NukeNews No. 27 - ENGLISH

************************************************************ *    NukeNews #27 - Anti-Nuclear Information Service      * ************************************************************ -- 0. Preface -- Welcome to the last 2017 NukeNews edition! This time we are happy to share with you information of our friends in India, United States, Czech Republic, Sweden, Canada and Poland about their anti-nuclear struggles and latest developments of atomic policies in their regions. We wish you a good and successful new year 2018! -- Outline of the current NukeNews issue #27 -- 0. Preface 1. International Collaboration for a Nuclear Free World! 2. Update on atomic power plants in California 3. Czech Republic: Welcome in the nuclear state 4. The Minister's decision to support RAWRA has disappointed the members of the Platform Against Repository 5. India, climate change & nuclear power: denials, delusions and deceptions 6. Nuclear India: Proudly Marching on the Wrong Side of History 7. Solidarity statement with the anti-nuclear struggle in Chutka 8. En route determining the final repository for HAW in Sweden 9. Radioactive Colonialism - Uranium Bust in Northern Saskatchewan 10. Updates on nuclear policy in Poland 11. Upcoming events 12. About NukeNews -- 1. International Collaboration for a Nuclear Free World! -- Show your solidarity with our international collaboration for the protection of our communities, our human rights, and our mother Earth from nuclear destruction by making a contribution today... We are a group of organizers and activists working together as a planning committee to coordinate an International Anti-Nuclear Action Camp in Europe during Summer 2018. Our planning committee members come from India, Japan, Russia, Germany, Turkey, France, and the United States. We are collaborating to reunite and invite others to join us to learn about each other's struggles, discuss strategies, and plan future campaigns. Read more: http://www.nuclear-heritage.net/index.php/International_Collaboration_for_a_Nuclear_Free_World! -- 2. Update on atomic power plants in California -- The state of California's regulatory body (CPUC) will be making its decision to close the two Diablo Canyon reactors on December 14th. The proposed decision by the judge that oversaw the year long review of the plan deferred Pacific Gas & Electric Co.'s plan to buy a large amount of renewable energy for later hearings. But agreed that the facility should be closed with the potential for it closing sooner if information comes up that allows it to happen. Activists are unhappy with the 2024 closure date, and are concerned about the danger of earthquakes. Read more: http://www.nuclear-heritage.net/index.php/Update_on_atomic_power_plants_in_California -- 3. Czech Republic: Welcome in the nuclear state -- The Czech Republic is steadily becoming an atomic state. Although many countries decided to reduce their nuclear programs, the Czech Republic has plans to build new nuclear reactors - in spite of the fact that nobody knows how and who will finance it - and to extend the operation of the old ones. Above that the nuclear lobby - including the State Office of the Nuclear Safety (SONS) - try to reduce the public participation in all nuclear projects - nuclear waste deep depository, construction of new nuclear reactors, extension of the operation of old nuclear reactors - (PLEX) as much as possible. Read the complete article: http://www.nuclear-heritage.net/index.php/Czech_Republic:_Welcome_in_the_nuclear_state! -- 4. The Minister's decision to support RAWRA has disappointed the members of the Platform Against Repository -- "Just as it is not possible to revive corpses, it is impossible to extend permits that have expired", this was lawyer Doucha’s reaction to the Minister of the Environment Brabec‘s November decision to bring the issue of expired validity of exploration permits for geological exploration for potential repository sites in the Czech Republic back to life. Since March, when the Minister took a firm position against the Radioactive Waste Repository Authority (RAWRA)’s request to extend the validity after the expiry date, there has been a 180-degree turnaround. Members of the Platform Against Repository are disappointed with the new developments. Read more: http://www.nuclear-heritage.net/index.php/The_Minister%27s_decision_to_support_RAWRA_has_disappointed_the_members_of_the_Platform_Against_Repository -- 5. India, climate change & nuclear power: denials, delusions and deceptions -- Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, has been inconsistent at best about climate change. Now the country has massive nuclear expansion plans, which he claims is a solution. The apparent desire to appease energy companies and the violent oppression of nuclear opponents are a cause for serious concern. Read the complete story: https://theecologist.org/2017/sep/15/india-climate-change-and-nuclear-power-denials-delusions-and-deceptions-modi -- 6. Nuclear India: Proudly Marching on the Wrong Side of History -- The Indian nuclear ambition is huge not just in terms of aimed capacity. The country is developing diverse and full-spectrum nuclear capabilities – from new mines to fuel processing units and uranium enrichment facilities, reprocessing plants, new designs of reactors such as European Pressurised Reactors (EPRs), AP1000, VVER1200 and indigenous PHWR-700s. Although India’s Department of Atomic Energy remains in denial of nuclear waste problem and hence the need for a burial facility, it has been looking for a deep geological repository as well. Read the complete story: http://www.nuclear-heritage.net/index.php/Nuclear_India:_Proudly_Marching_on_the_Wrong_Side_of_History -- 7. Solidarity statement with the anti-nuclear struggle in Chutka -- The resilient and courageous people of Chutka, India, who have been fighting a relentless battle against the nuclear project in their vicinity, which will displace them once again after the Bargi dam on Narmada, and endanger their safety, organised a big rally on December 12th, 2017. This marked the culmination of the 2 month long grassroots campaign that they started on 2nd October. You can see more details about this campaign in the linked article. Please feel free to circulate the statement shared with this article in your circle, and request people to send their endorsement at "editor AT dianuke DOT org". The petition can also be signed online on the linked website. Read more: http://www.nuclear-heritage.net/index.php/Solidarity_statement_with_the_anti-nuclear_struggle_in_Chutka -- 8. En route determining the final repository for HAW in Sweden -- Recently the until now biggest environmental case took place in Sweden: during five weeks a jury of the Environmental Court listened to the suggested solution (the KBS-3 method) from the nuclear industry how to deposit highly contaminated nuclear waste totally away from human beings and animals for 100,000 years. An impossible task! All Swedish environmental organizations attended the trial and were listened on in a democratic way. The jury will deliver their opinion to the government on 20th of December 2017. And thereafter they will probably decide after the elections in September 2018. We will keep you informed about the procedure. -- 9. Radioactive Colonialism - Uranium Bust in Northern Saskatchewan -- Canadian uranium company Cameco, the largest employer of Aboriginal people, announced as of January, 2018, they will be closing McArthur River Mine and Key Lake Mill. 845 people will be laid-off. Industry and government have fostered economic dependence pushing First Nations and Metis communities into businesses servicing these mines. Post-secondary education focused heavily on mining technologies. This is leaving communities struggling with no other sustainable economy to fall back on. -- 10. Updates on nuclear policy in Poland -- The Polish Ministry of Energy (MoE) should submit the revised Principal Nuclear Program from 2014 (PNEP) to the government. It's preparation has been delayed, and now it is expected at the turn of this and the next year. Read the complete article: http://www.nuclear-heritage.net/index.php/Updates_on_nuclear_policy_in_Poland -- 11. 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 soon possible:    next Castor transports from Obrigheim NPP to                    Neckarwestheim NPP & protests (D) from 2018 likely: Nuclear Waste Transport to Ahaus & protests (D) 10/01/18:         regional conference "Braunschweiger Land" in                    Brunswick (D) 26/03/18-12/08/18: "Twenty weeks for twenty bombs" - 2018 action weeks at Büchel nuclear weapons base (D) 11/07/18-12/07/18: Protest at NATO summit in Brussels (B) 06/08/18-12/08/18: Nuclear Heritage Network Gathering in Southern France http://www.nuclear-heritage.net/index.php/Castor_Resistance_in_Germany_2017 http://www.nuclear-heritage.net/index.php/Nuclear_Waste_Transport_to_Ahaus http://ag-schacht-konrad.de/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=769&Itemid=189 http://www.nuclear-heritage.net/index.php/%22Twenty_weeks_for_twenty_bombs%22_-_2018_action_weeks_in_B%C3%BCchel http://www.cnduk.org/get-involved/events/item/3561-save-the-date-protest-at-nato-summit-in-brussels -- 12. 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 28th issue of the NukeNews is 16th of February, 2018. Spread the word and learn more about the NukeNews: http://NukeNews.Nuclear-Heritage.NET