NukeNews No. 24 - ENGLISH

************************************************************ *    NukeNews #24 - Anti-Nuclear Information Service      * ************************************************************ -- 0. Preface -- The upcoming summer shall be an anti-nuclear action summer! We start this newsletter with the call, followed by some invitations to events going to happen in the middle of the year. As the newsletter is a bit behind schedule again, the Easter March invitation now unfortunately is only a documentation... Thus, a short addition to it: some 250 people from Belgium, Netherlands and Germany rallied in Gronau + 50 protested nuclear facilities in Jülich that day. Find out more in article #7. Besides, this NukeNews reports on latest atomic policies in the Czech Republic, France, Japan, Russia and Slovenia. Your feedback about the NukeNews is welcome - find the contact information at the end of this email! -- Outline of the current NukeNews issue #24 -- 0. Preface 1. Call for an international Anti-nuclear Action Summer 2. Gorleben: Cultural Resistance Party 3. Chain Reaction Tihange 4. International Action Camp: "Stop the new U.S. nuclear bomb" 5. Anti-nuclear Summer Gathering with focus on uranium & new reactors / lifetime extensions 6. France: Festival Les Bure'lesques 7. Germany: Easter March in Gronau and Jülich 8. Slovenian Environmental Agency: No need for EIA for life time extension of Krško Nuclear power plant 9. Czech state stopped geological surveys and payment of financial compensation in 7 sites 10. Negotiations with foreign vendors on the construction of nuclear reactors in the Czech Republic 11. On the road to the Antinuclear World Social Forum 2017 12. Russia: Floating nuclear power plant to cast off from Saint Petersburg 13. FoE Japan: National Policies Corner Victims - Six Years after the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster 14. Translation of nuclear critical booklet now available also in    Hungarian 15. Upcoming events 16. About NukeNews -- 1. Call for an international Anti-nuclear Action Summer -- We are calling for an international anti-nuclear action summer 2017! In several countries initiatives and organizations are preparing actions, camps and gatherings in the struggle against a still powerful atomic industry. As isolated groups won't be able to impact on ruling governments and powerful companies alone, we aim to connect the campaigns and actions to strengthen the anti-nuclear struggles. There will be many events this summer addressing the cause from different viewpoints with various means. There should be something suitable for everyone... Find out more, including list of events, on the call webpage: http://actionsummer.nuclear-heritage.net -- 2. Gorleben: Cultural Resistance Party -- On 2nd of June we invite you to join us at the "Belugadreieck" outside the Gorleben "exploratory" (nuclear dump) mine. We invite you to the scene of outrage to join us being colorful, cheeky and resistant. Several groups will introduce themselves and their activities. Join the movement! There will also be music, food, "X-BOXX - radiating music video clips" screenings, many Bäuerliche Notgemeinschaft tractors, and more. Learn more: http://www.bi-luechow-dannenberg.de/?page_id=17982 -- 3. Chain Reaction Tihange -- On June 25, 2017 the human chain for the immediate shutdown of the nuclear power plants Tihange 2 and Doel 3 will start. We, people from three countries with different languages, are protesting together hand-in-hand for our goal. With the human chain, we put widely visible sign of tens of thousands, against the threat to millions of European citizens. Every meter counts! - We need you! Only together we make this chain reaction become reality. Learn more: https://www.chain-reaction-tihange.eu/en/ -- 4. International Action Camp: "Stop the new U.S. nuclear bomb" -- United we can stop the planned nuclear bomb! Please join the campaign to send the existing US nuclear weapons back home, and to organize against the new B61-12 nuclear bomb, scheduled to be built in the US by 2020 and deployed in five European countries - Italy, Belgium, Holland, Turkey, and Germany. We invite anti-nuclear, environmental and peace activists from Europe and the U.S. to our camp at the main gate of the military base in Büchel. The international week of actions is part of our 20 weeks of action from March 26th to August 9th. Twenty weeks represent the 20 B61 H-bombs at Büchel. Our peace camp includes networking, vigils, and nonviolent civil resistance. This international week is the first one uniting with anti-nuclear resistance in the US, the country where construction of the bomb is taking place. Learn more: https://buechel-atombombenfrei.jimdo.com/international/international-action-camp/ -- 5. Anti-nuclear Summer Gathering with focus on uranium & new reactors / lifetime extensions -- As already announced, an international camp will take place from July 17-23, 2017 in Döbeln, Germany. So far, more than 40 people from 15 countries have announced their participation. We expect that some 60-100 organizers, activists and other interested people will come together this summer to get to know each other, inform about nuclear issues in their regions, campaigns and actions and to strengthen the network of anti-nuclear groups and initiatives. Two focus topics have been selected: the uranium chain, which also connects all nuclear topics to each other, and the construction of new reactors or extension of lifetime of aging nuclear power plants. Particularly in these two main fields representatives of organizations working on these topics will share knowledge about atomic facilities, companies and politics. They will present their campaigns and projects and are seeking for new cooperations with other groups and activists to improve the movement's capabilities to fight the global nuclear industry. If you want to participate, please register at "summercamp AT nuclear-heritage DOT net". Learn more on the camp website: http://camp2017.nuclear-heritage.net -- 6. France: Festival Les Bure'lesques -- An informative, festive and inventive festival open to all, families, friends, locals and people from farther away will take place from August 11-13, 2017 in the area of the supposed nuclear waste repository in Bure, France. "Cigéo" is the name of the planned deep geological storage site for nuclear waste. It is being prepared despite unprecedented and well-known technological risks, against the advice of thousands of opposing people including residents who never have been consulted. This territory of life would be transformed into an enormous radioactive waste dump undergoing an irreversible mutation. Learn more: http://burestop.free.fr/spip/spip.php?article790 -- 7. Germany: Easter March in Gronau and Jülich -- Several groups are calling for a supraregional Easter March on Good Friday, April 14th in Gronau and Jülich. The rally will start in Gronau at 1 PM at the railway station and lead to the uranium enrichment facility. From there a shuttle bus will transport demonstrators back to the railway station. At the research center in Jülich, outside the uranium centrifugation company ETC, a joint venture of Urenco and Areva, a vigil will start at 2 PM. With the centrifuges ETC develops and constructs the knowledge on uranium enrichment, and thus also provides an option for a military usage. In context of the recent discussions about the supposed operation start of a huge uranium waste repository in Gronau while at the same time a possible closure of the uranium enrichment facility is discussed by politicians, but also in context of international voices for a new nuclear rearmament these actions in Gronau and Jülich are very important. More information: http://www.ostermarsch-gronau.de -- 8. Slovenian Environmental Agency: No need for EIA for life time extension of Krško Nuclear power plant -- On 20 February 2017 the Slovenian Environmental Agency published its conclusion of the EIA screening procedure for the life time extension of Nuclear Power Plant Krško in which it concludes no EIA is needed. The Agency conducted EIA screening procedure based on the information provided by a group of environmental NGOs showing that in 2012 Nuclear Safety Administration extended the time of Krško NPP operation from 40 to 60 years. In the screening procedure the Agency consulted several competent authorities which all believe 20 more years of Krško NPP operations will not have any environmental impacts. Based on those opinions the decision for no EIA was adopted. On 6 March 2017 a group of environmental NGOs (Focus, PIC, Umanotera, SE-F) appealed against negative EIA screening decision, listing, among others, breach of Aarhus and Espoo Convention as reason. -- 9. Czech state stopped geological surveys and payment of financial compensation in 7 sites -- Based on the comments from communities and associations, the Ministry of the Environment (MŽP) has decided not to extend the validity period of exploration permits for geological work by two years in relation to the siting process for a deep repository, as Radioactive Waste Repository Authority (SÚRAO/RAWRA) had demanded. The reason was that the validity of exploration permits expired on December 31, 2016 and SÚRAO submitted its request for extension late. This means that from 1st January 2017 SÚRAO must not perform any previously accepted geological work in the sites. Read the complete article: http://www.nuclear-heritage.net/index.php/The_state_stopped_geological_surveys_and_the_payment_of_financial_compensation_in_7_sites -- 10. Negotiations with foreign vendors on the construction of nuclear reactors in the Czech Republic -- Between January 26 and February 10, 2017, consultations took place with six contenders for the construction of reactors in the country. The vendors are companies as follows: ATMEA (joint project of Mitsubishi and AREVA NP), China General Nuclear Power Corporation, AREVA NP / Electricité de France, Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (subsidiary of Korea Electric Power Corporation), Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation (Russia) and Toshiba / Westinghouse Electric Company (USA). Negotiations proceeded to tender, without which the Czech Republic (unlike Hungary) will not build the generation 3+ reactors, but which has yet to be announced. Firstly, the Czech Republic wants to seek a waiver from the European Union because it does not want to apply the Public Procurement Act to its fullest extent. Read the complete article: http://www.nuclear-heritage.net/index.php/Negotiations_with_foreign_vendors_on_the_construction_of_nuclear_reactors_in_the_Czech_Republic -- 11. On the road to the Antinuclear World Social Forum 2017 -- Since the first World Social Forum (WSF) held at Porto Alegre in 2001, the anti-globalization movement has expanded and consolidated. Several WSFs took place in Latin America, in Asia, in Africa and, in August 2016, in North America. New themes enriched this dynamic. In 2013 and 2015, nuclear issues have been the subject of several workshops and the first Antinuclear Social Forum was held in spring 2016 in Tokyo, where a "Call for a nuclear-free world network" was launched. In Montréal, the second Antinuclear Forum took place within the WSF. Since France is the most nuclearized country in the world in proportion to the number of inhabitants, French antinuclear organizations thought it relevant to host the next Antinuclear WSF in France, from 2 to 4 November 2017, in Paris. Read the complete article: http://www.nuclear-heritage.net/index.php/Antinuclear_World_Social_Forum_2017 -- 12. Russia: Floating nuclear power plant to cast off from Saint Petersburg -- In Saint Petersburg at the Baltic Shipyard in the center of Russia's second biggest city the floating nuclear power plant "Academician Lomonosov" has been constructed. It is a new experimental vessel with two reactors supposed to be in operation at its final destination in Pevek in Chukotka in the Russian Far East. There hasn't been a transboundary Environmental Impact Assessment, and it is not planned for future either. Russian authorities emphasize that the country never ratified the ESPOO convention, and thus would not be required to involve the neighboring countries - which will be affected by the shipment of the floating NPP to its final destination in autumn 2017 or spring 2018. On this route is has to cross the Baltic Sea passing the waters of the territories of several other countries. However, the country signed the ESPOO convention (without ratifying it), and Russian documents recommend to meet the requirements of this treaty if applicable. Read the complete article: http://www.nuclear-heritage.net/index.php/Russia:_Floating_nuclear_power_plant_to_cast_off_from_Saint_Petersburg -- 13. FoE Japan: National Policies Corner Victims - Six Years after the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster -- Six years after March 11 2011, the accident remains unresolved and we continue to face the consequences of a prolonged and unprecedented nuclear disaster. The consequences are complicated and diverse. Due to the wide spread radiation contamination, the lives of those who once lived with blessings of nature were lost and in many areas, dramatically altered. The countless consequences include: loss of livelihood and purposes of life, living in cramped temporary evacuation shelters, dividing families and communities, health risks and growing anxieties, bullying and prejudice in the evacuation destinations... and the list goes on. In such a situation, national policy which encourages the evacuees to return to their home under the name of “reconstruction” corners victims of the nuclear disaster. Read the complete statement: http://www.foejapan.org/en/energy/doc/170310.html -- 14. Translation of nuclear critical booklet now available also in    Hungarian -- Thanks to a cooperation of the Munich-centered NGO wecf, the Austrian- Czech NGO "Sonne und Freiheit" and the Hungarian based team from GeniaNet.com the so far in German, English, French and Czech published booklet "The Critical Question" has now also been produced in a Hungarian version. Thanks to financial support from the Upper Austrian regional government for translation and printing the Hungarian nuclear resistance should thus receive an important new resource and we are looking forward to intensify our cross-border cooperation. You can order a copy at "b DOT riepl AT eduhi DOT at". Download the Hungarian publication for free: http://sonneundfreiheit.eu/files/nuklearis.pdf More information: http://www.wecf.eu/english/publications/2011/critical-questionnuclear.php -- 15. Upcoming events -- Feel free to send us your local and international events for the large upcoming events collection on Nuclear Heritage Network website, and for this extract in the NukeNews! http://upcoming.nuclear-heritage.net probably 2017:    Castor transport Resistance in France, Germany and United Kingdom 25/06/17:         Tihange human chain action via Tihange - Lüttich - Maastricht - Aachen (B, D, NL) 07/07/17-08/07/17: G20 meeting and protests in Hamburg (D) 12/07/17-18/07/17: "International week" with US and other activists at                   Büchel air base in Alflen (D) 17/07/17-23/07/17: International Anti-nuclear Summer Camp 2017 in                   Döbeln (D) 31/07/17-06/08/17: War Starts Here Camp close by the Gefechts-Übungs- Zentrum Altmark (GÜZ) in Potzehne in Colbitz- Letzlinger-Heide (D) 07/08/17-16/08/17: Internationalistic Anti Nuclear Summer Camp and Free Flow Festival in Gedelitz (D) 11/08/17-13/08/17: Festival Les Bure'lesques in Bure (F) 02/11/17-04/11/17: Antinuclear World Social Forum 2017 in Paris (F) 06/11/17-17/11/17: World Climate Summit and protests in Bonn (D) http://www.nuclear-heritage.net/index.php/Castor_Resistance_in_Germany_2017 http://www.nuclear-heritage.net/index.php/Tihange_Humain_Chain http://www.nuclear-heritage.net/index.php/G20_-_July_7/8,_2017_in_Hamburg https://buechel-atombombenfrei.jimdo.com/kalender/ http://www.nuclear-heritage.net/index.php/Anti-nuclear_summer_camp_2017 http://www.war-starts-here.camp http://www.nuclear-heritage.net/index.php/Internationalistic_Anti_Nuclear_Summer_Camp_and_Free_Flow_Festival http://burestop.free.fr/spip/spip.php?article790 http://www.nuclear-heritage.net/index.php/Antinuclear_World_Social_Forum_2017 -- 16. About NukeNews -- NukeNews is a multilingual newsletter system of the Nuclear Heritage Network. It reflects 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. The newsletter aims to inform and update as well activists as the interested audience. Your contributions to the NukeNews are welcome! Send them via email to "newsletter AT nuclear-heritage DOT net". The text should be very brief and in English. Please don't make it longer than one paragraph. We need a concise headline for your article, and you can add a link to a webpage providing more information. Deadline for the 25th issue of the NukeNews is 18th of June, 2017. Spread the word and learn more about the NukeNews: http://NukeNews.Nuclear-Heritage.NET