Following Japan's devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami, fear spread about risks of leaked radiation from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant — for the health of those living in or near Fukushima or involved in cleanup efforts, and for the planet and the potential impacts on our complex marine food web. Shunichi Tanaka, head of Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority, … [Read more...]
Plans to put radioactive metal in consumer goods going ahead
Civil society organisations have warned the nuclear industry to back off radioactive metal imports for smelting and its deregulated sale in South Africa, or face a legal battle. Hot on the heels of the Nuclear Energy Corporation’s (NECSA) claiming to have minimised the impact of the release of deadly radiation through negligence from the Pelindaba nuclear facility early in … [Read more...]
Transparency demands amid Fukushima commemoration
Earlier this week, Greenpeace Africa commemorated the 2nd anniversary of the Fukushima disaster with a call to the South African government to ensure transparency and accountability in the nuclear build process. Early on Monday morning, Greenpeace activists staged a silent protest on Johannesburg’s Empire Road. The activists, dressed in black with stickers across their lips … [Read more...]
Cape Argus’ anti-nuclear drive
This year the Cape Argus cycle tour and the first commemoration of the Fukushima crises fell on the same day. Knowing that Cape Town pretty much closes down for the Argus, Earthlife Africa seized the opportunity to raise awareness about the threat of nuclear power in South Africa. As the largest official cycle tour in the world, the Argus has 35 000 cyclists starting … [Read more...]
Justice organisation calls for public hearings
The events at Fukushima over the past few weeks have raised public awareness about the health risks of nuclear power. Earthlife Africa is calling for a firm stand against nuclear energy: "Around Fukushima Daiichi Station, on March 23rd, they measured 400 millisieverts - that's per hour. With this measurement (Chief Cabinet Secretary) Edano admitted for the first time that … [Read more...]
Nuclear confusion a smokescreen?
We were shocked by the article circulated on the internet where a serious environmental author, George Monbiot (pictured), author of 'Heat - how to stop the planet from burning' turned pro-nuclear since the disaster in Japan. Many people were confused about this sudden turn and concerned that Monbiot had used his good name to potentially damage the anti-nuclear … [Read more...]
Japanese at high risk after Fukushima disaster
The massive explosion following a cooling problem at one Fukushima's nuclear reactors, Daiichi, has been followed by more blasts at three more nuclear reactors, and two others are in danger. Up to date reports confirm that the Japanese government has issued a statement saying that radiation levels are now at dangerous levels, given the additional radiation from a fire in a … [Read more...]
