Hot News and Actions

January 25, 2012. 88 organizations, 5400+ individuals tell Energy Secretary Steven Chu to reject Blue Ribbon Commission recommendations and act to prevent "interim" storage of radioactive waste and resultant widespread transportation of waste across U.S. Press release. Text of letter with organizational signers.

January 17, 2012. New Alert: Act now to prevent a Mobile Chernobyl.

January 13, 2012. TAKE ACTION! Tell President Obama to END the nuclear loan program with his FY 2013 budget (coming out Feb. 7). Send your letter here.

December 22, 2011. Rep. Markey blasts NRC vote to approve AP1000 reactor design and notes NRC overruled Chairman Jaczko on accelerating reactor construction: "Today, the NRC has presented its holiday gifts to the nuclear industry."

December 12, 2011. Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) releases important new report that charges the four NRC Commissioners currently attacking Chair Greg Jaczko with conspiracy to undermine needed post-Fukushima safety regulations.

December 12, 2011. NIRS and 100+ organizations opposed nomination of William Magwood to NRC in July 2009. Magwood is emerging as leader in effort to derail post-Fukushima safety improvements and in attack against NRC chair Greg Jaczko.

December 7, 2011: The more things change, the more they stay the same: the nuclear industry appears poised to repeat the reactor construction fiascoes of the 1980s. NC WARN statement on construction delays at Georgia's Vogtle reactors--delays that are mounting even before a construction license has been issued. Includes excerpts from State of Georgia construction monitor report.

November 15, 2011: New Yorkers: Take Action! Tell NYS legislators to take a public stand in support of Indian Point shutdown. Action Page here.

October 18, 2011: New NIRS Briefing Paper: Atomic Radiation is More Harmful to Women. This paper reveals that women are far more likely than men to contract and die from cancer due to radiation exposure. Press Release.

October 12, 2011: If you've had problems with the White House petition site (and lots of people have!), send a letter to President Obama here. End taxpayer subsidies for new nuclear reactors.

September 26, 2011: NIRS has set up a new petition on the White House website. Sign here and tell President Obama to end taxpayer subsidies for new nuclear reactors.

September 13, 2011: Support Autumn Actions for a Nuclear-Free World!

September 8, 2011: Remembering 3/11: 6 months after Fukushima, nuclear experts say critical lessons going unlearned.

September 8, 2011: 24 U.S. Congressmembers tell NRC to implement Fukushima task force recommendations by October 21.

August 23, 2011: East Coast Earthquake. Effects of earthquake on U.S. reactors, especially North Anna and basic background info on the site. Updated August 24.

August 16, 2011: NEW ALERT! Protect the children of Fukushima. New international petition.

July 28, 2011: NEW ALERT! Protect the Grand Canyon. Stop Nuclear Loans. The How and Why....

July 7, 2011: Test centrifuges crash at USEC enrichment plant in Ohio following power outage in June; USEC disclosed incident to political backers before the NRC as deadline for loan guarantee loomed.

June 27, 2011: (Update) Flood at Fort Calhoun. Nebraska's Fort Calhoun reactor is surrounded by floodwaters from the Missouri River and the Cooper reactor is threatened as well. This page includes photo and video & other links on the situation and background information on the facilities.

June 24, 2011: Ten California legislators urge President Obama to take a fresh look at the dangers of nuclear power and steer a new course for a safer, cleaner energy future.

June 23, 2011: Civil Society Institute sues Dept of Energy for withholding documents on impact of new reactors and coal plants on nation's water supply--a critical issue.

June 20, 2011: Following public outcry (see April 27, 2011 entry), U.S. Interior Department acts to protect Grand Canyon area from new uranium mining. Thanks to all who took action!

June 10, 2011: Join us and demand permanent shutdown of all U.S. GE Mark I reactors. Become a Co-Petitioner to NRC here to close all GE Mark I reactors. | Press release announcing campaign to close 23 Mark I reactors. | Fact sheet on problems with GE reactors, especially Mark I's.

June 8, 2011: NIRS statement of solidarity with Italian anti-nuclear movement and support for June 12-13 referendum to prevent new nuclear reactor construction.

May 31, 2011: Eight European Union countries (Austria, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta and Portugal) have created a new anti-nuclear bloc within the EU. Initial declaration here.

May 25, 2011: 180+ Organizations urge Congressional appropriators to end nuclear loan program. Letter. Press release

May 18, 2011: Tell Congress: Stop spending taxpayer dollars for new nuclear reactors!

April 26, 2011: Great new interactive tool from Physicians for Social Responsibility. Are you within a nuclear reactor evacuation zone? Should you be? How many people live within 50 miles of each U.S. reactor?

April 2011: A Post-Fukushima Program for Increased Nuclear Security and Safety in the US. A 10-point grassroots program to improve nuclear safety and hasten the transition to a nuclear-free carbon-free energy future. Organizations wishing to sign on to this program should send their information to nirsnet@nirs.org. Individuals wishing to support this program can sign a petition here.

Reports, Papers and Info You Can Use

January 24, 2012. Too Close to Home: Nuclear Power and the Threat to Drinking Water. New report from PIRG and Environment America.

January 13, 2012. Important new paper for anti-fracking activists: Radon in the Marcellus Shale, from Dr. Marvin Resnikoff of Radioactive Waste Management Associates.

December 28, 2011: New paper from Marc Cooper of Vermont Law School predicts major impacts for U.S. nuclear industry from Fukushima during 2012: nuclear costs will rise and there will be significant regulatory delays.

December 19, 2011. New study published by National Bureau of Economic Research concludes that construction costs for new reactors make nuclear power too expensive to be competitive.

October 25, 2011: New Synapse study for Riverkeeper/NRDC showing that Indian Point reactors are not needed to meet electrical demands.

October 25, 2011: New NRDC fact sheet on consequences and costs of an accident at New York's Indian Point reactors.

September 13, 2011: Costs, Risks and Myths of Nuclear Power. Major new international NGO report prepared for Sept 22 UN meeting on nuclear power. Includes chapters by leading experts across the world; U.S. update provided by NIRS. Definitely worth the download.

August 22, 2011: Congressional Budget Office report on government's loan guarantee program for new reactor construction. Concludes that government is understating risks to taxpayers.

August 17, 2011: Nuclear Power After Fukushima. Report and recommendations to improve safety & security at U.S. reactor sites, from Union of Concerned Scientists.

August 16, 2011: Nuclear Roulette: The Case Against a Nuclear Renaissance. New book from International Forum on Globalization, now available for free download. Good stuff!

July 25, 2011: New report for Greenpeace finds that Areva’s EPR reactor design is vulnerable to a prolonged blackout such as occurred at Fukushima. Design assumes power would be restored within 24 hours; Fukushima’s blackout lasted 11 days.
Copy of full report.
Summary of report.
CV of report author, Austrian nuclear expert Helmut Hirsch.

June 2011: New report from Earthworks on impact of uranium mining: Nuclear Power's Other Tragedy: Communities Living with Uranium Mining.

May 2011: Major new report from Robert Alvarez at Institute for Policy Studies for the first time spells out the estimated amount of radioactivity in spent fuel at each U.S. reactors site, and what should be done to reduce the unacceptable hazard of high-density spent fuel pools.

April 2011: Important new study from Germany’s IPPNW on the ongoing health consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe.

March 25, 2011: Yet another major report that provides a path to a 100% renewable energy future before mid-century. This one is from the Institute for Policy Research and Development in London, led by two U.S. university professors.

March 2011: Radioactive Revenues. New report from WISE and the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations examines the financial flows between uranium mining companies and African governments.

February 23, 2011: Important new report from Union of Concerned Scientists. First-ever comprehensive look at taxpayer subsidies for nuclear power, historical and current. Among the report’s conclusions are that “in some cases it would have cost taxpayers less to simply buy kilowatts on the open market and give them away.”

February 2011: Major World Wildlife Fund study on how to bring the entire planet to 100% renewables by mid-century; includes explanation of why nuclear power is no solution to climate change or world’s energy future. Worthwhile.

January 25, 2011: NIRS Briefing Paper: Nuclear Energy is Dirty Energy (and does not fit into a “clean energy standard”). If the radiation released routinely from nuclear reactors were the color and texture of oil, no one would ever again confuse nuclear power with “clean.”