NukeNews No. 6 - ENGLISH

************************************************************ *     NukeNews #6 - Anti-Nuclear Information Service      * ************************************************************ - 0. Preface - Due to the quite full anti-nuclear action summer several of us experienced with the international camps in Poland and Germany, the Olkiluoto Blockade actions in Finland and the upcoming anti-nuclear sailing trip from Sweden to Germany our capacities to write for this edition of the NukeNews were limited. Thus, it is a shorter newsletter this time. However, we hope to give you an impression of the anti-nuclear activities and topics of activists of the Nuclear Heritage Network. Your contributions for the next issue in November are welcome, and we still urgently need continuous translation support into Russian, Finnish and French. Your feedback on the NukeNews would be appreciated! Write us what you think about the newsletter, quality of translation, variety of topics etc. Talk soon! - Outline of the current NukeNews issue #6 - 0. Preface 1. Anti-nuclear campaigners arrested in Minsk (BY) 2. Petition for referendum on nuclear projects presented to Finnish parliament 3. By-election Issue: No New Nuke Projects - Ontario, Canada 4. First Nuclear Heritage Network camp "protected" quite well by     police 5. Colourful protests challenged atomic power in Olkiluoto (FIN) 6. Uranium mining plans in Raahe close to E.ON's proposed new NPP (FIN) 7. Lithuanian polls suggest country opposed to new plans for nuclear reactor build - Hitachi remains optimistic 8. I’m not a nuclear citizen - I’m not bailing for the next nuclear catastrophe!!! 9. European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) "My Voice against Nuclear     Power" 10. Solidarity protest at London Japanese embassy 11. Campaigners call for support to stop nuclear 'renaissance' 12. How We Kicked Nuclear Out Of Alberta (CA) 13. Survival Celebration Camp (CA) 14. Upcoming events 15. About NukeNews - 1. Anti-nuclear campaigners arrested in Minsk (BY) - Coordinator Tatyana Novikova and the Russian nuclear physicist Andrej Ozharovsky, activists of Belarusian anti-nuclear campaign, were arrested in the morning of July 18 in Minsk. As сharter97.org found out later, the coordinator of the Monitoring Group of the Centre of Legal Transformation Michael Matskevich and the chairman of the NGO "Eco House" Irina Sukhiy were also detained by unknown persons at the exit of the office of the "Green Network”. Irina Sukhiy was going to the Russian embassy in order to pass the original of a petition against the construction of the Nuclear Power Plant in Belarus. Michael Matskevich was heading to Leninsky Police department, where the activists Tatyana Novikova and Andrei Ozharovsky probably were detained. The last of them was released after 10 days in prison. Learn more: http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2012/7/18/55280 - 2. Petition for referendum on nuclear projects presented to Finnish     parliament - This petition was published in the internet in september 2011, so far it has collected over 10,000 signatures. The petition was given to the Finnish parliament early in june. http://yle.fi/uutiset/campaigners_to_present_anti-nuclear_petition_to_parliament/6175422 The petition (in Finnish) can be found here:  http://www.adressit.com/ydinvoimakansanaanestys - 3. By-election Issue: No New Nuke Projects - Ontario, Canada - The riding of Kitchener-Waterloo in Ontario, Canada is having a by-election this fall. We're organizing to make nuclear cost overruns an election issue. We're asking all candidates to sign a pledge to work to end nuclear cost overruns if elected. We believe that if the nuclear industry had to cover all their costs, just as other electricity generators have to do (ie. wind, solar, natural gas etc.), they would not be able to compete with lower cost generation. It's all about protecting the taxpayer. No more nuclear free ride. See our campaign literature here: http://www.cleanairalliance.org/files/kw.pdf - 4. First Nuclear Heritage Network camp "protected" quite well by     police - At the end of July/beginning of August the first international anti- nuclear camp had been organized by activists of the Nuclear Heritage Network. It was the annual summer gathering of the network supposed to learn about nuclear issues in other regions of the world, get to know other activists and to start and foster upcoming campaigns and projects. Some 30 activists from several countries joined it and shared their knowledge in workshops and presentations. While the character of the gathering was not intended to go for big actions, local police got a kind of mad since they heard about an international event taking place in their usually silent area. Several representatives of authorities called or stopped by the days before the camp start, and since the first day of the gathering, the village was under intense surveillance of cops. They were breaking laws, trespassing and observing without a judge's permission, disturbing and frightening neighbours who assumed the civil cops crawling through bushes to be burglars. Welcome in Germany! Read more: http://www.greenkids.de/europas-atomerbe/index.php/International_Anti-nuclear_Network_Meeting_in_D%C3%B6beln - 5. Colourful protests challenged atomic power in Olkiluoto (FIN) - August 11 the third publicly announced international Olkiluoto Blockade took part with activists from Finland, France, Germany, Lithuania, Sweden and UK. Blockades took place on the main highway next to the Olkiluoto NPP between Rauma and Pori as well as on the access roads to the atomic facility. A mutant turtles street action slowed down the traffic while other activists were blockading highway E8 with a sit-in blockade and a circle of people locked-in with tubes during the workers shift change after 6 AM. Other roads were temporary closed by a tripod action, people climbing in trees, activists chained to logs put across a road, people dancing on a road, sit-ins and activists using other techniques. The "legal" demonstration took part at the "Ydinportti" (Nuclear Gate) gas station, though the action day was dominated by the variety of small groups actions. Learn more: http://www.greenkids.de/europas-atomerbe/index.php/Olkiluoto_Blockade_2012 - 6. Uranium mining plans in Raahe close to E.ON's proposed new NPP (FIN) - In Finland in the city of Raahe at the Northern Baltic Sea a gold mine of Nordic Mines aims to dump uranium to the sea. The levels of uranium in quarry waters have been up to 200 micrograms per liter and the water reservoir level over 10 micrograms per liter. EU science authority cites for preliminary sustainable environmental level of chemically equivalent depleted uranium as 0.5 micrograms per/liter. The amount uranium to be dumped may be tons or more over 10 year expected life span of the mine. The uranium may exist also in solid material allowed up to a level of 10 mg/liter. According to the original permit the water may contain arsenic up to 500 micrograms per liter and cyanide up to 400 micrograms per liter. Without any sea permits copper and cobalt may get close to 100 microgram per liter levels. The other values appear to be ecotoxic, too. Please like the page http://www.facebook.com/Raahen.Kultakaivos.Ei.Myrkkyjatteille Please, support the struggle of people the Finnish Pyhäjoki threatened by planned E.ON-Fennovoima Pyhäjoki nuclear plant. http://www.facebook.com/BoikotoiBoycottE.ONnuclearFennovoima.Ydinvoima - 7. Lithuanian polls suggest country opposed to new plans for nuclear reactor build - Hitachi remains optimistic - Almost half of Lithuanians will likely vote against the construction of the planned Visaginas nuclear power plant (NPP) in a referendum in October, according to a survey by Prime Consulting for the Lithuanian magazine Veidas. http://www.bellona.org/articles/articles_2012/lithuania_polls - 8. I’m not a nuclear citizen - I’m not bailing for the next nuclear catastrophe!!! - With the help of 200,000 post cards and online petitions urgewald is pressurizing the German government. The reason for that is that even after Fukushima and the abandoning of nuclear energy in the country, the German government plans on granting export credit guarantees for nuclear power plants abroad. The nuclear company AREVA has applied for a "Hermesguarantee" of 1.3 billion EUR for the construction of the reactor Angra 3 in Brazil. Being located between the seaside and an inaccessible mountain range the nuclear power plant is exposed to the threat of landslides as it is. Now the plan is to expend it with out-dated technology. Neither reactor safety nor safety of route for evacuation is given. For India, Finland, Great Britain, China, Czech Republic and Romania inquiries for export credit guarantees are made as well. Since the end of 2009 only an in principle commitment for the Angra 3 project is given. Thanks to our campaign no contracts have been signed so far. Please protest with us to stop the Angra 3 project and to reintroduce a general ban for export credit guarantees for nuclear power plants!!! Learn more: http://urgewald.org/kampagne/ich-bin-doch-kein-atombürger/das-ist-doch-kein-atomausstieg - 9. European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) "My Voice against Nuclear     Power" - The Austrian environmental organization GLOBAL2000 is starting with its international partner organisations the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) "My Voice against Nuclear Power". There are 133 reactors within the EU, which makes approximately 1/3 of the reactors worldwide. Since the catastrophe from Tschernobyl it's clear: Nuclear energy is a risk technology!. The European Citizens can make a clear statement for their energy future and can influence the legal framework condition of the EU. Within twelve months we have to collect one million valid signatures. The ECI was declined by the EU Commission in first place. But we stand up for the European nuclear phase-out and will continue to make all preparations to execute the ECI. We will submit a second application in the end of August. Our voice will be heard! The European Citizens' Initiative  for a nonnuclear Europe will come! Learn more and join the initiative: http://www.my-voice.eu - 10. Solidarity protest at London Japanese embassy - Japanese activists and the UK anti-nuclear group 'kicknuclear.org' organised a solidarity protest outside the Japanese embassy in Piccadilly this morning, as Japanese people hold weekly demos outside the prime minister's residence on Friday evenings in Japan. The government there has begun restarting reactors after a closure of around 50 facilities for safety checks following Fukushima. At Fukushima itself, things are bad, with water, pumped to cool three of the reactors that would otherwise meltdown, continues to leak into the ground and out to the pacific. Meanwhile steam releases particles of highly dangerous radioactive elements such as caesium and even plutonium into the atmosphere. Watch the short film of the action: http://vimeo.com/46891653 - 11. Campaigners call for support to stop nuclear 'renaissance' - Anti-nuclear campaigners in the UK are call on their European allies to join them in a weekend protest camp and mass action from October 5th to 8th. The Stop New Nuclear Alliance says the British government is about to commit the UK to a new generation of nuclear power stations while at the same time killing off investment in renewable energy. Spokesperson Nancy Birch says: "We are calling for International solidarity to stop to UK being used as a shop window for companies like EDF Energy to promote nuclear power as a solution to climate change. We want a future not a disaster. Please join our protest camp to say NO to nuclear power before it's too late.' More information can be found at: http://stopnewnuclear.org.uk - 12. How We Kicked Nuclear Out Of Alberta (CA) - It’s the story of our successful four year battle to prevent nuclear reactors from being built in Alberta. We were victorious despite having the nuclear industry, all three levels of government, the University of Alberta and other project proponents arrayed against us. Few environmental groups have been successful against such a formidable foe. The book is a public record of the illegal activities, false information and divisive tactics the aforementioned institutions used against us. It also documents the techniques we used to uncover and publicize their misdeeds; essentially a 21st century version of public shaming. http://www.patmcnamara.ca - 13. Survival Celebration Camp (CA) - The first-ever traditional Aboriginal gathering to be held in Saskatchewan exclusively on the issue of nuclear waste storage concluded in the beginning of August with Elders from Saskatchewan and neighbouring Alberta expressing unanimous rejection of proposals to establish a long-term nuclear waste storage facility in the region. Hosted by the Committee for Future Generations in response to Elders’ ever-increasing concern and call for solidarity in protecting the land, the “Survival Celebration Camp for Sustainable Earth” was held August 3 -6, 2012 at South Bay on Ile-a-la-Crosse Lake in northern Saskatchewan, bringing participants from as far away as Montreal, Victoria and Germany. Learn more: http://www.dominionpaper.ca/articles/4587 - 14. Upcoming events - (just an extract, tell us your events for the next newsletter) 2012:             Protests against the CASTOR transports from Jülich to Ahaus (D) 20/08/12-14/09/12: WALKATJURRA WALKABOUT from Yeelirrie - Leonora (AUS) 26/08/12-09/09/12: Anti-nuclear Sailing Tour from Stockholm (SE) to                   Greifswald (D) 24/09/12-30/09/12: Book project "Atomic Threats Around the Baltic Sea" - working meeting in Döbeln (D) 29/09/12:         International Action Day to shut down nuclear industry 14/10/12:         Referendum on new nuclear power plant in Lithuania 19/10/12-23/10/12: Reclaim Hinkley - Mass Act of Civil Disobedience (UK) 26/10/12-28/10/12: Autum conference of the German anti-nuclear movement in Berlin (D) 09/12/12-12/12/12: European Nuclear Conference of the nuclear industry in Manchester (UK) 2014:             Probably Castor transport of high level radioactive waste from Sellafield (UK) and of intermediate level radioactive waste from La Hague (F) to                   Gorleben (D) and protests http://www.greenkids.de/europas-atomerbe/index.php/Nuclear_Waste_Transport_to_Ahaus http://walkingforcountry.com http://www.greenkids.de/europas-atomerbe/index.php/Anti-nuclear_Sailing_Trip_across_the_Baltic_Sea http://www.greenkids.de/europas-atomerbe/index.php/Book_project_meeting:_Atomic_Threats_Around_the_Baltic_Sea http://uranium-action-day.info http://www.nonuclear.se/en/kalender/lithuania20121014referendum http://www.greenkids.de/europas-atomerbe/index.php/Reclaim_Hinkley_-_Mass_Act_of_Civil_Disobedience http://www.anti-atom-konferenz.org http://www.euronuclear.org/events/enc/enc2012/index.htm http://www.greenkids.de/europas-atomerbe/index.php/Gorleben_Castor_Resistance_in_Germany_2014 - 15. About NukeNews - The NukeNews are a multilingual newsletter system of the Nuclear Heritage Network and are supposed to reflect the activities, topics and struggles of anti-nuclear activists connected through this international community. The messages are written and translated by activists, additionally to their usual anti-nuclear activities. No one is paid for that work, as we want to provide resources like this information system to the anti-nuclear struggle as independent as possible. The newsletter aims to inform and update as well activists as the interested audience. Your contributions to the next issue of the NukeNews are welcome. Send them via email to news AT NukeNews.nuclear-heritage.net. It should be brief information in English of not more than one paragraph, including a concise headline and an optional link to a webpage providing more information. Deadline for the 7th issue of the NukeNews will be 4th of November, 2012. Spread the word and learn more about the NukeNews: http://NukeNews.Nuclear-Heritage.NET