can be the largest anti-nuclear power outpouring in decades–but that depends on you.

Below is a letter we sent to our members today. If you’re not a NIRS member, or maybe just missed it in your inbox, we hope you’ll take a moment to read it now–and think about how you can help organize and mobilize for this event. And then do it.

The People’s Climate March is one month away, but you can start it now!

Join the growing Nuclear-Free, Carbon-Free Contingent!

And help spread the word in the all-out mobilizing campaign August 21-23.

August 21, 2014

Dear Friends,

The historic People’s Climate March is just one month away–September 21, 2014. And NIRS and all the other groups supporting this massive event have launched an all-out mobilizing campaign starting now.

This weekend, we ask every organization–and every individual–supporting the Nuclear Free-Carbon-Free Contingent to help get the word out about this event. Send an e-mail–or just forward this one–to everyone on your lists. Put up a notice on your websites and blogs; post on Facebook/Twitter or any other social media sites you use. Send a letter to the editor of your local paper about why you’re going to the march, or just to raise awareness of it (we’ve made this easy for you, see details below).

whywemarchthumbThe March Starts Now

We’re not waiting until September 21–we’re kicking off the march now! We’re creating a photo gallery of marchers to visually tell everyone why we’re marching. And if you absolutely can’t come to New York City on September 21, this is a perfect way for you to stand and be counted.

It’s easy. Just download and print one of the signs we have posted on our new The March Starts Now page (or make a sign of your own), and then take a selfie of you holding the sign, or get a partner or friend to take the photo and then take one of him/her too. Group shots encouraged too. Then send the photos to nirsnet@nirs.org and we’ll post them in the photo gallery. Get started here.

Sign Up for the March

statueoflibertywsolarpanelIf you’re coming to the march, but haven’t yet signed up on the People’s Climate March website, please do so now using this special url, which indicates your sign-up is coming through the Nuclear-Free, Carbon-Free Contingent: http://peoplesclimate.org/march?r=nukefree. The reason to sign up is so march organizers can have a better sense of how many people to expect–this is important for logistical and planning purposes.

We encourage you to sign up for the Nuclear-Free, Carbon-Free Contingent as well, for the same reasons. Plus, it will help us keep those of you we know are coming better informed about the Contingent’s plans, especially any last-minute changes. You can sign up for the Contingent here.

National Nuclear-Free, Carbon-Free Activist Meeting

Besides the march on Sunday, September 21, NIRS is sponsoring a national meeting of activists all afternoon on Saturday, September 20. We’re still working on exact time and location, but it will be in an accessible location in New York City. The purpose of the meeting will be to strengthen grassroots networks to be able to better organize and prepare for the many upcoming regional and state battles we all will be facing when the EPA’s Clean Power Plan rule goes into effect next year. These battles will be critical for the future of nuclear power–we can close dirty, dangerous and uneconomic nuclear reactors and end talk of a nuclear “renaissance” for good, or face potentially decades of stagnation of renewable energy and energy efficiency in favor of dirty energy. The stakes are that high–but these are battles we can win. Please join us at this important meeting. We will keep you informed about time and location.

Some March updates

pcm-route-mapThe march route has been set, you can see the route map on to the right. The march will kick off at 11:30 am on September 21; contingents will be assembling north of Columbus Circle. We will inform you of the assembly point and time for the Nuclear-Free, Carbon-Free Contingent as soon as it is confirmed.

There are numerous useful resources on the Contingent website, including flyers for downloading; organizing and mobilizing guides; information on transportation to NYC; background reading and much more.

The site is updated daily and will be through September 21.

125 organizations from across the world have now endorsed the Nuclear-Free, Carbon-Free Contingent, and new endorsements arrive daily. If your organization has not yet endorsed the Contingent, please send your name, organization name, city, state and country (if outside the U.S.) to us at nirsnet@nirs.org.

More than 1400 individuals have also signed a statement in support of the Contingent. You can add your name here.

Letters to the Editor

We have provided a sample letter for you to send to your local news outlets. You’ll be able to choose which paper(s) it will be sent to. Then, edit the letter to reflect your own views and concerns (especially local ones), and your letter will automatically be sent to your local media. Research continues to show that letters to the editor remain among the highest-read portions of newspapers (including online ones). It’s a great way to spread the word and we’ve made it as easy as possible for you. Get started here, it will only take you a few moments.

Facebook/Twitter and other social media posts

Here are a few sample posts you can use on your social media pages to help spread the word:

Twitter

In one month, September 21, the largest climate march in history. Join us. http://peoplesclimate.org/march?r=nukefree #peoplesclimate

#ActonClimate: Build a Nuclear-Free, Carbon-Free energy system. We start September 21. http://peoplesclimate.org/march?r=nukefree #peoplesclimate

Facebook

Join me at the largest climate march in history. I’ll be with the Nuclear-Free, Carbon-Free Contingent in NYC on September 21. Full information here: http://www.nirs.org/climatemarch/climatemarchhome.htm

Friends, help spread the word about the Nuclear-Free, Carbon-Free Contingent to the People’s Climate March in NYC on September 21. http://www.nirs.org/climatemarch/climatemarchhome.htm

Don’t forget to Comment to EPA!

Finally, if you have not yet sent in your comments on the EPA’s Clean Power Plan, please so do now here. Many people have not yet done so, and in this case, every single comment matters. The nuclear industry is mounting a major lobbying effort to increase support for nuclear power in the plan–our united and large call to remove all nuclear support for the plan is the only thing that will stop them.

The Nuclear-Free, Carbon-Free Contingent to the People’s Climate March is one of the most exciting and meaningful events I’ve been part of in my nearly 30 years at NIRS. It’s just amazing to see the enthusiasm and spirit growing the way it is. This will a momentous weekend. I really do hope you’ll join me, all the NIRS staff, and people from all over the country in New York City on September 21.

Thanks so much for all you do,

Michael Mariotte
President
Nuclear Information and Resource Service
http://www.nirs.org
nirsnet@nirs.org

pcmgraphic

Michael Mariotte

August 21, 2014

Permalink: http://safeenergy.org/2014/08/21/were-going-all-out-for-the-climate-march/

You can now support GreenWorld with your tax-deductible contribution on our new donation page here. We gratefully appreciate every donation of any size–your support is what makes our work possible.

Comments are welcome on all GreenWorld posts! Say your piece above. Start a discussion. Don’t be shy; this blog is for you.

If you’d like to receive GreenWorld via e-mail, send your name and e-mail address to nirsnet@nirs.org and we’ll send you an invitation. Note that the invitation will come from a GreenWorld@wordpress.com address and not a nirs.org address, so watch for it.

If you like GreenWorld, you can help us reach more people. Just use the icons below to “like” our posts and to share them on the various social networking sites you use. And if you don’t like GreenWorld, please let us know that too. Send an e-mail with your comments/complaints/compliments to nirsnet@nirs.org. Thank you!

GreenWorld is crossposted on tumblr at https://www.tumblr.com/blog/nirsnet