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Sowing the seeds of peace and justice |
Environment/Energy
WNPJ, Allies Urge AG to Act on Nuke Waste
Submitted by staff on Fri, 02/25/2011 - 12:46pm
The Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice, with seven member groups and allies, officially asked Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen to support a lawsuit that New York, Vermont, and Conneticut States are bringing against the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, for its violations of federal law in regards to nuclear waste storage.
The NRC has allowed toxic nuclear waste to remain at Wisconsin facilities without prior studies on the waste sites. The Attorney General must intervene to protect the residents and businesses of Wisconsin, the groups argue. The NRC must conduct site-by-site studies to ensure that the integrity of the waste storage structures remains intact and necessary repairs are made. An especially important concern is groundwater contamination.
The groups' letter to Van Hollen is below.
WNPJ joins 200 groups opposing US nuclear 'climate' bill
Submitted by staff on Thu, 01/07/2010 - 12:03pm
Two hundred environmental, peace, consumer, religious organizations and small businesses -- including WNPJ and eight other Wisconsin groups -- have joined together to blast the newly introduced Kerry-Lieberman “climate” bill, called the American Power Act, as a taxpayer bailout of the nuclear power industry and other dirty energy interests that would be ineffective at addressing the climate crisis. The groups pledged to oppose the bill unless substantial changes are made, including removing all support for nuclear power.
WNPJ joins 200 groups opposing nuclear 'climate bill'
Submitted by staff on Wed, 05/12/2010 - 8:59pmTwo hundred environmental, peace, consumer, religious organizations and small businesses -- including WNPJ and eight other Wisconsin groups -- have joined together to blast the newly introduced Kerry-Lieberman “climate” bill, called the American Power Act, as a taxpayer bailout of the nuclear power industry and other dirty energy interests that would be ineffective at addressing the climate crisis. The groups pledged to oppose the bill unless substantial changes are made, including removing all support for nuclear power.
WNPJ Blog: 55 mph = 15% less gas used = no offshore drilling needed
Submitted by admin on Fri, 06/25/2010 - 7:02pm |
| Photo: Charlie Reidel, Associated Press |
If we cut our national oil consumption by just 10%, we could eliminate the need for any offshore oil drilling in U.S. waters. How could we reach this goal? How about driving slower, even when the drive is really, really boring? Read and comment here...
Wisconsin's new PSC chair pro-nuke
Submitted by staff on Wed, 03/30/2011 - 1:05pm
Phil Montgomery will be the new head of Wisconsin's Public Service Commission, which regulates energy, water and telecommunications utilities.
As a state legislator, Montgomery supported a complete repeal of the radioactive waste and cost safeguards on new nuclear power plants.
"Consumer advocates would naturally have concerns about somebody who seemed so supportive of industry now being in a position of overseeing those industries," Mike McCabe of Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a WNPJ member group, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Until recently, Montgomery also served on the Board of Directors for ALEC, a corporate-funded group notorious for pushing regressive state policies.
Montgomery's executive assistant at the PSC will be R.J. Pirlot, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce's top lobbyist.
Wisconsin's Capitol Dome went dark for "Earth Hour"
Submitted by admin on Sat, 03/27/2010 - 9:31am
March 27 was the day for "Earth Hour", when people all over the world turned out the lights to demonstrate support for action to address the threat of climate change. The rolling blackout started in the Pacific ( the Sydney Opera House went dark) and moved westward, reaching Wisconsin at 8:30 pm local time.
According to the Earth Hour website, "Wisconsin is an official Earth Hour state and will turn off the lights at the Governor's residence and state capitol building." Think of it as a solar eclipse you don't have to fly to China to see. Photo by Brian Gardner
Wisconsin State Journal: State leaders debate the future of nuclear energy in light of Japan disaster
Submitted by staff on Tue, 04/12/2011 - 2:55pm
Legislation that would have weakened nuclear safeguards in Wisconsin has been dealt a serious blow by the disaster at Japan's Fukishima Dai-ichi nuclear plant. Pam Kleiss, executive director of WNPJ member group Physicians for Social Responsibility, says, "We feel the current state law speaks directly to the concerns that people in Wisconsin have about nuclear power. What the Fukushima Dai-ichi incident is showing us is that there are things that are happening that are beyond what the owners and operators perceived to be the highest level of risk." Charlie Higley of the Citizens Utility Board says, "Even if you have all the best defenses you can think of, there are times when nature still wins." Higley is also concerned about the fact that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has cited Wisconsin nuclear plants for 22 safety violations since 1996. Read more... (Photo: Point Beach Nuclear plant on the shore of Lake Michigan.)
Whitewashing nuclear weapons with national parks
Submitted by staff on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 10:57am
"Government propagandists are establishing nuclear war theme parks -- but without the uncomfortable taint of mass murder or Cold War hatreds," warns John LaForge of WNPJ member group NukeWatch in a Capital Times op/ed.
"Just in time for the 66th anniversary of the U.S. atomic attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, Aug. 6 and 9, 1945, Interior Department Secretary Ken Salazar recommended to Congress that a national historic park be established to honor the Manhattan Project -- the secret World War II program that built the bombs that massacred 140,000 people at Hiroshima and another 70,000 at Nagasaki."
Weekend Gathering in the UP - “Protecting Our Water, Environment and Sacred Places”,
Submitted by staff on Fri, 07/16/2010 - 4:17pm
WNPJ Board member, Al Gedicks, LaCrosse, is one of the presenters at the Third Annual Protect the Earth Community Gathering, Baraga, MI on Saturday, July 31. Al is part of a panel discussing Mining in the UP and resistance at Eagle Rock. Winona LaDuke is also presenting at this event, and there will be music and more. All welcome to this annual gathering, this year called: “Protecting Our Water, Environment and Sacred Places”, July 30– Aug. 1 at Baraga, MI To see the three-day schedule of event and to learn more about accomodations, go to "Read more" (car-pool options from Madison - contact: info@wnpj.org)
608-250-9240, Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice, 122 State Street, Suite 405A, Madison, WI 53703, Send an email to the office info@wnpj.org.